the afropolitan shop
The Afropolitan Shop is a US-based, Shopify-powered online boutique founded in 2011 that sells handmade African jewelry — earrings, necklaces, and bracelets crafted by artisans in Kenya — to individual consumers and wholesale buyers worldwide, supported by multi-currency checkout and multi-channel social marketing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersUnited States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What the afropolitan shop does
The Afropolitan Shop is a US-based, privately held e-commerce retailer founded in 2011 that sells handmade African jewelry to consumers worldwide. The company operates a direct-to-consumer online boutique powered by Shopify, offering earrings (~$34), necklaces ($29-$58), and bracelets produced by artisans in Kenya, often crafted to order with 2-5 week lead times. Its product line is rooted in fair-trade positioning and cultural narrative — exemplified by the Urembo Handmade Collection sub-brand featuring Maasai Tribe beading techniques and Swahili-language product naming — and is complemented by an African jewelry blog and active accounts across six social platforms (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X/Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok).
The business generates revenue through two streams: (1) direct e-commerce sales to individual consumers via the Shopify storefront with international shipping and multi-currency support covering 100+ countries, and (2) a wholesale/B2B channel offering bulk and custom-designed jewelry to retailers. Pricing is unit-based with periodic promotions (e.g., JULY26 for 26% off) and free US shipping thresholds that were lowered from $50+ to $35+ in 2024. The technology stack is a standard Shopify deployment without disclosed proprietary features, public APIs, or mobile apps, and no AI/ML capabilities are referenced in available materials.
The Afropolitan Shop is independently operated with no disclosed institutional investment, parent company, or management team in the public record. It is positioned as a founder-led micro-business occupying a niche — authentic, ethically sourced African jewelry with global DTC reach — rather than a scaled retailer.
the afropolitan shop firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- the afropolitan shop
- Legal name
- The Afropolitan Shop
- Website
- https://theafropolitanshop.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The Afropolitan Shop is a US-based, Shopify-powered online boutique founded in 2011 that sells handmade African jewelry — earrings, necklaces, and bracelets crafted by artisans in Kenya — to individual consumers and wholesale buyers worldwide, supported by multi-currency checkout and multi-channel social marketing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
the afropolitan shop industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Jewelry Retail
- NAICS
- Jewelry Retailers (458310)
- SIC
- Retail-Jewelry Stores (5944)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Jewelry, Watches & Luxury Goods Online Retailers (CRAFADAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Handmade/Craft Fashion Jewelry (Beaded/Wire/Woven) (CRAKABAD)
Keywords
Where the afropolitan shop is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
the afropolitan shop business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct E-commerce Sales: Retail sales of African handmade jewelry including earrings, necklaces, and bracelets through their Shopify-powered online store. Products are sold directly to consumers at listed prices with occasional promotions and sales.
- Wholesale/Bulk Orders: B2B wholesale and bulk orders of African jewelry for retailers and businesses. They also offer custom design and sourcing capabilities for wholesale buyers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing with occasional promotions |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
the afropolitan shop product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Afropolitan Shop is an online retailer that sells authentic handmade African jewelry, including earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, crafted by artisans in Kenya (many using Maasai Tribe beading techniques). Products are sold individually via a Shopify-powered global e-commerce storefront with international shipping and multi-currency support, and the company additionally offers wholesale bulk ordering and custom design services for retail buyers.
Product overview
The Afropolitan Shop is an e-commerce retailer specializing in authentic African handmade jewelry made in Kenya. Their core product portfolio consists of African Earrings (including Kaimosi, Akili, Ndege, Twiga, and Maridadi designs priced at $34-$36), African Necklaces (featuring Urembo Beaded Choker, Urembo Tie Beaded Necklace, Maridadi African Map Necklace, and Kanaga African Necklaces ranging from $29-$58), and African Bracelets. The company also offers the Urembo Handmade Collection sub-brand featuring Maasai Tribe beading techniques, a Clearance section with discounted items, and a Wholesale service for bulk/custom orders. Products are handmade by African artisans, often crafted to order with delivery times of 2-5 weeks. The company has operated since 2011 and is powered by Shopify e-commerce platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Urembo Handmade Collection: A curated collection of handmade African jewelry pieces featuring traditional Maasai beading techniques.
Products and services
- African Earrings Handmade African-inspired earrings crafted by artisans in Kenya, including named designs such as the Kaimosi, Akili, Ndege, Twiga, and Maridadi Africa Map Earrings, typically priced at $34-$36, for global individual consumers seeking authentic statement jewelry.
- African Necklaces Handmade African-inspired necklaces including beaded chokers and statement pieces such as the Urembo African Beaded Choker, Urembo Tie Beaded Necklace, Maridadi African Map Necklace, and Kanaga African Necklaces, priced from $29 to $58, for individual consumers seeking statement neckwear.
- African Bracelets Handmade African-inspired bracelets sold as part of the core jewelry product line, for individual consumers seeking authentic African wristwear.
