Profile: Winnie Kaloki – Real Leather Design Competitions

Winnie Kaloki

Self Employed

FA Crafted

My name is Winnie Kaloki a Product Designer by training: B.A Design- Product Design, UoN, and I am passionate about creating meaningful ergonomically sound products that effortlessly bridge the gap between aesthetics and functionality. With close to 20 years in the design space, my creative path has not always been linear as for years my output was greatly influenced by fleeting trends as it was more customer led and this has always felt like a betrayal to my authentic craft, as I was not able to fully express my creativity and have a signature feel to my designs. But all this is changing! Over the last two years I have been on a journey of rediscovery, redefining and realigning as I shift to creative led designs. This path has brought me back to one of my first loves; bag making. Today, the principles of slow fashion are the primary driver of my work. Drawing heavily on my African DNA, I use my creative skills and experiences to showcase the continent's rich heritage in my work. The opportunity to showcase Africa's craftsmanship by fusing different craft techniques and using leather as the main medium is an opportunity I couldn't pass on. Africa has a wealth of incredible designers and I am eager to rejoin this circle and show the world just how innovative, design-conscious, and culturally rooted we truly are.

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ARI- A case for grit

Category: Accessories

Competitions: Africa

The inspiration for this project is drawn from the understanding that creatives need more than just talent to be successful. There is a non- cognitive trait that separates the ones who make it and the ones who give up mid pursuit. And that trait is.....GRIT. Grit is the steel backbone that supports the creative, keeping them steady as they maintain effort and interest in the creative journey despite failure, adversity or plateaus. It breeds passion and perseverance for long term goals. To embody this trait the accessory project is aptly named ARI, a Swahili word referring to a strong urge, eagerness, enthusiasm, zeal, or initiative to achieve a goal without defeat. It implies high motivation, effort, or a "can-do spirit. And this is the spirit of Grit! Now, imagine putting this trait into a product, where just like a creative it constantly pivots, shifts and adapts while remaining true to form and as we know form always follows function. This will be executed by having a single bag that can change its look at the press of a button... literally. The Ari bag has interchangeable parts making it carry different looks with minimal structure changes. The idea is to have a modular bag concept- easy to put together and take apart without a fuss and also to replicate for production. The choice of materials and its placement is also deliberate. Using cow hide leather and off-cut wood speaks to the longevity this bag will have also both are sustainable and reused materials that would otherwise be thrown out. The pliability and flexibility quality of leather aligns with what a creative needs to be - constantly pivoting as we come into new ideas, skills, market demands etc but staying on course. Additionaly, the use of the fingerprint as the pattern is intentional as it speaks of the need to keep true to ones self while developing a signature look that's uniquely you. The use of laser engraving to make the pattern tactile is a nod to embracing technology to express creativity. The ARI bag concept utilizes skills and experience that I have acquired to create a statement product that will stand out for its creativity , usefulness and will stand the test of time.