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Journal
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Contact
- Get In Touch
- Visit Us

Explore the Shop
Discover Who We Are

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Explore the Shop
Discover Who We Are

Welcome toeast africa

Explore the region where we work with our interactive maps!

The Swahili Coast

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Kenya

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Tanzania

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Zanzibar

The Spice Islands

[Our favorite beaches]

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The Swahili Coast

Coastal East Africa

[Where Swahili is spoken as a language]

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Nairobi

Capital of Kenya

[Best Mexican food in East Africa]

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Mt. Kilimanjaro

Africa’s Highest Peak

[There’s snow here!]

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Moshi

Our Natural Leather is Sourced Here

[From pastoralist peoples]

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The Serengeti

An Immense Grassland and The Site of The Annual “Great Migration” of Wildebeest

[Set of the Lion King]

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Ngorongoro Crater

An Ancient Caldera

[The World’s Largest]

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Dar Es Salaam

The Economic Hub of Tanzania

[Founders Caroline & Tony lived here!]

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Follow the Fun!

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"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, yo

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." - Desmond Tutu⁣
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Our hearts are broken. We lift our voices along with our Black brothers and sisters crying out for justice. You can't support the striving of Black folks in Africa without also working for justice on our own doorstep. ⁣
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#liveconsciously #consciousconsumer #poweroverpity #purchasewithpurpose #ilm #exploreilm #fashrev #wilmington #wrightsvillebeach #ethicalfashion #ethicallymade #ethicalstyle #fairtrade #ethicalclothing #sustainablefashion #sustainable #sustainablestyle #eastafrica #travel #slowfashion #socialdistancing #shopsmall #shoplocal #blacklivesmatter #justiceforgeorgefloyd
#justiceforahmaud #saytheirnames ⁣
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I'm always tickled when non-profits and mission-dr

I'm always tickled when non-profits and mission-driven companies say things like, "It's not about the money, it's about dignity, empowerment, etc." ⁣
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Y'all.⁣
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👏IT.👏IS.👏 ALWAYS.👏ABOUT.👏THE.👏MONEY.👏⁣
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For whatever reason, we think talking about money is somehow bad, and that it has to be couched in these other terms. And you know what makes people feel empowered? Makes them feel dignity in work? Being paid fairly and being able to support themselves and their families. ⁣
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As much as I would have loved to keep every one of our partners doing the work they are proud of for the duration of this crisis, it wasn't possible, because of the need for social distancing, and because demand changed. ⁣
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But you know what we could do? Raise money and send it over. ⁣
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We've restocked our masks with some killer new patterns in 100% cotton to keep you cool and comfortable this summer, and they are a steal at $8 or 5 for $24 with free shipping. If you want to keep our partners busy, here's how you can do it!⁣
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We've been committing our orders to keeping the team at the co-op afloat. We got photos the other day from one of the distribution days for bonuses, and it made our hearts sing to see everyone out in their masks, chatting from a respectable distance, and most importantly, GETTING PAID. It's hard to be away from Tanzania for so long--we haven't even met Rehema's beautiful boy yet! But we are so grateful to you for helping us support our team. ⁣
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So thank you for your orders! Your support made this moment and so many others like it possible. ⁣
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If you want to donate directly to our team, you can always do so through the "Tip Your Artisans" link. All money collected goes directly to the co-op! ⁣
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#liveconsciously #consciousconsumer #poweroverpity #purchasewithpurpose #ilm #exploreilm #fashrev #handmade #wilmington #wrightsvillebeach #ethicalfashion #ethicallymade #ethicalstyle #ethicalclothing #sustainablefashion #sustainable #sustainablestyle #eastafrica #travel #slowfashion #socialdistancing #shopsmall #shoplocal #fairtrade #globalstyle #facemask #stopethespread #socialdistancing⁣

