The Kazuri Collection

A Special Story from Kenya

Handmade. Colourful. Fair Trade. With a history spanning more than 50 years.

Kazuri means “small and beautiful” in Swahili. But behind Kazuri’s colourful beads and jewellery lies a story that is every bit as special as the jewellery itself. It is the story of an extraordinary woman: Lady Susan Wood.

 

---

 

The Origins of Kazuri

Lady Susan Wood was born in a small African village, where her English parents worked as missionaries. After her childhood, she was sent to England to study. Later, she married surgeon Michael Wood, and together they moved to Kenya in 1947.

Susan Wood was an extraordinary and forward-thinking woman with a great heart for the people around her. Together with her husband, she spent many years contributing to healthcare in Kenya. Michael Wood was closely involved in the establishment of the East African Flying Doctor Service, which later developed into AMREF (African Medical and Research Foundation).

But Susan also had a dream of her own.

From a Small Workshop to Kazuri

In 1975, Susan Wood started a small workshop in her backyard, making beads from clay. She began with just two women with disabilities.

It soon became clear to her that many more women were in need of employment and an independent income. At a time when unemployment was high in Kenya and many women depended on their families financially, Susan decided to expand her workshop.

And so Kazuri Beads was born.

From the very beginning, the goal was clear: to provide women with employment, teach them a skilled craft and give them the opportunity to support themselves independently.

For many women, working at Kazuri meant more than simply earning their own income. Their wages were often essential to supporting their children and other family members as well.

By 1988, the workshop had grown into a factory employing around 120 women. The women were trained in making the beads and jewellery and developed into highly skilled artisans.

Kazuri therefore became much more than a jewellery brand: it became an important place for women within the local community.

 

---

 

Kazuri Through the Years

In 2001, Kazuri was taken over by Mark and Regina Newman. They continued the original social mission: creating employment opportunities for people who needed them most, while further developing Kazuri’s unique craftsmanship.

Under their leadership, Kazuri continued until 2023. The company was then taken over by a new owner and began a new chapter at a different, more centrally located site in Nairobi.

The workshop has changed, but the essence of Kazuri remains:

Handcrafted artistry, colourful jewellery and employment opportunities for women.

 

---

 

Clay from the Mount Kenya Region

What makes Kazuri even more special is the material used to create the beads.

The beads are still made from clay sourced from the area around Mount Kenya. In this way, the jewellery is literally connected to the region where Kazuri began.

Each bead is shaped, dried, fired and then hand-painted and finished. The process requires time, care and craftsmanship.

That is what makes every piece of jewellery unique.

A small difference in shape or colour is not a flaw, but rather a beautiful reminder that the piece has been made by hand.

 

---

 

A Workplace Full of Stories

The Kazuri workshop is more than a place where jewellery is made.

It is a meeting place for the women who work there. A place where people work, learn, laugh and share stories.

Anyone visiting the workshop can hear the gentle buzz of women working together.

That human element may be the most beautiful part of Kazuri.

Behind every bead is a woman. Behind every piece of jewellery is a story.

Kazuri – “Small and Beautiful” in Swahili