I was born in Kitale, in Kenya’s agricultural heartland, and raised in Lodwar in Turkana County. My childhood was shaped by striking contrasts, vast sandy plains and mountains, intense heat, and the presence of Lake Turkana, often called the Jade Sea.

What grounded me most was culture and community. Living close to nomadic communities meant being surrounded by beadwork, tanned leather, ceremony, and a deep sense of belonging. At home, my father designed spaces with precision and care, and my mother cultivated gardens that felt like sanctuaries. Beauty was thoughtful. It was lived in.

Long before I had language for it, textiles shaped how I saw the world. Fabric was never just material. It carried story and identity. Studying fashion design in Florence refined that instinct, but it also clarified something deeper. I was less interested in garments alone and more captivated by the textile itself, the hand, the history, the artistry within each thread.

Before launching SIAFU in 2021, I worked across sourcing, design, and production development. I built systems, worked closely with artisans, and learned that creativity must be supported by discipline and resilience. Early growth brought meaningful recognition and large international orders, but it also brought steep lessons in logistics, finance, and the true cost of responsible production.

SIAFU was born from that intersection of heritage, craft, and operational grounding. It is not luxury for display. It is luxury that feels human. It is participation in something timeless.

The woman before the brand is still here. SIAFU simply gave her instinct a name.