Well, we might be crying over broken promises from

Well, we might be crying over broken promises from DHL, but we are still selling pre-orders of our incoming masks like crazy! Delivery is now scheduled for Tuesday (finger crossed!), and we are raring to go and get these beauties off to you so that we can all be protected as more spaces reopen. Our next shipment is selling quickly and we're anticipating it will sell out before it lands! If you want masks shipped next week, get your order in now! ⁣
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Thank y'all so much for the support for our team in Tanzania. Truly, it has been so heartwarming to see folks show up for our business and our team. ⁣
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We have some other exciting changes in the works too, so keep your eyes peeled! ⁣
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#liveconsciously #consciousconsumer #poweroverpity #purchasewithpurpose #ilm #exploreilm #fashrev #handmade #wilmington #wrightsvillebeach #ethicalfashion #ethicallymade #ethicalstyle #ethicalclothing #sustainablefashion #sustainable #sustainablestyle #eastafrica #travel #slowfashion #socialdistancing #shopsmall #shoplocal #fairtrade #globalstyle #facemask #stopethespread #socialdistancing⁣

Well, y'all cleaned us out of masks again! We have

Well, y'all cleaned us out of masks again! We have another shipment with all-new patterns arriving Monday, so we'll be back in the saddle right away. The team in Tanzania has been absolutely CRANKING (here's a pic of Dennis slipping off the mask during a busy day of mask-making for a grin 😁). ⁣
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We had one sewing machine in the co-op for sewing the thongs for our sandals--everything else is done by hand. With scaling the mask making, we've added 4 more sewing machines. It's old school--the power grid in TZ isn't super reliable, so treadle sewing machines are the name of the game. Check out that Singer! So reliable. ⁣
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Thanks again for your support. We've been thrilled by the response, and we're excited to partner with clinics and businesses that are beginning to reopen, to supply reusable masks and keep their staff safe. Together, we are going to come through this. 💪⁣
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#liveconsciously #consciousconsumer #poweroverpity #purchasewithpurpose #ilm #exploreilm #fashrev #handmade #wilmington #wrightsvillebeach #ethicalfashion #ethicallymade #ethicalstyle #ethicalclothing #sustainablefashion #sustainable #sustainablestyle #eastafrica #travel #slowfashion #socialdistancing #shopsmall #shoplocal #fairtrade #globalstyle #facemask #stopethespread #socialdistancing

We're carefully reopening our retail store tomorro

We're carefully reopening our retail store tomorrow, and here's why. ⁣
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The co-op in the picture. That's why. That little building in Dar es Salaam is the life blood of this business. For 3 years, every cuff bracelet, belt, and pair of sandals we've made has come out of this building. It has been the greatest pleasure of our lives to get to work with such an amazing team of talented, persevering folks. ⁣
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So when times get tough, we stick together. In this case, it has meant a big switch to making face masks and selling online. Now more stores are opening their doors, so we have decided to cautiously do the same. ⁣
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I had a not great experience last week opening the store for a few hours. This time, I'm better prepared. We built a plexiglass barrier at the register, we have tracked down ALL the hand sanitizer, and most importantly, we have a stock of masks to sell. ⁣
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We have some policies posted at the door: ⁣
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> No more than 2 people (or one party) in the store at once.⁣
> Masks or face coverings required for all who can wear them ⁣
> All are welcome -- if you cannot afford a mask, we will give you one of ours, free of charge, no questions asked. ⁣
> Social distancing required -- we must maintain 6 feet between all customers and staff. ⁣
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...And of course, we are still offering curbside pickup, private shopping, and online ordering and delivery. ⁣
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I'll be at the store on Front Street tomorrow from 10-6, and I'll be thrilled to welcome you from a distance! If you need a mask, you know where to get one! ⁣
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Thank you for supporting us and our team in Wilmington and in East Africa. We are tremendously grateful. ⁣
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#liveconsciously #consciousconsumer #poweroverpity #purchasewithpurpose #ilm #exploreilm #fashrev #handmade #wilmington #wrightsvillebeach #ethicalfashion #ethicallymade #ethicalstyle #ethicalclothing #sustainablefashion #sustainable #sustainablestyle #eastafrica #travel #slowfashion #socialdistancing #shopsmall #shoplocal #fairtrade #globalstyle #facemask #stopethespread #socialdistancing

