What SAWA SAWA does

SAWA SAWA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit sustainable fashion brand that sells handcrafted bags, baskets, jewelry, and home decor made by women artisans in Kenya, primarily to conscious consumers and corporate gifting buyers in the United States. Founded by Anne Drane in Austin, Texas in 2014 and formally incorporated as a tax-exempt nonprofit in 2019, the company operates a hybrid distribution model spanning direct e-commerce (sawasawausa.com), Amazon, Macy's (including the 2024 Workshop at Macy's program), and Etsy, supplemented by a wholesale portal serving corporate bundles. Co-founder Catherine coordinates the Kenyan supply side across five named artisan groups — Kithyoko (Eastern Kenya), Emirishoi (Maasai Mara), Samburu (Laikipia), Machakos, and Nairobi — each representing different ethnic weaving and beading traditions.

The core production technology is traditional rather than digital: organic sisal fiber is harvested from agave leaves, stripped, dried, dyed using natural plant, bark, flower, or soil extracts, then handwoven into finished bags, with each piece requiring approximately 50 agave leaves and 2–3 weeks of weaving. Products are priced from roughly $9.99 (ornaments) to $175 (premium totes), with frequent promotional discounting, and free shipping is offered on all orders. Revenue is generated through product sales, tax-deductible donations (via PayPal Giving Fund and Zeffy), and a vehicle donation program, with all proceeds reinvested into artisan wages and community programs including solar lighting, rainwater collection in Sekenani Village, and menstrual health resources distributed through partner NGOs (Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Unite to Light, Could You?). The brand carries third-party validation through UN SDG partnership recognition, USAID partner directory listing, and GuideStar Platinum nonprofit transparency status, and has received regional Austin business and changemaker awards.

Name

SAWA SAWA

Legal name

SAWA SAWA

Website

https://sawasawausa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SAWA SAWA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fashion brand that sells handcrafted sisal bags, baskets, and jewelry made by Kenyan women artisans to U.S. conscious consumers and corporate gifting buyers via DTC, Macy's, Amazon, and Etsy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Handcrafted Sustainable Fashion Accessories

NAICS

Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (3152), Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing (33991)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

Fair Trade & Ethical Supply Chains (Certification, Traceability, Producer Support) (BPAGALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Handmade/Craft Fashion Jewelry (Beaded/Wire/Woven) (CRAKABAD), Wallets, Small Leather Goods & Accessories Manufacturing (IMAOAHAB), Sustainable & Certified Materials (Organic, Recycled, Traceable) (CRAAAMAK)

Keywords

• Handwoven sisal bags
• Artisan fashion accessories
• Ethical sustainable fashion
• Nonprofit artisan goods
• Woven sisal baskets

Headquarters

HQ city

Dripping Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Revenue from sale of handcrafted bags, baskets, jewelry, and accessories. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all revenue is reinvested into artisan communities and impact programs.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible donations through PayPal, Zeffy, and vehicle donations via Vehicles for Charity. Donations support operations, artisan programs, solar lights, menstrual health, and operational capacity.
3. Wholesale: B2B sales to retailers and corporate buyers through wholesale channel with corporate bundles for gifting programs.
4. Vehicle Donations: Vehicle donation program through Vehicles for Charity with 100% of net proceeds going to nonprofit causes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SAWA SAWA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit sustainable fashion brand that designs, sources, and sells handcrafted bags, totes, baskets, jewelry, and accessories made by women artisan groups in Kenya using organic sisal fiber from the agave plant and natural dyes. Revenue from product sales is reinvested into community programs supporting food security, solar lighting, clean water access, and menstrual health resources for artisans and their communities.

