By Rose Mbugua
Situated in Diani, Kenya, Faith Mwikali is redefining both fashion and environmental conservation with her innovative business, Themba Collection. As the firstborn in a family of five, Faith has always been a trailblazer. With two twin brothers and two stepbrothers, her journey from a young girl fascinated by sea shells to the founder and owner of a unique jewelry line is both inspiring and heartwarming.
Faith Mwikali, founder and owner of Themba collections, is wearing one of her paperbead necklace designs. Photo: Mercy Mumbua
A Serendipitous Beginning
Faith's journey into the world of jewelry began in 2011 during a trip to Uganda. "I saw a lady with very cute earrings made of paper beads," she recalls. Intrigued, she learned that these beads were crafted by a group of Ugandan women who rolled and painted paper to create beautiful jewelry. Inspired by this encounter, Faith returned to Kenya, determined to learn this craft. "I found a lady in Siaya who was making paper beads and asked her to teach me. Though hesitant at first, she eventually did," says Faith. While she studied Business Management in the university, Faith had only began to practice her dream as a hobby.
After moving to Nairobi, Faith's curiosity led her to research paper bead-making further. Armed with supplies from a local supermarket and old magazines from home, she began experimenting. Although at first she had named it Faith’s African Jewelry, this hobby soon blossomed into what is now known as Themba Collection—'Themba' being a Zulu name meaning 'Faith'.
Crafting with a Conscience
Faith's passion for jewelry started in primary school, using sea shells brought back from safaris by her grandparents. "I would steal some of the sea shells, burn holes in them, and make earrings," she reminisces. Today, she uses posters, calendars, and magazines to create her earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. "Different qualities of magazines influence the kind of beads you get, but I mostly recycle posters and calendars," she explains. For table coasters, she uses Business Daily newspapers, attracted by their unique color.
Faith Mwikali displays her jewelry. Photo: Mercy Mumbua
A Detailed Process
The process begins with selecting the right materials. Faith looks for colorful posters, magazines, or calendars. "I measure and mark the points for the kind of bead I want, then cut the paper into shapes like rectangles, cones, or triangles," she says. Each shape has its purpose; rectangular shapes are mainly used for bracelets, while larger beads are reserved for necklaces.
"Cutting is the most crucial process because it determines how your bead will turn out," Faith explains. After cutting, she carefully rolls the paper into beads and applies varnish to give them a glossy finish. "Day one is for drawing, cutting, and rolling the beads. Day two is for letting the varnish dry, and on day three, I categorize the beads into earrings, necklaces, and bracelets," she says. For larger orders, the process can extend to two or three weeks. The process of learning and perfecting her craft took 3 months.
Although there might be a lot of entrepreneurs who have discovered the paper jewelry industry, Faith clings to the uniqueness of her jewelry stating that whatever she makes can not be found anywhere else in the world. “I always tell people that they will never get something similar to what I make, because for the papers, I carefully select the colors. Sometimes I make limited editions unless someone asks if I can make for them that same colour.”
Challenges and Triumphs
Faith has faced numerous challenges, from balancing her passion with her day job to overcoming public skepticism about paper jewelry. "People haven't fully embraced paper beads yet. They are still into brass, silver, gold jewellery," she says. To counter this, she participates in craft markets and shares her story on social media. “Even though I market the products on social media, I want people to really get in touch with the jewellery physically. Because someone will get to know your story and interact with the products physically and be able to see its unique quality,” said Faith. Her husband, family, and friends have been her pillars of support, encouraging her to pursue Themba Collection full-time.
Another significant challenge is sourcing materials. While posters and calendars are usually in ample supply thanks to friends in the printing industry, newspapers have become harder to find. "People don’t buy newspapers these days," she laments. Despite these challenges, Faith's resolve remains unshaken. Her husband has been a steadfast supporter, always pushing her to focus on Themba Collection. "Whenever I try to deviate, he tells me to focus on Themba collections and its future. He is my staff," she says with a smile.
Faith Mwikali's jewelry pieces that she makes with recycled paper. Photo: Mercy Mumbua
Empowering Others
Faith's commitment to sustainability extends beyond her jewelry. She trains young girls to recycle various materials. "I want to empower communities to recycle instead of dumping waste," she says. Her efforts have resonated with the local community in Diani, where customers appreciate her environmental contributions as much as her jewelry.
Her vision includes not just making beautiful jewelry but also teaching others the value of recycling. Faith has started training groups of girls in Diani on how to recycle different materials. "I want to share these projects so that in their own communities, they can recycle some of these things instead of dumping them," she says. She has also explored recycling worn-out jeans, compact discs, and banana leaves into creative products.
According to The World Counts organization, with over 242million tonnes of paper produced in the world, this year, paper accounts for around 26% of total waste in landfills. While paper production requires lots of water, each tonne of recycled paper can avoid the use of 17 trees; 1,440 liters of oil; 2.3 cubic meters of landfill space; 4,000 kilowatts of energy and 26,500 liters of water.
The Local Community's Response
The response from the local community in Diani has been overwhelmingly positive. "Most of the customers who buy the jewelry do so because I am recycling and helping to keep the environment clean, not just because I am making jewelry," Faith says. This support has been crucial in sustaining her business and motivating her to continue her work.
Faith's dedication to empowering others is evident in her interactions with the community. During a holiday to Wasini Island, she saw women asking for handouts from tourists. This encounter inspired her to find ways to help these women become self-sufficient. "I thought of how I could help those women to not depend entirely on handouts," she says. By teaching them how to recycle and create products from waste materials, Faith hopes to provide them with a sustainable source of income.
Workshops and Initiatives
To further her mission, Faith conducts workshops and initiatives to educate others on the importance of recycling. "One of the things that influenced me to move to the coast was the desire to partner with groups of young girls to empower them," she explains. She has already started collaborating with organizations to expand her reach and impact. "I am looking into partnerships, especially with women and men, to train them in recycling and jewelry making," she says.
Faith's vision for the future is ambitious yet grounded in her commitment to sustainability and empowerment. "I want to be a brand such that when you see Faith, you say ‘yule mdem wa paper.’ I want to empower a lot of people and for my business to be international and global," she says. She aims to be a brand synonymous with innovative recycling and beautiful jewelry. "I want people to appreciate the beauty of recycling and be intrigued and marveled at how paper can be turned into jewelry," she says.
Beads made from paper that Faith uses to create ornaments and jewelry. Photo: Mect Mumbua
Expansion Plans and New Designs
Faith is constantly innovating and expanding her product line. She has started incorporating brass and leather into her designs, creating a fusion of traditional and modern elements. "Instead of using fishing lines, I use a little bit of brass and paper, a collaboration of that. Also, I am doing a collaboration of leather and paper," she explains. She is also excited about her project to recycle jeans into jewelry.
Faith is open to collaborations and partnerships to expand her business and impact. She has applied for a training workshop with Women Enabled Enterprise in South Africa, which will help her price and market her products abroad. Locally, she is looking for partnerships to train more people in recycling and jewelry making. "I have trained a group of small boys, and they were excited because they were looking for something to do and keep them busy during the holidays," she says.
Faith's journey is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and the beauty of turning waste into wearable art. Her advice to others is simple yet profound: "If you have a dream or vision, go for it and don’t give up. Take advice but stay true to your course." She encourages others to see the potential in recycling and to use their creativity to make a difference.
Through Themba Collection, Faith Mwikali is not only creating stunning jewelry but also paving the way for a more sustainable future, one bead at a time. Her work is a beautiful blend of art and environmental conservation, inspiring others to see the beauty in recycling and the potential for a greener, more sustainable world.
