A short-term cure may be, but there is nothing quite like a bit of intensive retail therapy to put the fizz when buying a gift. Most of Kenya’s retail structures are called curio shops, with organized, desirable, affordable features and a variety of uniquely different gifts.
Perhaps the best buys are found amongst the handcrafts haul: multi-colored Masai beadwork belts, bright sisal baskets, the ever-popular cotton wraps for men and women commonly referred to as the Kikoys and Khangas (which do just everything from interior design to high fashion), evocative carvings from elephants to antelopes, soft carved soapstone’s such as malachite, rose quartz and Tanzanite, lots of ‘big’ jewelry wrought from everything; from banana leaves to cow horn- really high on impact and ridiculously low on expenditure and sandals from jewel-beaded to cow-horn-thonged.
Kenya has also taken a new direction concerning the so-called beach boys who used to peddle their wares on the beaches. This is no longer happening because they have been housed in purpose-built handicraft centers welcoming visitors.
Here, you can see the items being made and get to choose from the long list of fantastic dragon’s horde of glittering sarongs, tinkling jewelry, gleaming carvings, and Abstract paintings.
Kenya also boasts of a thriving cottage industry which turns out everything from beautifully scented candles made from Masai beeswax to sheepskin slippers made from highland fleeces plus some authentic hand-knitted, woven and dyed woolens, subtly woven Kenyan cotton, beaded and painted leather work, eco-friendly paper goods and some interior design options that wouldn’t look amiss in the Milanese design fairs.
Chose from avant-garde wrought iron, hand-blown glass, beaten copper, woven rugs, hand-thrown terracotta, iron and reed work furniture, sisal matting, dhow-wood day-beds, Swahili chests, ostrich-egg lampshades, hand-painted bed linens, color-washed oven-to-tableware and the treasure trove of contemporary Kenyan arts.
As for fashion, Kenya has a team of dynamic young designers who are rapidly making a name for themselves by turning local leather, cotton, beadwork, knits, and silk – into haute culture. So next time you visit any of these shops or fancy a shot of neat retail therapy mixed with blue skies, bright sunshine, wild adventure, and luxurious luxury, think Kenya – travel to Kenya.
When you are traveling, let us know by writing to us at info@blavals.com
