Swahili Modern

What Swahili Modern does

African Mod (legal entity African Modern LLC, formerly operating as Swahili African Modern) is a privately held, Oregon-based e-commerce retailer of handmade African artisan goods. The company curates baskets, jewelry, art, home decor, kitchen and dining items, musical instruments, and holiday gifts sourced from artisans across 15 African nations, and is a member of the Fair Trade Federation. The "Swahili Modern" name has been retained in some legacy URLs and channels, while the consumer-facing brand is now African Mod.

The business operates a Shopify-powered direct-to-consumer storefront at africanmod.com, a separate wholesale portal at swahiliwholesale.com for retail buyers, and a physical warehouse outlet in Eugene, Oregon that sells samples, overstock, and seconds. Product prices range from roughly $12 for entry-level Zulugrass jewelry to $250+ for one-of-a-kind pieces and limited-edition decor, with electronic gift cards offered in $25-$250 denominations. Payment options include Shopify Payments, PayPal, Apple Pay, Venmo, and Shop Pay. Marketing is conducted through email (10% first-order incentive, photo-review discounts), Facebook, Instagram, and a blog.

The company is founder-owned and bootstrapped, with no disclosed venture capital, private equity, or institutional funding. Customer segments include individual consumers, interior designers, and wholesale buyers, served primarily across North America with global shipping. The 2023 relocation from a downtown Eugene warehouse to a larger West Eugene facility at 1400 S Bertelsen Rd is the most recent significant operational move on record.

Name

Swahili Modern

Legal name

African Modern LLC

Website

https://swahilimodern.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

African Mod is a privately held, Oregon-based e-commerce retailer of handmade artisan goods from 15 African nations, serving individual consumers, interior designers, and wholesale buyers through a Shopify storefront, wholesale portal, and Eugene warehouse outlet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fair Trade Handmade Home Decor & Gifts

NAICS

Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Costume Jewelry & Novelties (3960)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Artisan, Handmade & Craft Gifts Retail (CRALAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Handmade/Craft Fashion Jewelry (Beaded/Wire/Woven) (CRAKABAD)

Keywords

• Handmade artisan goods
• Fair trade decor
• African home decor
• Handwoven baskets
• Artisan jewelry

Headquarters

HQ city

Eugene

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail E-commerce: Direct sales of handmade African products including baskets, jewelry, art, home decor, and gifts through their e-commerce website. One-time purchase model with products ranging from $12 to $250+.
2. Gift Cards: Electronic gift cards sold in denominations of $25, $50, $75, $100, $150, $200, and $250. Delivered by email with no expiration date or processing fees.
3. Wholesale: B2B wholesale channel through swahiliwholesale.com for retailers and businesses purchasing in bulk.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

African Mod (formerly Swahili African Modern) sells curated, fair trade, handmade African artisan goods — including handwoven baskets, jewelry, art, home decor, kitchen and dining items, musical instruments, and holiday gifts — directly to consumers through a Shopify e-commerce store, to wholesale buyers through a separate wholesale portal, and through a physical warehouse outlet in Eugene, Oregon. Products are sourced from artisans across 15 African nations under Fair Trade Federation principles.

