inspired by African culture

“Leso” is a type of printed fabric that you will find mostly in Kenya and Eastern Africa. The material is unique in its presence of a brightly colored border and printed Swahili proverb. Often worn around the waist or as a head wrap, these versatile adornments are the inspiration behind Emily Ajwang’s brand, LesoKenya Designs and her line of beautifully hand-crafted polymer clay jewelry.  

Ajwang launched her brand during the summer of 2018 as a curated Kenyan clothing and jewelry store. A year later, she decided to evolve her collection from curated pieces to personally hand-crafted jewelry. 

“After weeks of research, I was taken by the versatility and lightweight nature of polymer clay,” Ajwang tells BLK OCEANS. “I found that you could achieve numerous colors and designs, which is something that I love.” 

Not only does she draw her inspiration from lesos, but she also celebrates the influences of African culture and her Kenyan background in general through each collection. The shop provides in-house and handmade designs using polymer clay, as well as carefully curated brass and beaded pieces that are made in Kenya.

Some of Ajwang’s best selling products are the Afryka Dangles and the Afrykan Arch, which is currently available in select colors including Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate (currently sold out), Caramel, Honey, and Marshmallow White. The Tribal V Dangles and Tribal Drop Dangles, which are currently sold out, are also customer favorites and will be restocked soon. Since each item is handmade, no two pieces are exactly alike, ensuring a unique experience with every purchase. 

With more carefully crafted designs on the horizon, keep an eye out for the upcoming restock dropping Friday, October 2nd with new fall inspired designs. Ajwang is also looking forward to launching new products including pins and keychains. 

Follow LesoKenya Designs on Instagram for more.