designsbyokoe

17/08/2024

SUMMER TIME SELECTIONS 2024
DM for purchase information 🎨

14/11/2023

Designs by Okoe is embarking on an exciting new chapter, extending its artisanal expertise beyond jewelry to offer a diverse range of handcrafted treasures. Specializing in unique creations made from authentic stones and materials sourced directly from Ghana, our expansion now encompasses clothing, crafts, and all-natural body care products.
Our journey into clothing fuses traditional Ghanaian aesthetics with modern design sensibilities, resulting in a collection that not only reflects the rich cultural heritage of Ghana but also offers a distinctive style statement. From vibrant prints to intricate detailing, each garment tells a story, celebrating the craftsmanship that is deeply rooted in our brand.
In the realm of crafts, Designs by Okoe continues to capture the essence of Ghanaian artistry, bringing forth a curated selection of handcrafted items that showcase the talent of local artisans. This includes intricate home decor, functional items, and unique gifts, each crafted with precision and passion.
Expanding into all-natural body care, we are dedicated to harnessing the power of Ghana's natural resources to create products that pamper and rejuvenate. From nourishing skincare to aromatic bath essentials, our body care line embraces the purity of nature, promoting holistic well-being.
As we venture into these new realms, Designs by Okoe remains committed to sustainability, fair trade practices, and preserving the authenticity of Ghanaian craftsmanship. We invite you to explore the beauty and uniqueness that define our expanded offerings, where each creation tells a tale of tradition, passion, and the vibrant spirit of Ghana.

29/09/2022

Authentic Ghanaian beads 🇬🇭🔥🔥🇬🇭

05/09/2022

Always Authentic 🇬🇭🇬🇭

19/08/2022

Powder glass beads are a type of necklace ornamentation. The earliest such beads were discovered during archaeological excavations at Mapungubwe in South Africa, and dated to between 970-1000 CE. Manufacturing of the powder glass beads is now concentrated in West Africa, particularly in the Ghana area. The origins of beadmaking in Ghana are unknown, but the great majority of powder glass beads produced today is made by Ashanti and Krobo craftsmen and women. Krobo bead making has been documented to date from as early as the 1920s but despite limited archaeological evidence, it is believed that Ghanaian powder glass bead making dates further back. Bead making in Ghana was first documented by John Barbot in 1746. Beads still play important roles in Krobo society, be it in rituals of birth, coming of age, marriage, or death.
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Templates ready for the oven
Powder glass beads are made from finely ground glass, the main source being broken and unusable bottles and a great variety of other scrap glasses. Special glasses such as old cobalt medicine bottles, cold cream jars, and many other types of glasses from plates, ashtrays, window panes - to name only a few - are occasionally bought new, just for the purpose. Pulverized or merely fragmented, and made into beads, these glasses yield particularly bright colours and shiny surfaces. Modern ceramic colourants, finely ground broken beads, or shards of different coloured glasses from various sources can be added to create a great variety of styles, designs and decorative patterns in many different colours. In addition, glass bead fragments of varying sizes, which have traditionally been used for the manufacture as well as for the decoration of specific types of beads, can now be found in interesting new combinations, and during the past few years, in particular, bead makers have taken this tradition yet another step forward by using entire, i.e. whole small beads for making their colorful bead creations.

14/08/2022

from Designs by Okoe Boutique

07/08/2022

Travel ✈️ in style with hand made duffles and backpacks from Ghana. All bags are made using authentic made-in-Ghana 🇬🇭 fabric. High quality and made to last. Pre-order now. Limited quantity. DM for details.

02/08/2022

31/07/2022

Real Ghanaian jeweellery 🇬🇭🇬🇭

31/07/2022

Just in time for Back to School 💻 Protect your laptops in cultural style. These laptop bags are made from genuine, made-in-Ghana fabrics. The bags are sturdy and nicely padded. DM for pricing and to reserve yours. I have only a limited quantity.

24/06/2022

Designs by Okoe and Ayinde Designs will be vending tonight at the MARKET SW. It’s an evening of Arts, Food, Flea & Fun taking place outdoors (photos are from a previous event). There will be live music, performances and a beer 🍻 garden. Come on out and say hi 👋🏾 We’ll be there from 4-10 pm. It’s located directly across from the Waterfront SW Metro (green line). For more info: www.marketSWdc.com

20/06/2022

WAIST BEADS: Yes, I do have them. Beautifully hand strung in Ghana. So what’s the story?

African waist beads one of the most commonly replicated items of personal adornment worn by Ghanaian people. Traditionally, multiple strands of colored beads made from seeds or glass are worn around a woman's waist to draw attention to, and enhance her femininity.

But, they also have other connotations. In Ashante and Krobo cultures, mothers present waist beads to their daughters to mark their coming of age. Once she reaches sexual maturity, larger beads or bells may be added. This is so that, when a woman walks, the beads produce a sound to inform potential suitors of her availability.

Modernly, Waist Beads also serve as a weight control tool. Quite simply, if they roll up the waist, this is an indication to lose weight!

Women in Ghana wear waist beads as a symbolic adornment, as a celebration of womanhood, sexuality, femininity, fertility, healing, spirituality, body shaping, protection and wealth. They are worn by African women of all shapes, sizes, and ages.

The placement of a woman’s beads can also symbolize different meanings. They can be used to shape the waist. Wearing multiple strands over time can help keep the waist small and accentuate one’s natural curves. Traditional waist beads are strung on cotton cord with no clasp or hook. It is believed that the beads possess the power to attract as well as evoke deep emotional responses. Traditional waist beads are meant to be worn until they break or fall off.
Reasons Why Women Wear Beads

1. Sexual Appeal: It is believed that a woman in waist beads is sexually appealing to men. Most African men love to see their women in beads. Most of them have also admitted that seeing a woman in waist bead turns them on. They love to play with it as their women lay in their arms or during sexual activities as well.
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2. Body Shapers : Waist beads serve as a natural waist trainers for some women. Wearing of beads can easily tell an African woman whether she is gaining or losing weight.
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3. Traditional Practices: There’s a belief that beads improve a woman’s curves. Hence, beads are worn around African baby girls to enhance their curves and also to give them shape as they reach their adolescent stage.
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4. Healing and Meditation: Some People also believe that waist beads have some healing and protective charms that keep danger away. They are said to heal stress, anxiety or relax the nerves during pregnancy.
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5. Heritage and Pride: Sometimes the waist beads are just a show of love for the Ghanaian heritage and Africa heritage at large.
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6. Maturity and Growth: Many communities put this beads on their girls as a rite of passage and adorn them and to show that they have passed from girls to women.
Below are some bead color meanings:

• Black – Power and protection
• Blue – Loyalty and truth
• Brown – Earth and stability
• Gold – Good health, power and wealth
• Green – Abundance, fertility, nature and prosperity
• Orange – Courage, self-confidence and vitality
• Pink – Care, beauty, love and kindness
• Purple – Royalty, spirituality and wisdom
• Red – Confidence and vitality
• Turquoise – Communication and self-awareness
• White – Light, truth and purity
• Yellow – Energy, joy and happiness

Prices are 1 for $10, 2 for $15, and 3 for $25. DM for purchasing and shipping details
(Source: Bead Chest)