Jacob Omwono

Category: Accessories

Competitions: Africa, International

This project brings together sustainability, culture, and symbolism through two distinct but connected bags, blending the rich heritage of East African craftsmanship with the refined sensibilities of European design. The small bag is adorned with authentic Kenyan Maasai beadwork, hand-stitched onto recycled leather. Its compact design carries the spirit of tradition, celebrating East African craftsmanship and intentional fashion. The intricate beadwork and patterns were cut from discarded cardboard found on the streets, infusing the design process with resourcefulness and raw creativity. The European influence here is seen in the minimalist design and functional approach, aligning with modern European aesthetics that emphasize both beauty and practicality. The larger bag takes a more minimalist approach but remains deeply symbolic. Made from the same recycled leather and street-collected cardboard patterns, it features a powerful symbol: the African continent, illustrated in five bold colors representing the Big Five — lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, and leopard. This symbol is rendered with European design principles in mind — focusing on balance, harmony, and refined details, which subtly soften the bold colors to align with European color preferences. The bag’s clean lines and versatile silhouette reflect European urban chic while still telling a story of African strength, pride, and resilience. Together, the bags create a unique visual and cultural dialogue between detail and simplicity, tradition and modernity, form and meaning. The intricate beadwork of the smaller bag speaks to a rich heritage, while the larger bag’s symbol offers a more abstract, contemporary interpretation of African pride, infused with European influences in design. The result is a fusion of East African craftsmanship with the sophisticated, minimalist charm of European fashion a union that celebrates sustainability, cross-cultural connection, and a commitment to conscious fashion. Let's redesign the future: Jacob Omondi Omwono. Founder; @bagandadesigns Kisumu/Brussels ♻Turning sofas into statements | Afro-futurist upcycling . Behind-the-scenes: [instagram.com/omwonokillion](https://www.instagram.com/omwonokillion)