The Obakki Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to empowering women and families in Africa, today announced the launch of their ‘Story of Us’ collection. The collection includes a range of homeware and lifestyle pieces, with 100% of the net proceeds from purchases going towards The Obakki Foundation projects.
The collection is inspired by, and directly impacts, the women of Bidi Bidi, Uganda—the world’s largest refugee settlement area. Displaced from South Sudan by brutal civil war and having survived unspeakable trauma, these brave women are starting over from nothing. Each piece from the Obakki Foundation’s ‘Story of Us’ collection tells a unique story, while giving back to the women who inspired them.
‘The Story of Us’ Wall Hanging
‘The Story of Us’ is a powerful visual representation of the women of Bidi Bidi. Three strips of fabric representing the women’s past, their present experience in the refugee camp, and their hopes for their futures were woven together to create these beautiful pieces of art. Just as every strand of fabric was essential to its creation, each woman’s story is worthy of being heard.
Obakki Foundation Indigo Collection
The Obakki Foundation collection of authentic indigo-dyed homewares, textiles, and scarves pays homage to the rich heritage of the people of West Africa. Sewing and natural dying allow the women of Bidi Bidi to provide for themselves, which is why The Obakki Foundation has opened their first tailor shop and textile training facility in the refugee resettlement area.
The Bidi Bidi Collection
The renowned Bidi Bidi print is inspired by the drawings of women in the refugee settlement area, who have been through the unthinkable, revealing a tragic past entwined with a hopeful future. The new Bidi Bidi Kids T-Shirt will join the collection, which includes the Bidi Bidi Scarf and Bandana. All proceeds will benefit the business initiatives of women in the settlement.
Mud Cloth Textiles
Originating in Mali, the ancient method of mud cloth dying has been a part of the traditions of the people from this region for generations. Mud rich with minerals is collected from riverbeds and applied to locally-woven cloth, which then bakes in the sun to create the distinct patterns and designs. Heavy with symbolism, each finished piece of mud cloth has a unique story to tell.
Frazer Parfum
Frazer Parfum’s natural perfume products include organic shea butter and beeswax, sourced locally in Namibia, and are scented with the sustainably-collected sap of the Omumbiri tree. The Obakki Foundation is also developing a processing centre in Uganda, where the women of Bidi Bidi can transform the shea nut into a saleable product.
Amy Dov
Artist Amy Dov created this line of beautiful ceramic sculptures, which take influence from the communities in Africa where the Obakki Foundation does its work. Bones, rocks, branches, and sand act as inspiration for these sculptures, giving the collection an artistic tribal influence, and paying homage to the regions benefited by the purchase of the sculptures.
In addition to the launch of the ‘Story of Us’ collection, The Obakki Foundation is introducing three new colours to their Scarves 4 Water collection, which provides clean water to communities where none existed. The Aubergine, African Dusk and Mineral scarves will support the Ugandan villages of Objil, Burugo, and Kenyaa. For every 500 scarves sold, a clean water well is constructed in that region.
The Obakki Foundation’s ‘Story of Us’ collection is available online at www.obakkifoundation.org. For a limited time, products will also be available through The Obakki Foundation pop-up shop at WALRUS Design in Vancouver.