Sokofa Craft Series
Bags, sandals, loafers and accessories, all cut, stitched and finished by hand in artisan workshops across Africa
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Crafts
A handwoven palm basket bag from Zanzibar, about 60cm wide, with a printed cotton band and centre panel, cloth wrapped handles, small leather tabs and a tie closure. Kapu is the Swahili word for basket, and this is the everyday island shape rather than a version of it redrawn for export. It is wide and shallow and flares open at the top, so a towel, a book and a bottle of water sit side by side instead of stacking on top of each other. That is what you want from a market or beach bag and it is exactly what a narrow tote cannot do. The body is plaited from dried palm leaf, worked in Zanzibar in strips known as ukili. The printed cloth is stitched down the centre front and around the top band, the two handles are wrapped in the same cloth and anchored with small tan leather tabs, and a length of cloth ties the top shut. Choose Kitenge, the bold wax print, or Kikoi, the lighter Swahili coastal cloth. Brush it out rather than washing it, and keep it out of the rain.
Sold by Sunora • Tanzania
Fashion Accessories
Handmade African beaded sandals crafted from genuine leather and finished with colourful beadwork for a bold, artisan look. These Maasai-inspired sandals are designed for comfort, everyday wear and standout styling, with secure lace-up support and a lightweight feel. A versatile choice for shoppers searching for handmade leather sandals, African-inspired footwear and unique statement shoes.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion
A navy senator wear for men: a long sleeve mandarin collar top with a concealed placket and a buttoned chest pocket, with matching trousers. Cut to your own measurements. Senator wear is what a man reaches for when the occasion is serious but a suit would be too much. Formal without being borrowed from somewhere else, which is why it turns up at weddings, in church, at meetings and at every celebration in between. This one is cut clean and close rather than flowing. Mandarin collar, half placket with the buttons concealed, a single chest pocket with a buttoned flap, long sleeves, straight matching trousers. There is no embroidery anywhere on it, and that is the point. The fit and the cloth do the work, so it reads as modern rather than ceremonial. Navy is the one to own first. It carries a wedding and a Monday morning equally well, it photographs better than black under indoor light, and it does not fight whatever cap, shoes or beads you put with it. Made in what the trade calls cashmere senator fabric, the soft brushed suiting cloth this style is usually cut from. In the photographs it hangs with a clean line rather than clinging, which is what you want in a fitted senator. Sizing: there is no size chart here, because there are no sizes. You send seven measurements at checkout, each with a short guide on how to take it, and the outfit is cut to those numbers rather than made to a standard size and altered afterwards. That is why a senator cut this close holds its line across the shoulders and through the waist, which is where an off the peg one usually goes wrong. Wear it with leather loafers or a monk strap, and a cap if the occasion asks for one. Nothing else needs adding. Care: dry clean, or cold hand wash and hang to dry out of direct sunlight. Press inside out on a medium heat to protect the finish on the cloth.
Sold by Elvis fashion fabrics • Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
African Beaded Sandals are handmade leather shoes finished with colourful beadwork and designed for a comfortable women's fit. The multicoloured strap and artisanal construction give the pair a distinctive statement look that works for casual wear, travel and gift shopping. This listing is a strong match for shoppers searching for handmade African sandals, beaded leather shoes and Maasai-inspired women's footwear with personality.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion
A handwoven sisal basket tote from Kenya, banded in rust, tan and dark brown, with two natural leather shoulder straps and a flat oval base. The straps are cut long enough to sit on the shoulder, which is what separates this from the short handled market baskets most people picture. It carries hands free, over a coat, and the body stays soft rather than rigid, so it packs down around whatever you put in it: a towel and a book for the beach, or the week's shopping. Size 32cm wide by 32cm high, which is 12 by 12 inches. The measurement excludes the handles. Materials and construction Handwoven sisal with genuine leather handles. The sisal thread is dyed before weaving rather than painted on afterwards, so the colour bands run true through the fibre and will not rub off at the corners. The body is twined by hand over a vertical warp, one row at a time, and the base is worked as a flat oval so the bag stands up when you set it down. The interior is lined and fastens with a zip. Care Do not soak the bag in water. Wipe clean with a dry or slightly damp cloth. Store in a cool, dry place when not in use. Shipping Orders are sent by DHL Express or UPS, with a tracking number once your parcel is dispatched. Bags are flattened to fit the courier flyer, which keeps the shipping cost down and does the bag no harm, as sisal is resilient and regains its shape once unpacked. Custom orders The maker welcomes custom orders. If you would like a different size, colour or design, send a message through Sokofa and they will help.
