THE MANYATTA BAG

These exquisitely beaded bags are handmade by the Antassia collective in Northern Kenya. Founded in 2008 by Antonia Stogdale in partnership with the Mokogodo Maasai women of the Lekurruki Group Ranch, today the project brings together 120 Maasai “mamas” who bead using traditional methods refined with modern innovations, such as a distinctive double-threading technique that creates a tight, elegant weave.

During the day, the women are occupied with family responsibilities; in the evenings, they work by solar light in their manyattas (huts), sustaining their traditional Maasai way of life. Each bag is the result of two to three weeks of painstaking artistry. Payment is determined by weight, so every bead becomes income—supporting food security, children’s education, and independence for the women who choose how to direct their earnings. 

Every bag is unique: crafted by the Maasai women in brilliant glass beads, and stitched onto a traditional camel blanket for sturdiness. The finishing touches are added in Nairobi’s Kibera economically challenged community, where artisans craft straps from upcycled Kenyan leather, line each bag with vibrant vintage kanga cloth, and embellish it with an upcycled brass elephant.

The result is a refined, one-of-a-kind piece that can be carried as a clutch or worn crossbody—a piece alive with tradition, artistry, and community spirit.

While we can’t take returns at this time—each piece is individually commissioned and made in very small quantities—exchanges can be made within 14 days of delivery. For more information visit Shipping & Exchanges.