QÄSA QÄSA is a lifestyle store offering thoughtfully designed homewares and gifts with an impact | Hand-crafted in East Africa uniting heritage skills and contemporary style | Each item empowers artisans and comes with its own special story and every purchase contributes towards forest restoration
Left: Aniqah | Right: Naeema
OUR PRINCIPLES & HOW WE WORK
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Our artisans set their own price for their work
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The welfare of our artisans is a priority - we pay fair wages and aim to provide them with continued work and a reliable income
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We use natural materials and many of our products are made using offcuts or discarded materials which are repurposed into new designs
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Every step in the making of our products is done entirely by hand using traditional techniques, many of which have been passed down through generations
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We make in small batches in an effort to minimise waste and focus on quality
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As with all handmade items, slight variations in the shape, design and colour may occur, making each piece one of a kind
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We have an imperfects and sample collection where we offer products that have slight damage to them at reduced prices - we don't throw anything away
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The excess wood chips created from carving our wooden pieces are used as cooking fuel by our artisans and their families
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For every purchase made, we contribute towards forest restoration, bio-diversity and community farming practices by planting trees with the International Tree Foundation
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We collect and reuse packaging as much as possible to reduce our impact
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QÄSA QÄSA products are made for keeps, valuing creativity and connection.
Featured in the Financial Times, Guardian Gift Guide and V&A Museum shop, we proudly wave the flag for our artisans.
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QÄSA QÄSA
[ pronounced: casa casa ]
stems from the Amharic (Ethiopian) word to mean
inspire | motivate | awake
We strive to inspire and motivate people to make ethical purchases for unique and beautiful pieces that support artisan communities. We also recognise the need to awaken traditional craft, hopefully saving them for years to come.
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Taking inspiration from our heritage, we set off on a journey to explore the incredibly rich and diverse skills of artisans in East Africa. We have a passion for traditional craftsmanship and were inspired and humbled by the sheer artistry we encountered. Realising that we could create a platform to connect artisans, who would not otherwise have the opportunity, with the global market, led us to start QÄSA QÄSA.
This forms the inspiration behind our collection of thoughtfully designed homewares and gifts - an amalgamation of beautiful objects with purpose for everyday living.
We design our wooden utensils and serve-ware collection and work closely with our small group of wood carvers in Tanzania to have our designs come to life; from concept to creation. We also source some parts of our collection from social enterprises and fair trade companies that we have partnered with, forging close relationships with everyone in the chain.
Every item is carefully hand crafted in small batches using locally sourced materials, uniting heritage skills with contemporary style.
Our artisans have honed their craft for generations. In a world dominated by mass production, having a product that has been hand made from start to finish and embodies the unique personal story of its maker, is truly special.
As we continue to develop and adapt as a small business, we will always be deeply committed to our ethical and social responsibilities and to giving back to our artisan community. Our mission is to provide them with a virtuous cycle of work, keeping age-old techniques alive and creating a positive impact on their daily lives.
We hope you find joy in the utility of our designs and cherish the narratives that accompany them.
Thank you for being here,
Aniqah & Naeema
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