Sold by KIKWETU MAASAI STORES • Kenya
Crafts
A handwoven sisal kiondo tote in navy and cream stripes, with a tan leather flap that buckles shut and two adjustable leather shoulder straps. Most basket bags are open at the top. This one closes. A stitched leather flap folds over the opening and fastens with a long leather strap and a metal buckle at the front, so what you carry stays covered on a bus, in a crowd or in the rain. The shoulder straps have buckles of their own near the rim, so you can shorten them to carry it by hand or let them out to wear it over a coat. The stripes are three wide bands of navy between bands of natural cream sisal, a crisp, nautical look that suits summer, the beach and a plain navy or white wardrobe. If you want something softer and closer to the natural colour of the fibre, the store's cream and natural kiondo is the better choice. The body is twined by hand from natural sisal fibre, stiff enough to stand up on its own. The maker gives it as 32cm wide and 32cm tall, excluding the handles, and lists it as lined. Bags are flattened for shipping to keep the parcel small. This does no harm, as sisal springs back into shape once it is unpacked. Do not soak the bag. Wipe it with a dry or barely damp cloth and store it somewhere dry.
Sold by KIKWETU MAASAI STORES • Kenya
Crafts
A handwoven sisal tote in two bands of cream and natural, with long tan leather shoulder straps, a printed cotton lining and a wooden button fastening. It is a real market basket rather than a basket shaped handbag, so it holds a laptop, a towel or a shop without losing its shape, and the straps are long enough to sit on the shoulder over a coat. The sisal is stiff enough to stand up on its own when you put it down, which is the difference between this and a soft straw bag. The lining is the part worth knowing about. Each bag is lined in printed cotton and the maker uses what she has, so no two linings are the same. The bag in the first photograph is lined with several different prints pieced together, navy with pink, gold and white figures. The bag in the second photograph has a single brown and gold print. Yours will be lined in a print of its own. The body is twined by hand from natural sisal fibre. The leather straps are riveted through the weave with copper rivets rather than stitched to a fabric tab, which is the join that usually fails on a basket bag. A wooden button on a leather cord fastens the top. It measures about 32cm wide and 32cm tall, excluding the handles. Bags are flattened for shipping to keep the parcel small. This does no harm, as sisal springs back into shape once it is unpacked. Do not soak the bag. Wipe it with a dry or barely damp cloth and store it somewhere dry.
Sold by KIKWETU MAASAI STORES • Kenya
Crafts
Flat leather thong sandals with a toe post that threads through two wide straps crossed into a woven knot over the vamp, handmade in Kenya. The knot is the design. Two broad leather straps cross over each other above the toes and the narrow toe post passes through the loop they make, so nothing sits glued on top and the straps hold one another. Every edge, the straps and the footbed alike, is finished with cream saddle stitching that follows the full outline of the shoe. There is no beading and no metal on this pair. It is plain leather and stitching, which is why it carries further through a wardrobe than a beaded pair does, and why it is the one to pick if you want a sandal you can wear to work and then to dinner. The footbed is flat with no heel. Sizes run UK 3 to UK 8. The pair photographed is the darkest of the three colourways, and the white and the tan brown are made in the same pattern. Wipe with a dry cloth, keep them out of standing water, and dry them away from direct heat.
Sold by Alpha Threads Fashions • NAIROBI
Fashion
The Owen T mule is a backless leather slip on for men, handmade in Nigeria from hair on goat hide. The upper keeps the natural brown and white markings of the hide, so no two pairs carry the same pattern, and a single leather strap runs across the vamp with a small keeper. It is built on a closed round toe with an open back, which is the shape that makes a mule work: it goes on in one motion but still holds the foot properly, unlike a slide. The black sole has a low stacked edge, so it reads as a proper shoe rather than a house slipper. Wear them for the things a loafer is too formal for and a trainer is too casual for: dinner, a weekend, an evening at home that still has people in the room. They sit well with tailored trousers, dark denim, and with a kaftan or agbada. Available in men's EU 40 to 46, with UK, US and foot length equivalents in the size guide below. Mules are held across the strap rather than at the heel, so message us if you fall between two sizes. Because the upper is a natural hair on hide, the brown and white markings, the direction of the hair and the depth of colour differ from pair to pair and from the photographs. That is the material, not a fault. Care: brush gently along the direction of the hair with a soft brush, spot clean with a barely damp cloth and let dry away from heat. Do not soak or machine wash. Store in the box away from direct sunlight.
