Blooh, Founder's Note
In majority of the world, work is done by hand. So much so that artisan work is the 2nd largest employer in the developing world and the largest employer of women. This is personal to me. Growing up in Nepal, I saw my grandmothers weave baskets for their homes. Neighbors pieced together their own clothes and made plates out of dried leaves. Beyond self-sufficiency, every item was a beautiful unfolding of colors and patterns that symbolized a long chain of generational knowledge. Years later in Nairobi I found a thriving tradition of handwork rooted in different materials like brass, horn, wood and so on. Here too was another style, each slightly different than the other, preserved through the hands of local metalworkers in buzzing city centers and abandoned slums with very limited reach.
These traditions have been developing naturally in all parts of the world for thousands of years. It was part survival, part expression. Each region’s cultural heritage influenced trade and provided financial means for average workers for centuries. However, the global culture that began at the tail end of the last century is defining its own type of progress – one that maximizes quantity to appease a growing global appetite for things. A flatter world has concentrated the means of production in the hands of a few. Trading transparency for convenience, we forget how things are made, who makes them, who gets left behind, and more importantly what impact they have on the larger world. Simply put we lose connection to the very things we wear and keep close to us day to day. But, not every product has to be made in the same way.
The story of Blooh, pronounced blue, is a direct reflection of my growing understanding of the interconnectedness between our history, personal actions, and future. Today, we work directly with artisan partners in Kenya to design and purchase items made by their hands. Behind each product is a story of hundreds of years of craftmanship and personal drive – you can find Causes tied to each product on our website. Not only does this work preserve tradition so more people can enjoy timeless creations, it also helps them grow their reach. We’ve made it part of our mission that in the next decade, as we grow so will our partners.
Our ethos is built on the premise that how products are made matters because it has the potential to inspire confidence and impact. We strive to connect people to the things they buy a little more each day. We champion conscious living and good design and the stories we tell reflect our intentions to create a world that values similar ideals. Above all, we’re a community trying to do better together.
Stay tuned for more stories about the people powering our work.
