This year for the first time Tanzania Maasai Women Aryt collection will be present at L’ARTIGIANATO IN FIERA in Milan Italy (Fiera Milano Spa -Rho Milan Italy). The jewelries will be sold at the Pavillon 10 Stand V141 by our Italian distributor CETACEA SERVICE – ITALY info@cetaceaservice.com.
Do not miss the opportunity to chose perfect and unique Christmas presents and support the Maasai women communities in Northern Tanzania.
In 2006 when we were looking for Maasai women communities that would be interested in the project we met Elisabeth Saibulu… ‘Mama Eva’. An extremely kind woman in her late thirties , very diffident but carefully listening to our words while noisy children, cows, dogs and goats were all asking her attention. There was a strong contrast between her natural stylishness and the dusty worn out shuka (Maasai blanket) she was wearing. She was somehow standing out even though nothing was really unusual in the whole picture.
A few years down the line Mama Eva has undoubtedly become the best artisan of Maasai Women Art and is often involved in the quality control process. Last year she was chosen by our designer Francesca Torri Soldini to assist her in the production of prototypes for the new collection 2013.
Mama Eva checks Eva Necklace 
Mama Eve with Margaret
Well…it is only recently that I found out that Mama Eva had no clue about beading jewelries but envisaged the potential behind the Maasai Women Art project straight away. She quickly learned the techniques to the point that her work these days is so precise and neat one would sometime think it was produced by machine.
Mama Eva has now started to take English lessons and would like to learn to use the computer.
Mama Eva grew up in a raditional Maasai boma with 2 brothers and 4 sisters. Her parents must have been exceptionally wise to recognize in those ‘early days’ the importance of education. All of the children terminated standard seven.
Mama Eva has 4 daughters aging from 9 to 20 year. Her first born Eva will start university soon.
It is women like her that I want to celebrate and support in the hope that they will become an example for future generations.
It is women like Mama Eva that inspire me and remind me why I am doing what I do!
Margaret displays some of the previous collections jewellery which are now on sale at the shop in Arusha.
Helen is flat out preparing samples for the women and teaching them how to produce a good quality piece of jewellery.
A lot going on this month ! Both Narasuno and Enaboisho women groups are busy busy trying to keep up with the many orders that have suddenly arrived along with the safari high tourism season.
A lot of work …a lot of beads …and a lot of smiles !
Our website is being completely redesigned by a group of students at the IED (Istituto Europeo di Design) in Milan who are creating through this work their final thesis masterpiece.
A lot of enthusiasm and bright young energy will give the site a totally new and dynamic look.
It will hopefully be up and running sometime towards the end of June this year.
IED has once again contributed tremendously to the Maasai Women Art organisation and has
become an invaluable partner.
The Maasai women groups are flat out with the production of the new designs for the collection 2013!
A selection of the best jewellery of these past few years and an outstanding new range of designs is presented in the new catalogue.
The models Rebecca Suder, Sintamei Kipepiari, Keara Pierce and some of the Maasai women have patiently posed for long hours and diligently followed the instructions of the photographer Rachel Ambrose. Thanks to Rachel the catalogue is again completely different from the previous ones and certainly an astounding achievement.
This year we are very glad to offer a separate collection of more chic and sophisticated designs that require additional time and effort to be produced.
Invites and details will be sent around soon. We hope you will join us for a special and fun evening!
“Mama Eva” from Enaboisho Maasai women group has recently joined the team in town and is helping with producing prototypes, training the other women on new designs and checking the quality of the beadwork.
It is a great pleasure to have Lén Helén Hörlin joining the board of directors!