Sold by Owen. T • Enugu/Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
A Maasai beaded cuff banded in orange, white, black, red, yellow and blue, backed in leather and fastening with a press stud. Narrow enough to wear every day. The rows are worked in fine glass seed beads and held straight by pale spacer strips, and the whole band is mounted on leather so it keeps its shape rather than curling. The press stud means it goes on one handed, which is the practical difference from a tie or a slide fastening. The maker gives the length as 20cm. This is the everyday width. If you want the beadwork to carry a whole outfit on its own, the wide cuff in this shop is the deeper piece.
Sold by Tribal Shop • Kenya
Crafts
Men's slides with two dark brown ribbed straps crossed over the foot, on a tan footbed with a raised rim and a black sole, handmade in Lagos, Nigeria. Crossing the straps means the hold sits across the top of the foot rather than on one band, and the rim of the footbed cups the edge of the foot. The ribbed strap gives the pair a softer, more casual look than a plain leather slide. This pair is offered in size 44 only. If you want something smarter in black, the same maker also makes a black leather slide with a woven embossed strap.
Sold by Mary_N Footies • Lagos
Fashion
A wide Maasai beaded cuff, around ten rows of glass seed beads deep, banded in red, green, orange, white and black and fastening with press studs on a leather tab. The beads are strung in rows and held in line by slim spacer strips running down the cuff, which is what stops a band this deep from collapsing on the wrist. The leather tab carries the studs, so it opens flat and goes on without help. The maker gives the length as 20cm. If you want something for every day, the narrower wrist cuff in this shop is the easier piece. This one is for when you want the beadwork to be the thing people see.
Sold by Tribal Shop • Kenya
Fashion
Handmade slip on shoes in two tone suede, tan through the middle with a darker brown toe cap and heel, on a brown rubber sole, made in Nigeria by Earlybird. The pair sits somewhere between a loafer and a trainer. There are no laces: elastic gussets either side of the opening let the shoe give as you step in and close back around the foot, and the collar is bound in dark brown for a neat edge. The toe cap and heel are cut from a deeper, brushed brown suede, while the smoother tan suede across the top carries the maker's own bird mark pressed into the leather. Wear them with chinos, jeans or linen trousers for weekends, travel and relaxed office days, or any time you want a shoe you can step into without bending down. Photographed in the brown colourway. The maker also offers black and red in the same pattern; those are not pictured, so ask the seller for a photograph before choosing one. Sizes 39 to 50. Sizes 47 to 50 carry a small extra charge, shown when you pick the size. Construction: suede and leather upper, padded interior and a rubber sole for grip, as listed by the maker. Care: brush the suede with a soft suede brush once dry and keep the shoes out of heavy rain. Let them dry naturally away from direct heat if they get wet.
Sold by Earlybird • Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
These handmade Maasai beaded sandals combine genuine leather, colourful beadwork and a short gladiator-inspired shape for standout everyday wear. Designed for women who want comfortable African-inspired footwear with personality, this pair works well for casual outfits, travel and statement styling. The artisan finish, multicoloured details and lightweight build make them a strong choice for shoppers searching for handmade leather sandals, beaded women’s sandals and African fashion footwear.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion
The Cyrene is a low top leather sneaker for men in deep forest green and cream, handmade in Nigeria by Owen T. The upper is cut from smooth leather in contrast panels, laced with flat cotton laces, and carries the Owen T roundel on the side quarter. It sits on a chunky white rubber cupsole with a soft mint tint running through the midsole, so the shoe reads clean and modern from across a room and shows its handwork up close. Green and cream is easier to wear than all white and less severe than all black, which makes this a rare thing: one sneaker that works with tailored trousers on a Friday and with jeans on a Saturday. Available in men's EU 40 to 46, with UK, US and foot length equivalents in the size guide below. If you fall between two sizes, message us before ordering and we will advise. Wear it with cropped chinos, dark denim, a linen suit or under a kaftan. The green does the work, so keep the rest of the outfit quiet. Every pair is cut, stitched and finished by hand in Nigeria, so small variations in grain, colour depth and stitch line are normal and are the mark of a handmade shoe rather than a fault. Care: wipe with a soft dry cloth after wear, treat with a neutral leather conditioner every few weeks, keep away from direct heat, and store with shoe trees or stuffed with paper so the shape holds.