Today was pretty frustrating, to be honest. ⁣
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Today was the first day that our retail store was allowed to be open. I wanted to be the person assessing the situation, since we made the decision to require masks for the safety of our employees and customers. The very first people I interacted with were visiting from out of town, very opposed to mask wearing, and very vocal about ignoring social distancing measures. ⁣
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So I closed again. ⁣
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No one else was wearing a mask downtown. The science tells us we probably don't need to wear masks while walking down the street, but in confined spaces (like a small retail store...), masks can really help prevent transmission from asymptomatic carriers. ⁣
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We have to do better if we are going to return to any semblance of normalcy. I'm not going to put my employees in a situation where they have to confront an aggressive person. Some of our team members are in higher risk groups. To be honest, it's not their job (and shouldn't be mine) to convince people to be courteous. ⁣
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We're wearing masks not out of fear, but because we want to be good members of the community. Thank you SO MUCH to those of you that have sent us pics of you and your families wearing our masks. It warms our hearts!
We all want to do whatever we can to stop the spread of this virus. Wearing a mask requires so little effort or expense on our part. No, it's not a perfect solution, but it is one of many tools at our disposal, and we should be using every tool to stop this disease. ⁣ ⁣ We sell masks, and so do thousands of other people. Please wear one. We want to be able to hug our moms next Mother's Day. ⁣
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#liveconsciously #consciousconsumer #poweroverpity #purchasewithpurpose #ilm #exploreilm #fashrev #handmade #wilmington #wrightsvillebeach #ethicalfashion #ethicallymade #ethicalstyle #ethicalclothing #sustainablefashion #sustainable #sustainablestyle #eastafrica #travel #slowfashion #socialdistancing #shopsmall #shoplocal #fairtrade #globalstyle⁣ #stopthespread #facemask

Face masks are up on the website now! 🙌⁣ ⁣

Face masks are up on the website now! 🙌⁣
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We're stoked to be able to offer affordable cotton face masks, ethically made by our partner co-op in Tanzania! We're SO thrilled by the response, which means we've been able to keep our partners employed. It's been a crazy fast pivot, but these times require us all to be extra nimble.
We're donating a mask in Tanzania for every one we sell, enabling our friends in Tanzania to do their part to stop the spread! ⁣
If you're a wholesale partner who wants in, give us a holler! ⁣
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This batch of masks will ship 5/13-5/15, so if you are interested, go ahead and get your order in now! We went live on the website last night with no fanfare, and the order is already half gone...⁣
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If we're going to wear masks for awhile, might as well LOOK GOOD DOIN' IT! ⁣
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#liveconsciously #consciousconsumer #poweroverpity #purchasewithpurpose #ilm #exploreilm #fashrev #handmade #wilmington #wrightsvillebeach #ethicalfashion #ethicallymade #ethicalstyle #ethicalclothing #sustainablefashion #sustainable #sustainablestyle #eastafrica #travel #slowfashion #socialdistancing #shopsmall #shoplocal #fairtrade #globalstyle #facemask #stopthespread

Strange times call for drastic measures! In under

Strange times call for drastic measures! In under a week, we've made a big pivot. The co-op is now producing reusable face masks! We are so proud of our partners and how nimble they've been during this crazy time. We just got our first shipment in, and let me tell you: they are awesome (and already sold out). 100% cotton wax-print kitenge fabric, a pocket for filters, fabric ties that won't hurt your ears like elastic--all that good stuff! ⁣
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We're waiting on some photos of our new fabric patterns, but we'll be listing masks for pre-order on our website in the next few days. For every mask sold, we're donating one to at-risk people in Tanzania. ⁣
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Tanzania has opted out of a lot of social distancing measures, and has seen a rapid rise in the number of reported cases in recent days, now placing it highest among East African countries. We're doing our best to encourage preventative measures, and to keep our team employed over the course of this crisis. ⁣
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If you want to know when our masks go live, sign up for our email list at swahilicoastdesign.com! They'll sell fast--our first collection sold out during pre-order in under a day! ⁣
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#liveconsciously #consciousconsumer #poweroverpity #purchasewithpurpose #ilm #exploreilm #fashrev #handmade #wilmington #wrightsvillebeach #ethicalfashion #ethicallymade #ethicalstyle #ethicalclothing #sustainablefashion #sustainable #sustainablestyle #eastafrica #travel #slowfashion #socialdistancing #shopsmall #shoplocal #fairtrade #globalstyle #facemask #clothfacemask⁣

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