- Urembo Handmade Collection A curated sub-brand collection of handmade African jewelry pieces featuring Maasai Tribe beading techniques, including the Urembo African Beaded Choker and Urembo Tie Beaded Necklace, for consumers seeking pieces rooted in traditional Kenyan craftsmanship.
- Wholesale African Jewelry Wholesale and bulk ordering service for African handmade jewelry targeted at retailers and businesses, with the company offering product sourcing and custom design capabilities. Pricing is contact-based and negotiated per order.
- African Jewelry Sale Collection Discounted and sale African jewelry items, including pieces such as the Maridadi Africa Map Earrings (20% off) and Urembo Tie Beaded Necklace (50% off), plus time-bound promotional campaigns with discount codes, for price-sensitive individual consumers.
Companies that use the afropolitan shop
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
the afropolitan shop technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
the afropolitan shop partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- ShopifycoreShopify provides the e-commerce platform powering The Afropolitan Shop's online store. This enables product listings, shopping cart functionality, checkout processing, payment handling, order management, and international shipping calculations.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
the afropolitan shop competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Brilliant Earth: Brilliant Earth is a large online jewelry retailer built on an ethical-sourcing value proposition. Its 'ethically sourced' brand message overlaps with Afropolitan Shop's fair-trade narrative within the broader online jewelry category.
- Mejuri: Mejuri is a major online direct-to-consumer fine jewelry retailer. It operates in the same online jewelry retail category with similar Shopify-powered DTC infrastructure, though it focuses on fine jewelry rather than handmade/costume jewelry.
- Etsy: Etsy is the largest online marketplace for handmade goods, hosting thousands of African-jewelry sellers who compete directly with The Afropolitan Shop for global conscious-consumer search traffic and gifting demand.
Direct peers
- Kazuri Beads: Kazuri Beads is a Kenyan-based handmade beaded jewelry brand, producing in-Africa jewelry that directly competes with the artisan product line, geographic sourcing, and cultural positioning of The Afropolitan Shop.
- The Brave Collection: The Brave Collection sells handcrafted jewelry by Cambodian artisans with a strong social-impact and fair-trade narrative, operating a similar online DTC model with artisan storytelling that mirrors Afropolitan Shop's mission-driven positioning.
- Soko: Soko is an online retailer of handcrafted jewelry and accessories made by African artisans, using a similar artisan-from-Kenya model and ethical sourcing positioning directly comparable to The Afropolitan Shop's fair-trade DTC approach.
- NOVICA: NOVICA operates a global online marketplace for handcrafted artisan jewelry and home goods from developing countries. It directly competes for the same conscious-consumer segment seeking authentic cultural jewelry pieces.
Emerging players
- Mata Traders: Mata Traders is a fair-trade fashion brand selling jewelry and accessories made by global artisan cooperatives. Its fair-trade and handmade artisan sourcing model is conceptually aligned with Afropolitan Shop's artisan partnership approach.
- Made Trade: Made Trade is an online fair-trade marketplace curating ethical fashion, accessories, and home goods from global artisans. It competes for the conscious-consumer audience seeking curated, fair-trade jewelry alternatives.
Regional players
- Young Blood Boutique: Young Blood Boutique sells African-inspired jewelry and accessories online from a US base, targeting similar African diaspora and global customers. It offers comparable handmade jewelry design aesthetic to The Afropolitan Shop.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
the afropolitan shop social profiles
Digital presencethe afropolitan shop financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
the afropolitan shop leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
the afropolitan shop funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
the afropolitan shop M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about the afropolitan shop
What does the afropolitan shop do?
The Afropolitan Shop is an online retailer that sells authentic handmade African jewelry, including earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, crafted by artisans in Kenya (many using Maasai Tribe beading techniques). Products are sold individually via a Shopify-powered global e-commerce storefront with international shipping and multi-currency support, and the company additionally offers wholesale bulk ordering and custom design services for retail buyers.
Is the afropolitan shop a public or private company?
the afropolitan shop is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was the afropolitan shop founded?
the afropolitan shop was founded in 2011.
Where is the afropolitan shop based?
the afropolitan shop is headquartered in United States, in the North America region.
How does the afropolitan shop make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Direct E-commerce Sales are the primary driver. The others are wholesale/Bulk Orders.
Who are the afropolitan shop's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Brilliant Earth, Mejuri and Etsy. Direct peers are Kazuri Beads, The Brave Collection, Soko and NOVICA. Emerging players are Mata Traders and Made Trade. Young Blood Boutique is listed as a regional player.
Does the afropolitan shop have an API?
No public API is recorded for the afropolitan shop.
What industry is the afropolitan shop in?
the afropolitan shop's product category is Online Jewelry Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFADAN, Jewelry, Watches & Luxury Goods Online Retailers, with a secondary code of CRAKABAD, Handmade/Craft Fashion Jewelry (Beaded/Wire/Woven). Its NAICS code is 458310 and its SIC code is 5944.