Profile: Joe Macharia – Real Leather Design Competitions

Joe Macharia

University of Nairobi

I’ve always been drawn to making things with my hands, long before I formalized it into a brand. I started by designing and selling small products, learning through doing—testing ideas in real time and refining them through use, feedback, and repetition. I now run a handmade leather goods brand in Kenya, focused on functional, well-crafted pieces that balance structure, utility, and material honesty. My background in architecture has influenced how I think about design in general, especially in how I approach form, detail, and composition—but it sits behind my practice rather than defining it. At the core, I’m interested in pushing how things are made and how materials are used, treating design as an active process of building, testing, and improving rather than just conceptual work.

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'MAWIMBI' (ocean waves)

Category: Accessories

Competitions: Africa

“Mawimbi” is a luxury statement handbag inspired by sailing yachts under full sail. It translates the movement of sails, marine ropework, and wooden boat craftsmanship into a contemporary accessory that balances form, structure, and narrative. The lower section is wet-molded vegetable-tanned leather, shaped to highlight this leather’s ability to form strong sculptural 3D structures when wet. The upper section references sails through layered panels of cream goat leather and ocean-blue fish leather, separated by oxblood leather piping for contrast, rhythm, and visual flow. A sisal rope detail marks the transition between hull and sail, while brass hardware references traditional marine fittings. The design celebrates material honesty, durability, and the natural aging of leather, combining function, craft, and storytelling into a cohesive piece.