Who are Kipato Unbranded ?

Kipato Unbranded is about beauty and unique designs. they create jewelry that is inspired by ‘ “everyday people and for everyday people”. Their pieces are made from local materials that include brass, recycled bone, and beads.

Kipato is a Swahili word meaning ” income “. This underscores the social justice core of the social enterprise. From its beginnings, they  provide the artists with fair wages. Being a women-led organization Kipato unbranded are conscious about empowering young women. Kipato Unbranded is adaptable and ethically responsible.

Kipato Unbranded was founded in November 2015. since then it has received media attention including features on television programming,publications in media houses both in print and online, blog features, and showcased in high profile events.

Their shareholders are 5 young women from different cultures and backgrounds – an international group that is committed to seeing this vision and mission exceed in every way possible by contributing their skills in law, design, marketing and branding.

Some of Kipato Hand made African Jewelry

Why “ Kipato Unbranded ”

1. Kipato: Kiswahili word meaning ” income “. This underscores the social justice core of the enterprise. We ensure that our artists are empowered by their work and receive fair wages for their creativity. From its beginnings, profits from the artists’ work, whether sold in international or local markets, go directly to the artists, creating a model that is sustainable and fair to them. 2. We are “unbranded” because we are focused on creating jewelry by everyday people, for everyday people. We believe that beautiful Kenyan jewelry should not be out of reach for Kenyans and Africans on the continent, and therefore are striving to create an enterprise that is accessible and approachable. 3. Our brand is also adaptable, simple, and ethically responsible- the collections are designed to be versatile, suitable as much for a high-profile journalism awards event as for a casual Saturday afternoon with friends. 4. Our products are created from recycled products, and our packaging and operations are eco-friendly, making it an environmentally responsible enterprise as well. Kipato Unbranded is about simplicity, accessibility and empowerment.

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The (Dual) Problem:

In Dagoretti Market, Elijah works relentlessly in the mounting heat of Nairobi: hammering away at sheets of brass, cutting them into thin shapes, rolling these out on a cylindrical piece of wood. As he creates, his concentration so sharp you could use it to cut through the brass in his hands, his work slowly comes together to form the intricate, delicate artistic designs that will end up adorning someone’s hands or neck. In Kibera, Ojiko does the same. The same scenario plays out as many jewelry makers in low income Nairobi neighborhoods painstakingly create beauty with their hands, some as independent contractors, others in group workshops run by luxury jewelry brands. Being an independent jewelry maker in a lower income neighborhood in Nairobi, these artists depend on employers to give them access to larger markets.

And while the jewelry industry in Kenya thrives on the labour of artists like Ojiko and Elijah, their salary is dependent on the whims of their employer, and often is only a very small proportion of the profits their work would generate. On the flip side, their jewelry pieces are mostly aimed at high end luxury stores, selling at prices that are normal for the target market but which are exorbitantly out of reach for many Kenyans. This dual problem: the need for more enterprises that offered a just wage to jewelry makers, and the desire to make their beautiful work accessible to Kenyans, is what inspired the founding of Kipato Unbranded in August 2015.

So just keep reading…

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Meet the Team Behind Kipato Unbranded Marta Krajnik – The Founder, Zipo Akinyi – Designer, Elwira Gintowt – Brand Manager, Malgorzata Suraj – Photographer and Laureta Madegwa – Legal Accompanier

“Some of the team member are not in this picture “

Kipato is run by Marta who does everything from start to finish and generally is the ‘go to’ person for Kipato Unbranded “The Show Runner “. Marta Krajnik manages the relationships with the artists who are in charge of all production. Marta collaboratively creates designs for Kipato Unbranded, working together with the artists to develop quality products. She oversees the entire sales and marketing of Kipato Unbranded products, including local and international exhibitions and the online shop. Marta leads on streamlining all aspects  of the social enterprise including photography, website design, brand design, and marketing materials. She also manages Kipato Unbranded’s social media channels and is responsible for legal and financial accountability.

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Zipo Akinyi is a Designer for Kipato Unbranded and comes up with her own creative inputs. She is particularly interested in developing a men’s jewelry line for Kipato Unbranded and integrating leather to our products. Zipo is also a great promoter and showcases Kipato Unbranded at various events in Nairobi. Her energy and enthusiasm is addictive and her tagline catchy: ‘Let’s do this!’“Kipato Unbranded is about designing a lifestyle and a philosophy” – Zipo Akinyi

Elwira Gintowt is a talented Graphic Designer and is in charge of Kipato Unbranded’s presentation and packaging. She is an advocate of using only Eco-friendly materials for our packaging and continues to advise on using natural no-cost and low-cost materials for our exhibitions. She is the creative mind who developed Kipato Unbranded’s logo and continues to develop sleek and artistic catalogues for our local and international customers. Elwira is interested in expanding Kipato Unbranded into the Polish Market and will be exhibiting our work there very soon.

Malgorzata Suraj – or Gosia as she’s known – is Kipato Unbranded’s Photographer and Photo Journalist. Gosia deals with documentation of Kipato Unbranded through photography and videography. Gosia has a passion for documenting our artist’s lives – their inspirations, their everyday struggles, and how they create jewelry to sustain their livelihoods. Gosia travels to their homes to understand and document how they produce Kipato Unbranded’s jewelry and how their surroundings motivate and capture them. Gosia is also a keen strategist and leads on relationship-building for Kipato Unbranded along with developing promotional materials. Through photography, she documents Kipato Unbranded at social events and develops content for social media channels. Gosia is the video producer for Kipato Unbranded’s

Content Courtesy Of Nairobi Fashion Hub & Kipato Unbranded