Sold by Owen. T • Enugu/Nigeria
Crafts
Flat tan leather sandals with a beaded toe ring and a wide instep band worked in a red, black and gold zigzag of small glass beads, handmade in Kenya. The band across the instep is the work. Rows of small glass seed beads are stitched into diamonds that step across the strap in red, black and gold, and the beaded edge is cut into points so the band reads as a zigzag rather than a straight line. A smaller beaded tab in the same colours sits on the toe ring. This is a toe ring sandal rather than a slide. A narrow leather loop rises from the footbed and a toe passes through it, so the front of the foot is held by the loop and not by a strap across the top. If you have only ever worn slides it feels different for the first hour and then it stops being noticeable. The footbed is tan leather with cream saddle stitching all the way round, flat with no heel. Sizes run UK 3 to UK 7. Black and white are made in the same beaded pattern. Wipe with a dry cloth, keep them out of standing water, and dry them away from direct heat.
Sold by Alpha Threads Fashions • NAIROBI
Crafts
Flat leather sandals from Nairobi with a beaded butterfly worked across the toe strap in copper, white and multicoloured glass beads. The butterfly is the reason to buy these. It is built up bead by bead and sewn onto the strap, not printed and not glued on, so the wings catch the light as you walk and no two pairs are spaced quite the same. The body is worked in rows of copper toned beads and the wings in mixed colours, and the whole piece sits proud of the leather. Underneath it is a plain, well made sandal. A stitched leather footbed with a tooled border, a toe post and a slim strap across the instep, and a leather sole. Nothing on the foot but leather and beads. The photographs show the brown colourway. Black is also available from the colour options. Choose your usual UK size. Wipe the leather with a dry cloth and keep the beadwork out of water.
Sold by Alpha Threads Fashions • NAIROBI
Fashion Accessories
Bohemian Maasai Sandals are handmade leather shoes finished with colourful beads, a low-profile silhouette and a relaxed artisan feel. The multicoloured design makes them ideal for shoppers looking for handmade African sandals with a boho edge, comfortable everyday wear and a giftable statement look. With their handcrafted beads, leather base and easy style, these sandals fit naturally into searches for beaded footwear, bohemian sandals and African-inspired shoes.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion
Handmade men's Oxford shoes in tan suede and smooth leather, with a suede toe and quarters, a leather band across the vamp and closed lacing. The two textures are the point of this pair. Suede at the toe and around the heel, polished leather through the middle, and pale contrast stitching tracing every seam, so the shoe reads as smart without looking stiff. It sits comfortably with chinos, tailored trousers or a suit in navy or grey, from the office to a weekend lunch. Photographed in the tan brown colourway. The maker also offers black, red and navy blue in the same pattern; those are not pictured, so ask the seller for a photograph before choosing one. Sizes 40 to 50. Sizes 48, 49 and 50 carry a small extra charge, shown when you pick the size. Care: brush the suede with a soft suede brush when dry and keep it away from heavy rain. Wipe the leather with a damp cloth and use a neutral cream now and then. Store with shoe trees or paper inside to hold the shape.
Sold by Earlybird • Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
Handmade black leather T strap sandals, beaded in yellow, green, white and black, with cream cowrie shells set along the toe post and across the instep. The beadwork is worked in tight arcs that follow the shape of the strap, with cowrie shells running up the toe post and a second group set across the front of the foot. The footbed is stitched right around its edge rather than glued, which is what holds a flat sandal like this together through a summer. They fasten with long flat ties at the ankle, so you can leave them loose or lace them snug for walking. Flat and open, they suit hot weather, a holiday, or a long dress where you want the detail at the foot rather than at the heel. Cowrie shells were used as currency across much of Africa, including the East African coast, so on a Kenyan made sandal they are shells from home waters rather than a borrowed motif. Each pair is beaded by hand, so bead placement and the exact position of the shells vary slightly from pair to pair. Care: keep them dry, wipe the leather with a soft cloth, and store them flat so the beadwork is not crushed.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Crafts
Dark brown leather slides with two wide straps crossing over the foot, a moulded tan leather footbed and a black sole, handmade in Enugu, Nigeria. The footbed is what separates these from a flat slide. It is shaped rather than level, with a raised arch and a shallow heel cup that stops the foot sliding forward, and the maker's name is blind embossed into the insole. Each strap is cut from a single piece of leather and set into the side of the sole unit, so there is no stitching across the top of the foot to rub. A small dark metal stud sits on the outer strap. They go with trousers as easily as with shorts, which is the point of a leather slide over a rubber one: smart enough to wear out, open enough for hot weather. Sizes run EU 40 to 46. The maker lists sizes in EU only, so measure against a pair you already own if you are between sizes. The sole is listed by the maker as Marco and rubber. Wipe the leather with a dry cloth, and if they get wet let them dry away from direct heat.
