Buying from African makers
Verification, authenticity and what to expect from handmade goods.
Who are the makers?
Weavers, dyers, potters, leatherworkers, roasters and small brands across Senegal, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Morocco and South Africa. Every seller verifies their identity (and business registration where it exists) before their first sale, and we visit or video-call many of them.
Handmade means variation
Natural dyes, hand looms and hand-thrown clay mean no two pieces are identical. Listings tell you the materials and the method; photos show a representative piece. Small differences in colour, pattern or size are part of the craft, not a defect — but if a piece differs materially from the listing, it's covered by our returns policy.
Authenticity and provenance
We prohibit mass-produced imitations sold as handmade, and we remove listings that misstate origin. Antiquities and protected cultural property (for example from Mali) are not allowed; only contemporary work is sold here.
Care
Hand-dyed textiles: cold wash separately the first few times. Shea and oils: keep away from heat. Baskets: wipe clean, keep dry. Care notes are included on each listing and in the parcel.