OBAKKI GIFT GUIDE: GIFTS HANDCRAFTED BY FEMALE ARTISANS

Akiliba potter in Uganda

Supporting our entrepreneurial female artisans is one of our priorities. Not that there aren’t some incredible male artisan partners in our group – there certainly are! But sometimes, we want to give a shout-out to women – for all that they do. 

Creating bags to heal trauma

Judith’s story is one of resilience. Judith remained inside her house for years, trying to rebuild her confidence after experiencing a horrible trauma. Trauma of this magnitude is almost impossible to overcome and yet Judith, born a survivor, began sewing these beautiful weekender bags using colourful African kitenge textiles. And with every bag she created, she began to heal a little bit. 

Judith was able to hire two women to help her sew – thanks to the demand from our customers for these vibrant weekend bags. She hopes to help other victims of trauma as her company grows, using sewing as therapy, and has begun community outreach to do so. These purchases have created ripples of healing. Now that Judith has a sense of purpose and a sense of dignity it is possible for her to help other women heal. Full circle healing. Our favourite kind.

Judith sewing a weekender bag in her home
PREORDER: The Weekender Bag | MOMA Edition Duffel Bags
The Weekender Bag | MOMA Bags
The Weekender Bag | MOMA Bags Moma OS
The Weekender Bag | MOMA Bags
The Weekender Bag | MOMA Edition Accessories
PREORDER: The Weekender Bag | MOMA Edition Duffel Bags
The Weekender Bag | MOMA Bags
The Weekender Bag | MOMA Bags Moma OS
The Weekender Bag | MOMA Bags
The Weekender Bag | MOMA Edition Accessories

The Weekender Bag | MOMA Edition

$75.00
The Weekender Bag | Namazzi Bags Arua OS
The Weekender Bag | Namazzi Bags
The Weekender Bag | Namazzi Accessories
The Weekender Bag | Namazzi Bags Arua OS
The Weekender Bag | Namazzi Bags
The Weekender Bag | Namazzi Accessories

The Weekender Bag | Namazzi

$75.00

Made of Australia

Born and raised in Brazil, Bianca Pintan creates show-stopping ceramic vases and bowls from her small studio on the shores of Byron Bay, Australia. As she watches the waves crash on Talon Beach, she forms her show-stopping marbled ceramics using two kinds of Australian clay.

Equally as impressive are her pieces using a single clay, but impressive for different reasons. The single clay source vases are refined in their uncomplicated simplicity while the marbled pieces are powerful in their fusion. 

We love seeing women artisans following their dreams – and creating such incredible pieces on their journeys of discovery. 

Bianca Pintan in her Byron Bay workshop
Marbled platter by Bianca Pintan

The Women of the Shea

Our philanthropic counterpart, the Obakki Foundation, has trained 60 women in Northern Uganda in Shea harvesting and production. And their business is growing.  

We purchase raw ingredients from these hard-working women who are now able to support themselves and their families. Nilotica Shea butter is the top-rated shea in the world, with higher therapeutic and moisturizing properties. We use this premium raw material to make Obakki shea butter moisturizers, soaps and sugar scrubs by hand in Canada. 

Your Obakki skincare purchase benefits women entrepreneurs in Africa. This product is intertwined with everything we love - sustainability, integrity, and respect - while preserving communities, local economies, and the surrounding environment.

shea nuts in Uganda
Facial Oil 100% Balanites Face Oil
Facial Oil 100% Balanites Face Oil
Facial Oil 100% Balanites Face Oil
Facial Oil - 100% Balanites Personal Care
Facial Oil 100% Balanites Face Oil
Facial Oil 100% Balanites Face Oil
Facial Oil 100% Balanites Face Oil
Facial Oil 100% Balanites Face Oil
Facial Oil 100% Balanites Face Oil
Facial Oil 100% Balanites Face Oil
Facial Oil - 100% Balanites Personal Care
Facial Oil 100% Balanites Face Oil
Facial Oil 100% Balanites Face Oil
Facial Oil 100% Balanites Face Oil

Facial Oil 100% Balanites

$42.00
Moisturizing Discovery Set Personal Care
Moisturizing Discovery Set Personal Care
Moisturizing Discovery Set Personal Care
Moisturizing Discovery Set Personal Care
Moisturizing Discovery Set Personal Care
Moisturizing Discovery Set Personal Care
Moisturizing Discovery Set Personal Care
Moisturizing Discovery Set Personal Care
Moisturizing Discovery Set Personal Care
Moisturizing Discovery Set Personal Care
Moisturizing Discovery Set Personal Care
Moisturizing Discovery Set Personal Care
Moisturizing Discovery Set Personal Care
Moisturizing Discovery Set Personal Care

Moisturizing Discovery Set

$98.00

It’s Never Too Late to Start Something New

Amy Dov grew up in awe of nature among the redwoods of Northern California. Her deep appreciation for all things natural dominated her work as a painter, in both oil and watercolour. A love of printmaking led her from paint to collaborative lithography but once her children were grown and gone, a new path emerged—Sculpture. 