Sold by Bubee luxewalkers • Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
Handmade flat sandals with a wide beaded ankle cuff and a toe strap of round medallions, worked in green, yellow, purple and white glass seed beads on a black sole. If your summer wardrobe is mostly plain, this is the pair that adds the colour for you. The four bead colours mean it picks up almost anything, so one pair earns its place next to several outfits rather than waiting for the one it matches. The ankle cuff is a broad panel of fine seed beads in curved rows, and the toe strap steps down in three beaded medallions to the post. The sole and straps are leather. All of it is threaded and stitched by hand, row by row. Wipe the leather with a dry cloth, keep the beads away from perfume, and store the pair flat so the cuff holds its shape.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion
Handmade leather thong sandals with a brown suede footbed and a cushioned black sole. The wide full grain leather straps meet at a soft toe post that sits flat between the toes, the contoured footbed is lined in suede so it grips without rubbing, and the rubber tread underneath is cut for wet and dry ground. They dress up with linen trousers as easily as they loaf with shorts. The photographs show the black pair; the same design is made in red, and sizes run from EU 39 to 47 in the picker. Designed and handmade in Nigeria by the Earlybird leather workshop, with the maker's mark embossed in the footbed. Wipe the leather with a soft cloth and keep the suede dry.
Sold by Earlybird • Nigeria
Fashion
Handmade leather mules, the backless half shoes worn with native attire and casual dress. The vamp is smooth leather over suede side panels, with a slim crossed strap detail and the maker's own mark blind embossed in the leather footbed. Inside is a leather lining on a cushioned high density sole, so they slip on in a second and stay comfortable through a long day. The photographs show the black pair; the same design is made in brown and in black and red, and sizes run from EU 38 to 50 in the picker, a wider range than most handmade shoes offer. Wear them with a kaftan or senator wear as easily as with jeans. Wipe clean with a soft cloth and let them rest a day between wears.
Sold by Earlybird • Nigeria
Fashion
Handmade leather slides with a two tone suede strap in dark brown and tan, a suede covered padded footbed and a black moulded sole, made in Nigeria by Earlybird. The strap is the reason to look twice. It is cut from two suedes, a shaggy dark brown and a smoother tan, pieced together in interlocking panels and edged in tan binding, with the maker's own EARLYBIRD tab embossed on the side. The footbed is lined in the same dark brown suede and padded for comfort, so it feels softer underfoot than a rubber slide. Easy to slip on for the house, the garden, errands or a warm evening out, and relaxed enough to wear with shorts, linen trousers or a kaftan. Photographed in the brown colourway. The maker also offers black and red in the same pattern; those are not pictured, so ask the seller for a photograph before choosing one. Sizes 38 to 50, numbered as the maker sizes them. The largest sizes carry a small extra charge, shown when you pick the size. Care: brush the suede with a soft suede brush once dry and keep the slides out of heavy rain. Let them dry naturally away from direct heat if they get wet.
Sold by Earlybird • Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
These Maasai sandals are handmade from genuine leather and detailed with colourful beads for an authentic African-inspired finish. Designed as comfortable, everyday statement footwear, this pair blends artisan craftsmanship with easy wearability. Perfect for shoppers looking for handmade leather sandals, African beaded sandals and unique fashion-forward footwear with cultural character.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A leather belt beaded in the black, red, green and white of the Kenyan flag. Rows of tiny seed beads are stitched by hand along the full length of a solid leather strap, with the colours set in wide blocks divided by thin white lines, in the same order as the flag. The back of the strap is left as natural leather, and the belt closes with a simple metal buckle on a tan leather end. It is 90 cm from end to end and 5 cm wide, so check it against a belt you already wear before ordering. The wide beaded band sits best on jeans, chinos and casual trousers, and holds its own at cultural events and festivals. If you like the pattern, the same shop makes a matching Kenyan flag beaded cuff bracelet. Wipe clean with a dry cloth and keep it out of long soaking.
Sold by Tribal Shop • Kenya
Crafts
Men's black leather slides with one wide strap embossed in a woven basket pattern and finished with a small black buckle, handmade in Lagos, Nigeria. Everything is black, the strap, the buckle, the footbed and the sole, so there is nothing shiny to date them and they sit as easily with dark trousers as with native wear. The embossed weave gives a plain slide some texture without adding any colour. Available in sizes 40 to 44. If you prefer something softer and more casual, the same maker's brown crossover strap slides are the other way to go.
