Kenana Knitters creates a range of plush toys, home decor, clothing & accessories and unique gifts using 100% natural wool, which has been home spun, plant dyed and hand knitted with care.
MISSION
Kenana Knitters’ ethos is to make a significant social impact in rural Kenya by empowering women to take charge of their lives through dignified work. Kenana Knitters prides itself by operating within the cultural context of the daily demands of rural Kenyan women, including farming and tending their children, with respect to the environmental challenges. Knitting is ideal, as it requires minimal equipment and can be done in small amounts of time. Knitting can even be done on the long walks that are required in rural areas and in the dark, since most of the women live without electricity.
Kenana Knitters believes that women are the heartbeat/central point of their communities. The primary purpose of Kenana Knitters is to provide a source of income that goes directly into the women’s hands, thus enabling them to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families. Kenana Knitters is dedicated to providing fair wages and flexible employment in a family-friendly environment, where knitters may bring their children, while they knit.
Additionally, Kenana Knitter’s philosophy is to encourage skills development of all who are involved through IT courses and literacy classes. Kenana Knitters invests in the overall welfare of the women by providing Family Planning, and Health Clinics.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Kenana Knitters was founded on the premise of changing lives stitch by stitch. Kenana Knitters hopes to share the stories of rural Kenyan women through their handiwork of unique, hand-knitted creations.
Kenana Knitters is a grassroots business that was founded by local Kenyan, Patricia Nightingale, who wanted to assist a group of individuals, as they were lacking a market for their homespun yarn. With clever consideration, she helped transform their yarn into unique creations with her distinctive designs, including plush toys, home décor, clothing and accessories. With a vision to further impact the community, the group taught women in the area to knit beautiful, organic products using local, sustainable resources. By providing a safe, family-friendly working environment, Kenana Knitters empowers women, offering them a chance to work and take charge of their lives, with dignity.
Today, Kenana Knitter works with and pays fair wages to over 500 knitters and spinners. The organization exports a collection of unique products to more than 10 countries around the world. Every item is a unique piece that bears the signature of the woman who created it.
By purchasing a Kenana Knitters product, you are contributing to the pride and advancement of the individual woman and her family, as well as impacting her overall community. Kenana Knitters is changing lives stitch by stitch.
