In February 2017, I had the great fortune of visiting my home in East Africa and catching up on Harkiss Designs and Lend a Hand Uganda –USA charity projects based in Uganda. Overall, it was a fabulous trip, and I feel rejuvenated and inspired to get back to work. Here I share some of the […]
On my most recent trip to east Africa, I noted plenty of new growth in the city where I grew up and in the communities where many Harkiss artisans live. Railroads are expanding, housing and office buildings are under construction, and more people are getting connected than ever before. An influx of investors, including private […]
We are delighted to announce that we are now members of the Fair Trade Federation, which means that all of our products are certified fair trade items. You can find out more about the Fair Trade Federation (FTF) here: fairtradefederation.org At Harkiss Designs, we are committed to paying our artisans fairly and opening up the […]
Harkiss Designs is a social enterprise, a new breed of business with a mission. Don’t confuse a social enterprise with a social networking business. While we do connect with you via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, our ultimate goals are more far reaching. As a social enterprise, Harkiss Designs seeks to use capitalism compassionately as a tool […]
When Nambi, breathless from running, came in sight of her house, she saw Walumbe sitting on the step, holding the bag of chicken feed on his lap. “When I stopped to see you, I found you had left home. Where did you go, my sister, without a word to anyone?” asked Walumbe in a sad […]
Folklore, oral history and storytelling are inextricably woven into the fiber of East African life. Even though Africa does have an ancient written tradition, most communities pass their cultural knowledge and history from generation to generation orally. Storytelling was a way of life as I was growing up in Uganda. Elders tell stories that explain […]
For the artisans of Harkiss Designs, the process of harvesting and preparing materials, dyeing the fibers and creating traditional baskets is more than just a way to earn a living. The growing basket weaving industry in Uganda and other East African nations is the embodiment of traditional values. Basketry in East Africa reflects a deeply […]
The handcrafted baskets of East African women are a mainstay of the cultures of Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. They are also the foundation of the Harkiss Designs collection. The different profiles, designs and techniques that distinguish our basket lines are part of a rich, multigenerational tradition unique to specific […]
Harkiss Designs brings the talent of East African artisans, manifest in our beautiful accessories and home deco, to new markets in the U.S., Canada, and other areas that have never had the opportunity to indulge in the textures, colors, and designs of this exotic corner of the world. Our bags, totes, sandals, hats, and purses […]
The east African country of Uganda has made strides in educating its children since the 1990s. The government instituted The Education Strategic Investment Plan in 1998 that, over the following five years, largely supported the country’s Universal Primary Education program. With a mission to ensure that all Ugandan children enrolled in primary school, which spans […]