Product overview

African Mod (formerly Swahili African Modern) operates an e-commerce marketplace for fair trade, handmade African artisan goods. The core offering is a curated marketplace featuring handwoven baskets, art and decor, kitchen and dining items, handbags and jewelry, African instruments, and holiday gifts. Key product lines include the Leakey Collection Zulugrass Jewelry crafted by Maasai communities in the Rift Valley, and a rotating selection of One of a Kind and Limited Edition pieces including lost wax bronzes and stone sculptures. The company also offers E-Gift Cards in denominations from $25-$250, operates a physical Warehouse Outlet in Eugene, Oregon, and runs seasonal collections like the Summertime Collection. Products are sourced from artisans across 15 African nations, with a commitment to fair trade principles through membership in the Fair Trade Federation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• African Mod E-Gift Card Electronic gift cards delivered by email with no expiration date or processing fees, sold in denominations of $25, $50, $75, $100, $150, $200, and $250. Purchasable by individual consumers and intended for use as gifts across the African Mod product catalog.
• Handmade African Baskets Handwoven baskets crafted by artisans across Africa, including sisal wall baskets, picnic baskets, and storage baskets in styles such as Sunny Yellow Sisal Wall Basket Sets and the Spice Road handwoven oval picnic basket. Sold to individual consumers, interior designers, and wholesale buyers.
• Art & Decor Curated assortment of African art and home decor including Burkina Bronzes, Beadwork Animals, Stone Sculpture, Garden Art & Planters, Home Textiles, Wood Carving, and One of a Kind & Limited Edition pieces such as recycled metal sunflower garden stakes and Hunu wooden sun wall masks.
• Kitchen & Dining Sustainable kitchen and dining items handcrafted by African artisans, sold to individual consumers and wholesale buyers seeking ethically-sourced kitchenware.
• Handbags & Jewelry African jewelry, handbags, totes, wallets, and personal accessories, including Zulugrass pieces and Heishi Vulcanite limited-edition necklaces, sold to individual consumers and wholesale buyers.
• Music & African Instruments Musical instruments handcrafted by African artisans, sold to individual consumers and wholesale buyers.
• Holiday & Gifts Seasonal gift items including Holiday Decor, Christmas Ornaments, Nativity Scenes, Gifts for Kids, and curated gift collections under $30 and $50, sold to individual consumers for holiday gifting.
• Leakey Collection Zulugrass Jewelry Handcrafted Zulugrass earrings, bracelets, and necklaces made in the Rift Valley region, uplifting rural Maasai communities. Features single strands and sets available in various colors, with prices starting around $12 for single-strand pieces.
• One of a Kind & Limited Edition Unique handmade pieces including lost wax bronze figures, stone sculpture, hand-carved items, and one-of-a-kind functional pieces like planters and baskets. Includes limited-edition Heishi Vulcanite Necklaces in colorful, sage, cream, and one-of-a-kind white variants.
• Warehouse Outlet Physical retail outlet at 1400 S. Bertelsen Rd, Eugene, OR 97402, offering samples, overstock, seconds, and discounted fair trade items. Open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10am–3pm, and by appointment Tuesday/Thursday. Serves local individual consumers.
• Summertime Collection Seasonal collection of handmade pieces inspired by sunny days and outdoor adventures, including sun-inspired jewelry and decor, colorful baskets, picnic-ready essentials, and fair trade treasures handcrafted by African artisans.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fair Trade FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican Mod is a member of the Fair Trade Federation, adhering to ethical sourcing practices and fair trade principles in their business operations. This membership demonstrates their commitment to fair wages and working conditions for African artisans.
• Leakey CollectionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Leakey Collection's Zulugrass jewelry is sold through African Mod. Crafted in the Rift Valley, these products uplift rural Maasai communities. African Mod serves as a retail reseller of their handcrafted jewelry.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationAfrican Mod's e-commerce website is powered by Shopify, which handles payment processing (Shopify Payments, PayPal, Apple Pay, Shop Pay, Venmo), order fulfillment, customer accounts, and site analytics.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Leakey Collection: Fair trade jewelry brand creating Zulugrass jewelry from Maasai communities in Kenya's Rift Valley. Existing wholesale partner of African Mod and directly comparable handmade artisan jewelry category and African artisan sourcing model.
• Novica: Online marketplace for handmade artisan goods including jewelry, home decor, and gifts from international artisans. Directly comparable business model focused on handmade products from emerging economies with global e-commerce distribution.
• The Citizenry: Modern handmade home goods brand sourcing artisan-made textiles, furniture, and decor from around the world. Comparable premium positioning in handmade home goods category with similar direct-to-consumer e-commerce go-to-market.
• Made Trade: Online marketplace for fair trade, sustainable, and ethically-made fashion, home goods, and accessories. Directly comparable in mission, product categories, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce model targeting conscious consumers.
• Ten Thousand Villages: Fair trade retailer selling handcrafted gifts, home decor, and jewelry sourced from artisans in developing countries. Operates both online and physical stores with a similar product mix, ethical sourcing model, and multi-channel go-to-market.
• BeadforLife: Fair trade organization selling handmade paper bead jewelry and accessories from Uganda. Comparable mission and African artisan focus with direct e-commerce distribution and artisan empowerment positioning.
• Global Goods Partners: Fair trade nonprofit selling handmade artisan goods including jewelry, baskets, and home decor from women artisan groups in developing countries. Similar artisan relationships, product categories, and ethical sourcing mission.

Emerging players

• ABLE: Ethical fashion and accessories brand focused on sustainable apparel, jewelry, and home goods made by women artisans. Comparable ethical sourcing mission and artisan-driven product model with overlapping jewelry and accessory categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SwahiliModern
• Instagraminstagram.com/africanmod
• Xx.com/swahilimodern

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Swahili Modern