Maasai Colour launches crowdfunding website to invest in entrepreneurs in Kenyan communities

Putney based, accessories brand Maasai Colour is creating opportunities for deprived communities in Kenya and just launched on crowdfunding website, Kickstarter, to share their bold style with the world. They already support 5 people to educate their children in Nairobi!

Maasai Colour is the brainchild of school friends Pete Hansell and Simon Tomkins and was established in 2014 in Putney, Hampstead and Nairobi. The company is on a mission, every Maasai inspired bag contributes towards a pioneering micro-finance scheme helping entrepreneurs to bring stability to their communities through starting their own businesses. Through reaching an international audience Maasai Colour aims to raise capital and take the brand to the next level. Funds will be used to expand their range as well as provide mentoring and start-up capital to other entrepreneurs in Kenya. In a country where 46% of people live below the poverty line, this pioneering microfinance scheme aims to provide a leg up to those who need it most.

Founder Pete Hansell, (pictured left), says:
“There are many African entrepreneurs with incredible potential but without the access to funding that they need to get their idea off the ground. We want Maasai Colour to give everyone a chance to do something about this and look great whilst doing it”.

Co-founder Simon Tomkins, (pictured right), says:
"Many of the top end handbags sold today are mass manufactured in China and India, it is practical and cheap. We have opted for a different approach, to keep our workshop in Nairobi where everything started for us and where we know that we can make a big difference. Yes – it’s difficult – equipment is harder to find and the business environment can cause frustration but it is all worth it. We want to grow and keep creating well paid, rewarding work for the craftspeople who are at the absolute core of the brand".

The brand gained recognition at African Fashion Week London and is now stocked in the British Museum alongside premium boutiques.

Kickstarter features four new ranges which have been designed for ladies who want an exceptionally original and well-made handbag which you can’t find on the high street - all without a designer price tag. Each bag is carefully handcrafted in Nairobi then inspected and signed by head tailor, Martin Ong’er, before travelling to the UK. Pledge your support and receive a designer handbag tailored uniquely for you!

June 17, 2016