we are nbo

We Are NBO is a handmade jewellery offering based out of Nairobi, Kenya. The brand considers their pieces to be a dialogue between the artisan and the designer, Michael Nguthu, who has leveraged his experience working for international brands to create heartfelt jewellery that tells a story of joy, resilience, community and ingenuity. The team’s artisans, who often come from marginalised backgrounds, use heritage craft to make contemporary, covetable jewellery. They creatively up-cycle their tools, using reworked water pumps as sanding benches and denim off-cuts as buffing wheels. We Are NBO works with mostly recycled and upcycled materials such as recycled brass, wood and bone. Pieces are then 24k gold plated and feature striking nature and geometrically inspired earrings, necklaces and rings. Each piece is a breathtaking celebration of hard work, artisanal skill and a vision for more than just pretty things. This is art.