Buyu {pronounced Bu-yu} is an African designer luggage brand that specialises in timeless travel accessories. Our one-of-a-kind products are made using vintage renewable bark fibre, which is sustainably harvested from the age-old Baobab tree. At Buyu we combine unique African heritage with contemporary craftsmanship; the fibre is hand-woven by female artisans in Kenya – a skill passed down from mo
ther to daughter - then fused with high-quality leather by expert craftsmen in the USA. The Buyu collection is the first combination of Baobab fibre and leather in the travel accessory world, offering an alternative to the commonplace holdall or travel bag. By re-purposing this traditional craft, we hope to reach new markets and preserve Kenya’s ancient and endangered weaving culture. Buyu, which means ‘seed’ in Kiswahili, reflects our key aims of preservation and sustainability. The women we employ in Kenya are the ‘seed’ with which we have sown our brand while the sustainable wages we provide are the water which will allow their communities to grow.
“A journey in itself is like a person, no two are alike”. Just as all journeys are different and unique, so are our designs. Because our accessories are hand-crafted, each and every item you receive is one-of-a-kind. The Baobab tree, which provides us with our core fabric, shares a great symbiotic relationship with the elephant. These two great icons of the Savannah are key to each other’s continued survival in the wild. According to the African wildlife foundation:
“One elephant is killed every 15 minutes -100 elephants are
killed every day- extinction is less than 10 years away”. Conservation is at the heart of Buyu, a reason why a 10% of our profits will go towards supporting the conservation of the African elephant. Whether you’re a conscious traveller in need of a wallet, holdall or passport cover, Buyu believes great fashion can promote positive growth in developing countries, making style and substance truly coincide. Contact us @ [email protected]
