Aaku – Blackboard Black Suede

Aaku – Blackboard Black Suede

Crafted in Blackboard Black suede, this Aaku is brought to life through hand beadwork in a palette drawn from Turkana colour traditions.

Against the deep, matte character of the suede, the beadwork introduces a vivid language of colour and rhythm.

Each bead is applied individually by hand, creating subtle variations across the surface and preserving the presence of the maker within the finished piece.

The beadwork extends from the body onto the strap, allowing colour and craftsmanship to travel continuously through the form.

The softness of the suede provides a tactile contrast to the intricate beadwork, while the compact proportions retain Aaku’s distinctive silhouette.

Aaku takes its form from the traditional Maasai Olbene, reinterpreted for contemporary life as the smaller counterpart to Ashe.

Its name, “I Am” in Maasai, speaks to identity and self-possession.

In this particular piece, two cultural references meet within one object: a Maasai-inspired form expressed through the colour language of Turkana beadwork brought together through Akire’s contemporary design perspective.

Aaku – Blackboard Black Suede