About African Trade Beads Jewellery Collection
African Trade Beads started in 2009 when Tamiko Sher visited Ghana for a consulting job and purchased beads from the local market. Fascinated by the history of trade beads and the beauty of the hand-made beads themselves, she began making jewellery items.
Today African Trade Beads Jewellery Collection, an initiative under Z.A.ZEN Consulting (Pty) Ltd, includes various ranges of unique hand-made jewellery items made of beads from 17 different countries. Many of our beads are made the same way as centuries ago, and we apply high quality finishes and aesthetic design to our jewellery items. wherever possible, our items are made with environmentally conscious use of materials, often recycled.
Our ranges are sold in high-profile tourist destinations, museum shops, selected online catalogues, speciality stores, high-end safari lodges, individual collections and upscale galleries in various countries around the world, and continue to provide income for previously unemployed women. in 2012, an initiative began in joint collaboration with a Johannesburg- based jewellery school for the Gold of Africa range, where artisans assist with the gold-plated jewellery items, and a portion of the proceeds goes to support local artisans and in training up-and-coming jewellers in South Africa. Today, African Trade Beads Jewellery Collection works with many jewellers and crafters to develop our unique creations.
Vision
African Trade Beads Jewellery Collection is a high-quality heritage and socially brand of unique hand-made contemporary African Jewellery and the best source of authentic hand-made African trade bead jewellery in Africa.
Mission
To develop African Trade Beads Jewellery Collection as a sustainable brand that celebrates the history of hand-made African trade beads and creates employment and skills training for previously unemployed people in Johannesburg in the jewellery and craft businesses.