Since the launch of SAHEL Design in 2012 we have been dreaming of installing water pumps in the villages of the artisans. Last week, thanks to Friends In Action and the help of some willing friends, this dream became a reality. The first village was where Ussman, the cotton weaver and his family live –…
Last weekend my family and I drove up north to the annual horse festival here in Burkina Faso. We’ve been before but this was the first time in five years and with two small children in tow. Traditional horse reins are the inspiration for SAHEL Design bags so it was the perfect place for a…
Designing bags isn’t all about pinterest and doodling (although they both play a part). Our men’s messenger bag was the result of a collaboration between SAHEL Design in Burkina Faso and eHaberdasher in London. Getting the right shape, size and details took four months and five prototypes to get right. We’re pleased to say that…
Spinning is something that any Fulani woman over fifty here is familiar with. Before the markets became mile high with European cast-offs and cheap synthetics, clothes were spun and woven by hand using locally grown cotton. Times have changed and there are few ladies who still practise the skill. But in a wuro (a family’s…
Whether you are a seasoned advocate for or just getting interested in ethical fashion, you will know that ‘ethical fashion’ is a cover-all phrase for many different things. According to the Ethical Fashion Forum, ‘ethical fashion represents an approach to the design, sourcing and manufacture of clothing which maximises benefits to people and communities while…
Early next year I’ll be returning to Burkina Faso where I’m excited about researching more into traditional crafts. We’ve been in the UK for a few months to have a baby and have left our Fulani friends in the Sahel with orders for leather bag straps and hand-woven cotton cushions and blankets. A phone call…