Sold by Mary_N Footies • Lagos
Fashion Accessories
Handmade tan leather flat sandals with a wide black and white beaded ankle cuff and a toe strap of beaded medallions in the same monochrome pattern. Black and white is the beaded sandal that behaves like a neutral. It carries the handmade detail and the pattern without committing to a colour, so it sits with everything in the way a bright pair cannot, which makes it the sensible first beaded pair to own. The ankle cuff is a broad panel of fine seed beads in a bold geometric black and white pattern, and the toe strap steps down in beaded medallions to a leather post. The footbed is tan leather with a stitched edge. Every bead is threaded and stitched by hand. Wipe the leather with a dry cloth, keep the beads away from perfume, and store the pair flat so the cuff holds its shape.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
Crochet slides with a wide band covered in glass crystal and seed beads, on a leather insole. EU 36 to 44 in five colours, made to order. Somethin' Nice's best seller. Where the Garland pair is quiet, this one is not. The band is a solid panel of glass crystal and seed beads worked over the crochet, packed close enough that no yarn shows through, so the whole strap moves and catches light as you walk. This is the pair they sell most of, and the reason is the wide single band. No toe post and nothing between the toes, so they go on in one motion, and they suit a foot that a thong strap rubs. Evening rather than daytime. Beaded black against a plain dress does the work of a heel without the walk home afterwards. They carry a reception, a dinner, an owambe, or any long night where the shoes have to last as long as you do. Five colours: black, white, red, brown, or custom. Custom means you name the shade and the pair is crocheted in it, which is how these end up matched to one specific outfit or to a whole wedding party. Acrylic yarn crocheted by hand, glass crystal and glass seed beads sewn on by hand, leather insole. They are made deliberately snug and ease into shape with wear, so expect them to feel firm on the first day rather than loose. Made to order in EU 36 to 44 by a team of artisans led by Temiloluwa Paul, founder of Somethin' Nice. Dispatch runs two to four weeks because every pair is crocheted and beaded from scratch once you order. Care: the beads are sewn rather than glued, but they will snag on rough fabric, so keep them clear of knitwear and store them flat. Spot clean with a damp cloth rather than washing, and let them dry naturally away from direct heat.
Sold by Somethin' Nice • Nigeria
Fashion Accessories
Handmade crochet toe post sandals with small black glass beads worked along the straps, on a leather footbed. EU 36 to 44 in five colours, made to order. The strap is the whole design. Two fine cords of crocheted twine cross into a V over the foot, with clusters of small round glass beads worked in along both edges and the toe post beaded to match. It is a slim strap rather than a broad one, so most of the foot is on show and the beading reads as a line rather than a panel. This is the everyday pair of the three, and the toe post is why. They sit light on the foot, they take nothing to put on, and they are the pair you wear to the market or to lunch rather than saving for an occasion. Worth knowing before you order: the post does go between the toes. If a thong strap rubs you, the It-Girl slides from the same workshop have a wide single band and no post, and they are the better buy for you. The footbed is leather and it is stitched right around the edge to the sole rather than glued, which is what keeps a hand made sandal together once it has been worn in the sun a few times. Five colours: black, white, red, brown, or custom. Custom means you name the shade and the twine is crocheted in it, so a pair can be matched to one outfit. The pair photographed is the black. Acrylic twine crocheted by hand with glass beads worked in, on a leather footbed. Made to order in EU 36 to 44 by a team of artisans led by Temiloluwa Paul, the founder of Somethin' Nice. Dispatch runs two to four weeks because every pair is crocheted from scratch once you order. Care: keep the crochet dry and spot clean with a damp cloth rather than washing them. Store them flat so the strap holds its shape, and if they do get wet, let them dry naturally away from direct heat.
Sold by Somethin' Nice • Nigeria
Crafts
Flat leather toe post sandals with a polished tiger's eye stone set on the wide instep band and a matching stone at the toe, handmade in Kenya. The stone is the point of them. Tiger's eye is a banded quartz that shifts between gold and deep brown as the light moves across it, so a plain flat sandal picks up a glint with every step. One stone sits in a dark mount at the centre of the instep band, a second sits on the toe tab, and both band edges carry a fine punched border. The pair photographed is the red colourway and red is out of stock at the moment. Black, white and brown are the colours the maker holds, and none of them is photographed, so if the shade matters to you it is worth asking before you order. They are cut flat with no heel, which makes them a warm weather and holiday sandal rather than a walking one. Sizes run UK 3 to UK 8. Leather gives a little across the strap as you wear it, so take the smaller size if you are between two. Wipe the leather with a dry cloth, keep them out of standing water, and let them dry away from direct heat if they do get wet.
