The Woven Kente

I’ve always loved crafting and creating things with my hands, even from a young age. A few years back, I started creating different jewelry pieces and hand-making soap. My interest eventually wandered into sewing. I participated in a few sewing workshops, watched online tutorials, and learned from older women in the Pittsburgh community. I started to tinker with patterns, and one summer I decided to make my niece and her girlfriend fanny packs for a concert. I took my time with the pattern, and eventually, I crafted two beautiful batik print fanny packs. We decided to post a picture online and soon there were a number of requests and orders. I decided to parlay my love of West African textiles into the Woven Kente, which evolved into an online marketplace for artisan goods and wearables. The foundational underpinnings of the business centers around wearables made from Afrocentric textiles and goods, either made with care by myself or ethically sourced. My parents were entrepreneurs, and continuing their legacy through my products and shop is a celebration of African diasporic heritage, culture, spirituality, and history.