Oh, the incomparable Diana Vreeland! This photo captures all of her incomparability and originality and style. Although 'style' is too weak a word since she operated in an entirely different aesthetic realm, one all her own. And her jewelry! Beyond words. Of the many things that enrapture us about Ms Vreeland, we're most captivated by her habit of wearing pairs of matching cuffs, one on each arm. An INCREDIBLE, stunningly original look that was the inspiration for some of our newest pieces. Our wide metal cuffs, designed to be worn as a pair (for maximum impact, natch), come in both a gold-toned brass or a darkened aluminum. They are rendered from recycled brass and hammered aluminum, respectively, and made by an incredibly talented artisan at a workshop in Nairobi. We can't wait to show off these beauties in public. Try a pair, why don't you??
We’re often asked about our design inspirations— a great question, but one to which a thorough answer could literally take hours. I'll spare you that but will quickly say that one of our major inspirations has been traditional, ancient jewelry. There is nothing more awe-inspiring than their timelessness and incredible craftsmanship. And we are constantly struck by how timeless and modern some pieces are—for example, an ancient shell bracelet from Papua New Guinea would look perfectly at home in a jewelry display at Barneys, or on a model’s wrist in a glossy magazine's fashion spread.
Our obsession with ancient jewelry started while doing research for our trip to Ghana—we came across some stunning gold pieces worn by Ashanti tribal chieftans and we were HOOKED. Photo below: we've got to tackle that unbelievably amazing ring next.
We particularly fell in love with the Azbeg. Fantastic name, no? It's a wildly unique bracelet shape, traditionally made of silver. The Azbeg inspired a few pieces from our new collection-- the brass studded cuff below, for example. Its history is even better: the Azbeg hails from the Anti-Atlas region of Morocco, possibly from as far back as the first century AD. The design is credited to Jewish goldsmiths who came to the area after Jerusalem fell to the Romans in 70 AD.
I found this INCREDIBLE photo at my parent's house during a recent visit. And was blown away by both the gorgeous textiles and my utter lack of memory of this high point in my extensive dress-up career. Evidently I've always been drawn to pattern and texture! Most of these fabrics look like they hail from India but the blue and white fabric of the skirt on the left has a distinct West African indigo cloth vibe. Regardless, I need to get my hands on these textiles - they would be perfect for a new piece we're working on. Lips are sealed for now but photos as soon as we nail it!
Unfortunately not quite a namesake (unfortunately) but we love the aesthetic of these old Bollywood film posters. Kora Kagaz is a 1974 Bollywood film about, what else, the enduring power of love in transcending class boundaries and fixing the world. Despite winning India's "National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment" it's pretty great. Watch a clip here (and keep an eye out for the cover of the book she's reading at the beginning- SO incredible!).
In Ghana we visited an incredible glass bead village, set high up in the mountains above Koforidua. After a steep 45 minute hike (during which, I am not proud to admit, we were passed by two girls each balancing an enormous, physics-defying load of wood on their head) we arrived at the top. The village's main source of income is glass bead production, and they've continued the artistic tradition through many, many generations.
Behold the loooong path to the top. The low-hanging fog is a seasonal thing in Ghana. It's truly wild as it lasts all day and obscures the sun, making you feel as if you were on the moon. Rather similar to the Los Angeles phenomenon of June Gloom, actually. But thirty degrees hotter.
This is an anthill. A serious, serious anthill. We encountered these impressive monoliths every few yards. Hadir, our unofficial and invaluable guide for all things Koforidua, stands next to Max below.
They make both transparent and painted glass beads but specialize in the latter. These beads are painted by hand, as this woman is doing, after they've been fired and cooled. It's a painstaking process but yields stunning results, as seen below.
The stunning final product.
The bead-makers bring the finished beads down the mountain to sell at the weekly bead market in Koforidua. They also sell directly to local bead dealers who bring their beautiful work to a wider market. It's incredible to watch these beads made in exactly the same way they've always been made. They've perfected the process, no need for improvement. The other amazing thing is that they do it all without electricity. The only contemporary innovation are the ubiquitous radios that provide a musical or news-based soundtrack to their work-- each is hooked up to a battery-powered generator.
You have two main public transportation options in Nairobi: buses or the WAY more fun option of mutatus! These are deeply beat up passenger vans, specimen below. (Well, technically this is a matatu-bus hybrid but the decoration on this one is too good to not share.)
Mutatu drivers, the good ones, are skilled lunatics behind the wheel and you want it that way. Great antidote to Nairobi traffic! Mutatus make their money on the frequency of their trips so the faster they drive, the more money they make. Curbs tend not to be an obstacle, nor people, nor actually any other vehicle on the road. Mutatus are the terrors of Nairobi and cars automatically yield to them. We’ve been in multiple fender benders that make it clear why this is in the smart option for other cars. And the music! Ranges from dance hall reggae to Akon to Kiswahili rap to American 90s hits. Played mostly at fantastically deafening volumes which does significantly ease the agony of gridlock traffic.
Brightly colored mutatu interior! The city of Nairobi is trying to standardize the buses and mutatus by limiting decoration and loud music- I am VERY opposed. This Legend bus is a rolling work of art!
More shots from Alan Donovan's house. He designed it himself and is inspired by the beautiful earthen mosque in Mali. It overlooks Nairobi National Park and is filled with the most stunning pieces of art from across Africa, both traditional and contemporary.
Hanging lamps made of fish traps from the Kenyan coast:
Amazing sculpture by Francis Nnagenda, a Ugandan artist:
Had lunch with the incomparable Alan Donovan at his stunning house, photos below. Alan was literally the first person to bring African art and fashion to the States in the 1970's.
Here are some photos from the drive to Tigoni, a stunning area just outside Nairobi city proper. We went to visit a workshop in Tigoni that produces stunning pieces from a material new to Kora. We can't divulge any details yet, but we will soon!
Here is the INCREDIBLY picturesque workshop.
HUGE, magnificent sky!