Sold by Alpha Threads Fashions • NAIROBI
Fashion Accessories
Handmade crochet slides with a strap of small flowers, each one centred with a faux pearl, set on a leather footbed. EU 36 to 44, made to order. The strap is a garland, which is where the name comes from. A row of crochet petals worked flower by flower, every one finished with a pearl at its centre, and a single smaller flower sitting on the toe ring. It is quiet work rather than loud, which is the whole point of them. Five colours: black, white, red, brown, or custom. Custom means what it says. Tell us the colour you want the twine crocheted in and the pair is made in that colour, which is how these end up matching a wedding party or an outfit nobody else is wearing. The white pair with pearls is a bridal shoe, and it solves a real problem. Something to change into at the reception that still looks like it belongs at the wedding, and what the bridesmaids ask for once it becomes clear the heels are not going to survive the day. Acrylic twine crocheted by hand over a leather footbed. They are made deliberately snug and they ease into shape with wear, so expect them to feel firm on the first day rather than loose. Made to order in EU 36 to 44 by a team of artisans led by Temiloluwa Paul, the founder of Somethin' Nice. Dispatch runs two to four weeks because every pair is crocheted from scratch once you order, not pulled off a shelf. Care: keep the crochet dry and spot clean with a damp cloth rather than washing them. Store them flat so the strap holds its shape, and if they do get wet, let them dry naturally away from direct heat.
Sold by Somethin' Nice • Nigeria
Fashion
A full grain cowhide leather duffel bag in deep coffee brown, with a zipped end pocket. The Msafiri is a weekend and business travel bag with generous room inside and clean, structured lines. The leather has a matte finish and the frame is rigid, so the bag keeps its shape when packed and protects what is inside. It is handmade in Kenya: the parts are made by artisans in Kenya and each bag is assembled in Nairobi by Hellen Nduku, founder of Kifaru Leather. The Kifaru rhino mark is embossed on the front. Details Full grain cowhide leather, matte finish Heavy duty metal zips and contrast stitching Two carry handles, a clip on shoulder strap and a leather luggage tag Zipped end pocket, big enough for a pair of shoes Size: 50 x 24 x 25cm Care: wipe clean with a soft dry cloth and keep it away from direct heat.
Sold by Kifaru Leather • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
Handmade leather toe loop sandals in EU size 31, which is a child's size. Cut and stitched in Kenya in the classic Maasai style, they have a dark leather footbed and crossed strap with white contrast stitching right around the edge, a punched star pattern on the strap, and a loop that holds the big toe so the sandal stays on without a buckle. The leather is left plain rather than beaded, so the making is the whole look. They suit everyday wear, school holidays and travel, and they make a lovely gift for a child with Kenyan roots. If you need a different size, message the shop before ordering. Wipe clean with a damp cloth and air dry away from direct heat.
Sold by Tribal Shop • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
Handmade black leather flat sandals with a column of natural cowrie shells running down the instep and a deep cuff of black seed beads at the ankle. If most of what you own is bright, this is the pair that stays out of the argument. Black beadwork and cream shells sit quietly against denim, linen and white cotton, and they carry into the evening better than a colourful pair does. The cowries are not a borrowed motif. Cowrie shells were money across much of Africa for centuries and the East African coast has its own species, so on a Kenyan pair these are shells from home waters. The construction is worth a look. The ankle cuff is many parallel strands of fine black seed beads, gathered into leather tabs at each side and crossing behind the heel. The toe post is leather. The beading does not stop at the straps either. A fine row is stitched right around the edge of the footbed, so the work continues under the foot as well as over it. Wipe the leather with a dry cloth. Keep the shells away from perfume, and store the pair flat so the bead strands do not tangle.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
African Beaded Maasai Sandals bring together genuine leather, colourful beadwork and a long, comfortable women's fit. The rasta-inspired yellow, red and green palette gives the pair a bold statement look, while the handmade finish keeps it grounded in everyday wearability. Ideal for shoppers searching for African beaded sandals, Maasai sandals, women's handmade leather shoes and colourful artisan footwear with a distinctive cultural edge.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
