trade Showcase Profiles


sidai designs | tanzania

www.sidaidesigns.com

Company Focus: We believe that economic empowerment for women sets a direct path towards a more fair and just society, as empowering women will empower the community and promote gender equality and poverty eradication. Passionate in our mission, we strive for equality and improvement of women’s social standing, believing that artisanal design-led handcraft and a source of sustainable income are both powerful tools to bring about this positive change.
By bringing our products to international markets, we drive the demand for product, not only providing consistent work for the women but also preserving the fast fading Maasai beading traditions. This increased interest in our products ultimately encourages a new generation of beaders and ensures Maasai identity and culture is maintained.

We also provide social programs, covering topics such as legal and human rights, educational courses, capacity building, women’s health and medical services. This equips the women with the tools and resources to make informed decisions, ultimately creating a positive ripple effect affording the women a voice within their community that they deserve.

Social Impact: In a country where employment opportunities are scarce for Maasai women, we provide essential employment that helps them support their families; giving them the respect and a voice within their community. With access to a sustainable income the women are able to invest money into their children's education and have taken brave steps in walking away from abusive relationships as they have become self-sufficient. All our employees receive full benefits, including paid vacation, maternity leave, bus fare, lunch, retirement contributions of which we match 100%, access to loans, literacy classes and medical contribution to themselves to their families. Our full time team are paid a living wage, which we calculated with their assistance and our producers are actively involved in pricing products to ensure fair payment. Our social services are available to full time staff and producers. We have partnered with local NGO’s to facilitate social workshops. These have included health and wellness, HIV/AIDS, women’s health, hygiene and legal issues surrounding women’s rights. Furthermore, we continuously focus on capacity building by advancing our middle management through computer courses, financial management training as well as building production capacity through peer to peer quality control workshops and new product training.

Category: Accessories / Homeware 

T+I Levels: T3 + I2

Contact Name: Rebecca Moore

Email: becky@sidaidesigns.com

Address: 13 Kanisa Road, Arusha Town, Arusha Arusha, Tanzania

Export Experience: Intermediate

Production Capacity: We currently produce approximately 1000+ pieces of jewellery and 100 pieces of homeware per month.

Skills: We combine traditional Maasai beading techniques with modern jewellery making. Our team uses traditional embroidery of beads onto leather, hand woven beading techniques, wire wrapping and simple stringing. Theses pieces are then finished with traditional jewellery methods.

Price Point: Jewellery: $15-140 p/piece | Homeware: $22- $375 p/piece | Prices are landed

Lead Time: Jewellery: 4-6 weeks | Homeware: 6-8 weeks

# of Producers/Artisans: We have trained 105 women and actively work with an average of 62 women per week

Materials: In many of our bracelets, traditional glass beads are intricately joined using thread salvaged from old grain bags and enhanced with recycled metal beads, old canisters and yoghurt pots to create the boning. Luxury soft leather, sterling silver and gold filled components are then used to create simple, elegant finish.

Terms & Conditions: We require an opening order minimum of $500. On placing your order, we raise a pro forma invoice, requesting a 50% non-refundable deposit to begin production; remaining balance, including shipping needs to be paid in full before order is dispatched. Generally, products are made to order and lead time is approximately 4-6 weeks for jewellery and 6-8 weeks for homeware items. In some cases if the product is available ahead of the indicated lead time, we will dispatch in advance.

For all US clients, pricing is landed and shipped from our distribution point in San Francisco, via USPS or Fedex. For the rest of the world, pricing is landed in the UK and will be shipped from London via UPS or Royal Mail . 

Customers have 7 days from the date they placed their order in which to cancel, otherwise they will be liable for full payment of the invoice.

Custom designs are available upon request. Where necessary, a sampling fee will be charged.

.Other Accreditations: n/a