When she sat at a potter’s wheel for the first time, she experienced a profound and instant connection with the clay. Rocks, branches and sand all lend themselves to the inspiration for the simple shapes she creates for her organic wall sculptures

We love that it’s never too late to start something new. Once you find that connection with something you love – go for it. And remember, well-behaved women rarely make history.

Earthenware Wall Hanging by Amy Dov
Amy Dov in her L.A. studio

Baskets with Soul 

The basket weavers of Kitui are women. Whether widows or single mothers, weaving is their only source of income, enabling them to feed their families and send their children to school. These women are strong and resilient. They are quiet workers with steady hands. They are the water collectors, the care providers, the basket weavers – all in very difficult conditions. 

Their organic sustainable baskets have a global flair and are woven with generations of tradition and a lifetime of experience, using locally sourced sisal fibre. We are proud to support these incredible women entrepreneurs and artisan partners – who weave baskets with soul. 

Basket weavers of Kitui

The Star of Hope

Hang this beautiful Kiden Star in your home as a symbol of hope. In Zone 5 of Bidi-Bidi -- the world’s largest refugee resettlement area -- Mary Kiden designed these beautifully intricate stars as a way to help the women of Bidi Bidi move past their pain. Made by hand, each star takes a full week to create. 

100% of the net proceeds from Kiden Star sales will help Mary and her team continue to expand. With their hands, these female artisans are building a path to a better future. And the Kiden Star will light their way. 

Mary Kiden sewing a star of hope

The Potters of Akiliba

In the rural West Nile area of Northern Uganda, the village of Akiliba is home to a group of women who are determined to use pottery as a way to support their entire community. Independence is as critical for these artisans as the preservation of their ancient craft. These beautiful earthenware pots are handmade using locally sourced clay and then stacked into a brush-covered mound for firing. Strong designs, from strong women. 

Basket weavers of Kitui
Earthenware Bowl | S Bowls Burnt Earth OS
Earthenware Bowl | S Bowls
Earthenware Bowl | S Bowls
Earthenware Bowl | S Home Decor
Earthenware Bowl | S Bowls
Earthenware Bowl | S Home Decor
Earthenware Bowl | S Home Decor
Earthenware Bowl | S Bowls Burnt Earth OS
Earthenware Bowl | S Bowls
Earthenware Bowl | S Bowls
Earthenware Bowl | S Home Decor
Earthenware Bowl | S Bowls
Earthenware Bowl | S Home Decor
Earthenware Bowl | S Home Decor

Earthenware Bowl | S

$65.00
Earthenware Bowl | XL Vases + Planters
Earthenware Bowl | XL Vases + Planters
Earthenware Bowl | XL Home Decor
Earthenware Bowl | XL Vases + Planters
Earthenware Bowl | XL Vases + Planters
Earthenware Bowl | XL Home Decor

Earthenware Bowl | XL

$125.00

SHOP GIFTS HANDCRAFTED BY FEMALE ARTISANS

9
9
9
9
9
9
9

9" Minimalist Bowl

$165.00
Bidi Bidi Print Scarf Scarves Bidi Bidi Print
Bidi Bidi Print Scarf Scarves Bidi Bidi Print
Bidi Bidi Print Scarf Scarves
Bidi Bidi Print Scarf Scarves
Bidi Bidi Print Scarf Scarves

Bidi Bidi Print Scarf

$89.00
Bidi Bidi Print Bandana Scarves Bidi Bidi Print
Bidi Bidi Print Bandana Scarves Bidi Bidi Print
Bidi Bidi Print Bandana Scarves
Bidi Bidi Print Bandana Scarves
Bidi Bidi Print Bandana Scarves
Bidi Bidi Print Bandana Scarves
Bidi Bidi Print Bandana Scarves

Bidi Bidi Print Bandana

$39.00
Kiden Star Gifts Blue-Green
Kiden Star Gifts Blue-Green
Kiden Star Gifts Green-Orange
Kiden Star Gifts Blue-Yellow
Kiden Star Gifts Orange-Black
Kiden Star Gifts Green-Yellow
Kiden Star Gifts
Kiden Star Home Decor

Kiden Star

$29.00

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