Handmade brown leather flat sandals with a wide white Maasai beaded ankle cuff and three round beaded medallions running down the toe strap. White is the quiet one in a beaded range. The cuff is broad and unmistakably Maasai, but a white ground with small flecks of red, blue and yellow sits against linen, denim and a summer dress in a way a fully multicoloured pair does not. This is the pair to pack if you only have room for one. The footbed is tan leather with a stitched border running right around the edge. A brown leather strap runs behind the beaded cuff and fastens at the ankle, so these hold to the foot rather than slipping on and off like a plain thong. The toe post is leather, and the three medallions are beaded in concentric rings and stitched to the strap. Wipe the leather with a dry cloth. Keep the beadwork away from perfume, and store the pair flat so the cuff keeps its shape.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
Handmade flat thong sandals with a tall beaded ankle cuff and toe strap worked in bands of magenta, yellow and gold glass seed beads on a black sole. This is the loud pair, and that is the point. Where a white or black beaded sandal disappears into an outfit, the pink and yellow banding is meant to be the thing people notice, so wear it with plain linen or denim and let the feet do the talking. The ankle cuff is many parallel strands of fine seed beads that curve up the back of the heel, gathered into a beaded spine at each side. The toe post and sole are leather backed for a flat, flip flop style fit. Every bead is threaded and stitched down by hand. Wipe the sole with a dry cloth, keep the beadwork away from perfume, and store the pair flat so the strands keep their shape.
Sold by GLOBAL HANDMADE • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A hand painted leather keyring on a steel split ring, in a lion or zebra design. The leather is cut in the outline of the map of Kenya, dyed orange and painted by hand. The lion design carries a lion's face in red, yellow and white with fine white whiskers; the zebra design carries a zebra's head in black and white. Both have stripes of green, yellow and dark brown painted along one edge. Choose the design you want from the options: the photographs show the two keyrings together, and you receive one. Light enough to hang from keys, a bag zip or a backpack, and an easy small gift from Kenya. Wipe with a dry cloth and keep it out of standing water so the paint lasts.
Sold by Tribal Shop • Kenya
Fashion Accessories
A handmade crochet crossbody bag in mustard, cream and dark brown, from Kenya. The body is crocheted in three bold bands, mustard at the top, cream through the middle and dark brown at the base, and an embroidered patch of red flowers and green leaves is sewn onto the cream band. A zip closes the top and the inside is lined in soft white fabric. The brown faux leather strap clips on with bronze tone swivel clasps and has a buckle, so it adjusts to wear on the shoulder or across the body. The bag is about 22cm by 20cm and the strap adjusts up to 120cm, as the maker gives it. This is a single bag, made by an independent maker in Kenya.
Sold by Majda'sStore • Kenya
About the craft
Africa has one of the world's oldest continuous leatherworking traditions. From the tanneries of northern Nigeria, whose goatskin was so prized it reached Europe as 'Moroccan leather', to the sandal makers of East Africa, leather here is a craft inheritance, worked by hand with techniques that pre-date the factory by centuries.
The pieces in this collection come from that lineage: full-grain hides, vegetable tanning, saddle stitching done by hand rather than machine. Handmade leather wears differently from mass-produced: it moulds to its owner, deepens in colour, and outlasts fashion cycles. When you buy on Sokofa, you buy directly from the workshop that made it.
What to look for
Why Sokofa
Every vendor on Sokofa is personally verified. When you buy leather goods here, you buy directly from the artisan, with no middlemen and full transparency.
Common questions
Sokofa (sokofa.com) sells handmade African leather goods direct from the makers: beaded leather sandals from Kenya, loafers, slides and Oxford shoes from Nigerian shoemakers, and bags finished in leather. Every product is reviewed before it goes live, and orders ship worldwide with secure checkout.
Most pieces on Sokofa are made from locally sourced full-grain cow, goat, or sheep hides, often vegetable-tanned using methods passed down through generations of leatherworking families. Each product page lists the leather type used.
Keep leather away from prolonged moisture and direct heat, and condition it once or twice a year with a neutral leather balm. Full-grain leather develops a richer patina with use. Scuffs and darkening are character, not damage.
Yes. Every listing is reviewed before it goes live, every seller is verified before Sokofa pays them, and the leather pieces here are cut, stitched, and finished by hand in artisan workshops. Small variations in stitching and grain are the signature of handmade work.
Yes, all items ship internationally, with delivery times and costs confirmed at checkout. Returns are accepted for items that arrive damaged, wrong or not as described, reported within 48 hours of delivery; contact support and they will guide you through the process.
