Looking to curate a well-styled home with lots of personality and heritage? Developoing a collection of your favorite things is a great way to start. To get you started we have tips from Design Tastemaker, Nasozi Kakembo, to inspire your decor with heritage.
Tips for Collecting Home Decor with Heritage from Nasozi Kakembo
- Local Markets: Seek out local flea markets and artisan markets where you can ask the sellers about their connection to the item, and find out more about the item’s meaning and story.
- Authenticity: If purchasing from a national retailer, check the product tag to make sure that the item is made in the country it is representing. If you are not familiar with the country of origin, make sure it’s produced in Africa and not on another continent. The latter is a red flag that the item is not ethically produced nor authentic.
- Online Inspiration: Similarly if shopping online, check the description details to ensure that the item is made by the community or culture it represents. If the details provide the source as “Imported”, then it is likely a counterfeit and does not originate in the country or culture of origin.
- Shopping While Traveling: When traveling abroad, shopping in the designated craft market is usually your best bet. Artisans often sell their work to the vendors there, for fair prices, and sometimes the vendors are also the artisans themselves.
- Special Occasion Gifting: Consider gifting these items to loved ones or close acquaintances for special occasions. They already inherently carry an elevated meaning, and that carries over to the significance and value of gifting that item. Special occasions, such as a wedding, new job, or first home celebration, are all appropriate moments to gift a collectible.
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