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Aliela Wanjiru

Self Employed

Angelo Adornments

Accessories

Aliela Wanjiru is a visionary product designer and multidiscipinary creative based in Nairobi, Kenya. They serve as the founder and head leatherworker behind the brand Angelo Adornments. They are currently devoted to combining art, jewelry-making and leatherworking. They fell in love with leather as a young dancer. They thoroughly enjoyed the ritual of stretching hides into large African drums, tightening the strings, putting the drums in the sun to warm, and the beautiful ways that the drums sang during the traditional dances. As an artist, they are obsessed with the idea of bringing more intensity and life back to dead cowhide leather using vibrant colors. They have found this to be a guiding hope when life gets tough; that no matter how dire situations are, beautiful things can be created from them. Aliela is also guided by the concept of making the best out of what you have, which is why their project; The Tinga Tote; is about making a new mark on previously used leather. Expression, identity, culture, color and sustainability are some of the pillars of their brand, Angelo Adornments. In 2021, Aliela received a Bachelor of Arts in Design degree from the University of Nairobi. Since then, they have been flourishing in the intersection of publishing and tech, designing products for digital learning. They are forever passionate about creating products that are accessible, empowering and hold a deep connection with the wearer or end user.

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The Tinga Tote.

Category: Accessories

Competitions: Africa, International

The Tinga Tote. Our project aims to revitalize the fashion industry by introducing a line of beautiful, innovative and sustainable leather tote bags. We will accomplish this in several ways. FIRST, The Tinga Tote will be made from previously-loved leather couches, bags, unused leather stock and more, repurposing them into functional and stylish accessories. For aesthetic appeal, our tote bags will showcase unique and meticulously handpainted art using vibrant oil pastels, inspired by the colorful Tinga Tinga art style from Tanzania. The art style not only also uses low-cost materials, but also has a rich history descending from African cave painting, making it a worthy inspiration. In the choice of materials, the oils in oil pastels condition the leather to keep looking fresh, and leather makes for a beautifully textured yet extremely durable canvas, which makes the merging of these two materials the perfect choice. In addition, the bags will feature glass beads as decorations and labels, to honor the beading culture of the Kenyan Samburu and Kamba communities. SECOND, the Tinga Tote’s fusion of cultural heritage and contemporary design not only adds a unique flair to each bag but also serves a practical purpose. The paintings and beadwork conceal imperfections in the recycled leather, thereby enhancing sustainability by widening the viable choices of leather. Our production process will also reduce environmental footprint by hiring artisans trained in the Tinga Tinga art style. This preserves the art style and also promotes economic empowerment. Another facet of waste reduction and economic strategy is that the tote bag’s pattern is relatively simple, requiring flat planes and minimal sewing skill, which reduces production time and cost, and adds to the number of people that could benefit from employment. LASTLY, the tote bag has been in fashion for several years, even being adopted by globally recognized brands.The longevity of the trend makes this idea a viable commercial choice. Research on pre-existing models shows that tote bags owners have discarded them due to the lack of durability of the materials used, and that they tend to dirty and tear easily. This is a source of waste in the garment and fabric industry. The use of leather and other choices implemented in making The Tinga Tote solve this problem and many more. With our idea, we seek to prioritize creativity, culture, and commercial viability, while promoting environmental consciousness.

In association with Arts Thread

Working with our partners at Arts Thread to develop lifelong learning and career opportunities for students of fashion and design. Our partnership provides the opportunity to compete on a world stage, participate in industry led workshops, set up an outstanding portfolio and gain access to the resources that will kickstart careers in fashion and design.