In A Few Words Designed to make conservation fashionable. Hand made to provide financial empowerment to immigrant women. Named for a species known to have an enormous positive impact on their environment, Tembo, (which means elephant in Swahili), stands for greater good.
Description Made from luxury African print fabrics, Tembo tote bags are a fashion forward, fair-trade made, sustainable shopping solutions that’s good for mother earth. From the immigrant women who sew their products, to the historic meaning of their classic prints, their bags embody the stories of women empowerment and African folklore. Their fabrics are inspired by Africa, made with a technique derived from Indonesia and designed in the Netherlands, reflecting a global melting pot of beauty and craftsmanship. In partnership with the Artisan Sewing Co-op, their products are fair-trade made in Queens, NYC by immigrant, refugee and asylee women.
Owner's Story After years of poking through markets and seeking out quality crafts throughout Africa and South East Asia, Deborah wanted to bring the beautiful culture she found abroad and introduce it to an American market in a meaningful way.
With a love for conservation and an aim to cut down on plastic bag waste, a worldwide search for superior stylish fabrics to make cloth tote bags began. If the bags were functional and fashion forward, it would be a cakewalk to kick a nasty plastic bag habit.
Tembo (which means elephant in Swahili), was born in the fall of 2018. Tembo's bags feature luxury African wax print textiles. Their modern fabrics reflect today’s Afro-pop culture, and their classic fabrics come with the folklore of African women.