Mwezi Blu - a passion project turned into a beautiful small business!
Hi there, I'm Vi, one of the co-founders of Mwezi Blu, an exciting new jewellery brand that's launched in May. My business partner and close friend Nicola and I are thrilled to share our passion for ethical values, sustainability, community, and Africa through Mwezi Blu.
Our story began a few years ago when we met in South Luangwa, Zambia, and bonded over our shared love for African culture, wildlife, and sustainable living. As we chatted about our passion for fashion and jewellery, and inspiration found in the local craft traditions and the materials that were available to us, our excitement grew and we knew we must get to work...
We started experimenting with different designs and sourcing sustainable beads and components from local artisans, which led us to create our first Mwezi Blu pieces. From there, our passion project slowly grew into a full-fledged business idea, and we began to develop our brand identity and values.
Our core values are rooted in ethical and sustainable practices. We believe in creating jewellery that not only looks good but also feels good to wear, and tells the story of Africa. We're committed to sourcing all of our materials ethically, working with local artisans, entrepreneurs, small businesses and cooperatives across the African continent. Our own Mwezi Blu team is formed of rural Zambians, who also share our passion for jewellery, craft, and design. While our team is small, the passion for mastering jewellery making techniques, growing individually and as a team is our core purpose.
At the heart of our brand is a deep love and respect for Africa and its people. We're proud to create products that celebrate the region's beauty and culture, and we're committed to giving back to the communities that inspire us. We proudly donate 10% of our sales to two amazing organisations we love. Art Reach project (under Project Luangwa Zambia charity) in Zambia and Kumbatia in Kenya support children, provide education, and contribute to community development. Go to 'OUR IMPACT' page to read more and see how you can support children and wider communities through Art Reach and Kumbatia.
We're so excited to have finally launched Mwezi Blu and to be able to share our passion with the world. Our first collection SHANGA (Swahili for beads) features unique, handcrafted pieces that are perfect for any occasion, from casual everyday wear to special life events. Beautifully vibrant pieces are made from authentic trade beads collected from across the African continent, paired with stunning Sterling Silver details. Each bead is carefully selected for its unique colour, pattern and cultural significance and every piece of jewelry is fully handmade with the utmost care and attention to detail.
We hope that our customers will love wearing their Mwezi Blu jewellery as much as we loved creating it.
Thank you for joining us on this journey, and we can't wait to see where Mwezi Blu takes us next.
Lots of love!
-Vi
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