About Chebet Mutai Collective

I began this journey with a belief that design and trade can create meaningful, sustainable livelihoods. After working in development across Africa, I saw a disconnect between the language of sustainable development and the realities of creating lasting economic opportunity. In 2012, I started Wazawazi, a fashion and leather goods brand rooted in African design, craftsmanship and culture, to explore what could happen when creativity and commerce worked together to create opportunity.

COVID made the challenge even clearer: great African design and meaningful impact cannot thrive without access to larger markets. For many African designers and brands, the creativity was there—but access to customers, distribution and global markets was not. That realization brought me to the United States, where for more than two years we built Chebet Mutai through our flagship store in historic Larimer Square in Denver. We listened to customers, learned what made them return, and built a reputation around a carefully considered edit of exceptional African fashion, jewelry, home and lifestyle pieces.

That experience gave us a first-hand understanding of the growing global appetite for contemporary African design—and of what it takes to bring it to customers, from the first discovery to the final delivery. We learned that people aren't simply looking for something “African.” They are looking for great design, exceptional craftsmanship, authentic stories and pieces that allow them to express a little more of themselves. That insight is at the heart of Chebet Mutai today.

A Curated Marketplace for Contemporary African Design

We are now building Chebet Mutai as a curated marketplace for exceptional African brands, designers and makers. Every brand is selected not only for the beauty and quality of what it creates, but for the people, culture, craftsmanship and impact behind it. We believe the future of African design lies in creating stronger businesses, expanding market access, preserving and evolving culture, and giving remarkable brands the opportunity to reach the world.

Great design. Meaningful impact. A little more of you.