Product overview

SAWA SAWA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit sustainable fashion brand that connects conscious consumers with handcrafted products made by artisan women in Kenya. The company offers a diverse portfolio of handwoven bags, baskets, jewelry, and home decor accessories crafted from natural sisal fiber sourced from the agave plant, accented with locally sourced leather. The product lineup includes: Large Baskets and Totes (handwoven sisal market totes, shoulder bags, and storage baskets in various sizes); Crossbody Bags (handcrafted sisal crossbody styles); Backpacks; Wine Bags; Bracelets (including friendship bracelets, beaded designs, and cause-awareness pieces like breast cancer awareness); Earrings and Necklaces; and Art & Decor items (floor baskets and holiday ornaments). All products are handmade by women artisans using ancient weaving and beading traditions, with revenue reinvested into community empowerment programs including clean water access, solar lighting, and menstrual health resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Handwoven Sisal Bags and Totes Handwoven market totes, crossbody bags, shoulder bags, and office bags crafted by Kenyan artisan women from organic sisal fiber, accented with leather handles and natural dyes. Designed for use as market bags, beach totes, gym bags, travel organizers, and home storage. Priced between $99 and $175.
• Handwoven Sisal Storage Baskets Large handwoven sisal baskets and floor baskets used for home organization, blanket storage, and decorative purposes. Made by Kithyoko weaving group in Eastern Kenya symbolizing unity and connection.
• Beaded Bracelets and Jewelry Handcrafted beaded bracelets, earrings, and necklaces made by Nairobi, Maasai Mara, and Laikipia artisan groups using traditional African beading techniques. Includes friendship bracelets and cause-awareness designs such as breast cancer awareness pieces.
• Wine Bags Handwoven sisal wine bags sized for single-bottle wine gift packaging, made by Machakos weaving group.
• Holiday Ornaments Small handcrafted sisal ornaments designed for holiday and seasonal gifting or home decor, frequently discounted.
• Corporate Gift Bundles Wholesale and bulk-bundled SAWA SAWA handcrafted products marketed to corporate buyers for ESG-aligned employee appreciation, client gifts, event gifting, and other ethical corporate gifting programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rainwater collection systems installed in Sekenani Village (Maasai Mara)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Dripping Springs Coffee CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Austin coffee company supporting SAWA SAWA's mission through partnership as funders and friends of the brand.
• Rectitude PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization providing funding and support for SAWA SAWA's mission.
• Unite to LightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to distribute solar motion lights to reduce human-wildlife conflict in wildlife corridors, keeping artisans safe and illuminated in conservation areas.
• Ol Pejeta ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWildlife conservation area in Kenya where SAWA SAWA supports communities, reducing poaching through economic empowerment.
• Could You?coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide sustainable menstrual cups and education for all artisans and their daughters, keeping artisans active all weeks of the month and girls in school with dignity.
• Well Aware WorldminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner featured in Well Aware World holiday gift guide supporting SAWA SAWA's mission.
• AmazoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor marketplace channel for SAWA SAWA products reaching global customers through Amazon.com.
• Google for NonprofitsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGoogle nonprofit program providing tools and advertising credits to support SAWA SAWA's mission marketing.
• United Nations (SDG Partnership)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial UN SDG partnership recognized at sdgs.un.org/partnerships/sawa-sawa, aligning SAWA SAWA's mission with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Macy'sflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFeatured retailer at macys.com with dedicated landing page. Products also featured through The Workshop at Macy's 2024 class program.
• USAIDflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed in Work With USAID partner directory, providing institutional credibility and potential development funding access.
• Vehicles for CharityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVehicle donation program partner enabling supporters to donate cars with 100% of net proceeds going to SAWA SAWA's mission.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Cuyana: Premium ethical accessories and leather goods brand sold DTC and through major retailers. Comparable in premium ethical accessories with retail distribution, but focused on leather goods rather than handwoven natural fibers.
• TOMS: Well-known one-for-one social enterprise brand selling shoes, bags, and apparel. Comparable as a scaled social-enterprise consumer brand using product sales to fund impact programs, though focused on footwear rather than artisan handcraft.
• Mara Hoffman: Established sustainable fashion brand with a strong ethical and environmental positioning. Comparable as a broader sustainable fashion brand, but operates at significantly larger scale with apparel collections rather than artisan-only handcraft.

Direct peers

• ABLE: Ethical fashion brand focused on women empowerment and transparent supply chains. Comparable as a mission-driven fashion and accessories brand that prices products based on true cost and reinvests margin into artisan and maker communities.
• Soko: Kenyan-based artisan jewelry and accessories brand connecting African artisans to global consumers. Directly comparable as both are ethical fashion brands sourcing handmade jewelry and accessories from Kenyan artisan groups, leveraging fair-trade supply chains and storytelling.
• Novica: Online marketplace for handcrafted artisan products from around the world with a strong ethical and fair-trade positioning. Comparable to SAWA SAWA in operating a mission-driven marketplace connecting global consumers to artisan-made home decor, jewelry, and accessories.
• The Citizenry: Direct-to-consumer ethical home goods and accessories brand working with artisan partners globally. Comparable in DTC-led distribution of artisan-made home decor and accessories with strong storytelling around maker communities.
• Raven + Lily: Ethical fashion and accessories brand focused on empowering women artisans in developing countries. Closely comparable as both are social-enterprise brands producing handmade bags, jewelry, and accessories with artisan-empowerment missions and sustainable materials.

Emerging players

• Made Trade: Online marketplace curating ethical and sustainable fashion, accessories, and home goods from mission-driven brands. Comparable as a discovery channel for conscious consumers seeking artisan-made ethical products similar to SAWA SAWA's assortment.

Regional players

• Swahili Modern: US-based distributor of East African artisan-made home decor, baskets, and accessories. Comparable as a retailer of African artisan baskets and home goods sourced from Kenyan weaving cooperatives, operating at slightly larger scale with broader product assortment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sawasawausa
• Facebookfacebook.com/sawasawausa
• Instagraminstagram.com/sawasawausa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sawasawausa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SAWA SAWA