Story

We are a children’s lifestyle label that is fair-trade and colorful. No mass production; all of our products are handcrafted in Ghana, West Africa.

Our products are made for the youngest in the family; from birth till the age of 4. We make tiny things with the ambition be good, not just to look good. The Kind makes our youngsters stand out with a purpose. Whether you’re buying the product because you love our story, because you have a connection with Africa(n crafts) or because you just love your little one to rock our unique designs; there is no wrong way of wearing The Kind.

Our mission is to work with Ghanaian micro producers and artisanal manufacturers, creating the opportunity for them to operate as part of a profitable value chain by providing new demands for their cultural crafts. At the same time we will make sure that we produce timeless products that are here to last.

Our vision is to achieve this by simply being fair and KIND to those we work with and to those we come across on this journey establishing our label, while always sourcing for new crafts and partners to join our network. We do this in a transparent way, which means that we will make sure that you can follow our steps and decisions from your home and influence them by sharing and liking.

“THE NEW COOL IS BEING KIND!”

Really… we should all just do it

Behind the basket

All of our baskets are handmade in Bolgatanga. Bolgatanga is the largest town in the Upper East Ghana and very close to the edge of the Sahara Desert.

For many generations, weaving has been a traditional skill of the people in Bolga. Basket weaving has helped bring much needed income to the villages surrounding Bolgatanga. Weaving is a traditional skill, which has been handed down from generation to generation. The baskets are made from kinkahe or elephant grass which grows in swamps and along rivers across Ghana, and is favoured by elephants, hence the name.

Our baskets are finessed with leather handles. The leather comes from local goats that have lived a free life. All of the meat is sold at local markets. We utilize as much of every skin as possible; scraps are reserved for making handles for smaller baskets or jewellery.

Behind the rattan

All of our rattan products are made in an outdoor workshop close to Accra, the capital of Ghana. The stands of rattan come from the in high forest zone, in the southern part of Ghana, where 3 out of the 600 rattan species grow naturally. Our rattan products are 100% natural and handmade, without the use of electricity.

Rattan is a climbing plant that is superficially similar to bamboo. Unlike bamboo, rattan stems are solid, and most species need structural support and cannot stand on their own. Rattans have been known to grow up to hundreds of metres long!

For production, strands of rattan that matches the requirements for the design are prepared. First the skin is peeled off, and will be used as rattan weaving material. The remaining "core" of the rattan is what we use as the base of our products. With heat the strand becomes more flexible and is bend in the desired shape.

Rattan is sustainable and useful material mainly because it is lightweight, durable, suitable for in- and outdoor use, and flexible.

The construction process and the craft behind making rattan products have barely changed in thousands of years. All of our rattan products are designed in collaboration with Peter, who has learned the craft behind working with rattan from his father. Together we combine the tradition rattan furniture into new, sustainable and modern designs.

Behind the batik

Our textiles are made using Ghanaian Batik technique, a wax resist technique that most likely made its entrance in West Africa around 1600 trough the ancient trans-Saharan routes. Local populations incorporated aspects of wax printing into their traditional textiles, and now The Kind carries on the long tradition of handcrafted batik into modern designs.

We work closely together with our artisans, and we value there input and experience. All the batik designs for this collection are made in collaboration with Winfred; who has his own batik workshop in Accra, Ghana. 

For more Behind the Kind footage go to our Instagram account.