1. Returning to the Roots: A Journey Home
When the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, Innocent found himself stranded in China, far from his home in Kenya. He had just lost his job. With uncertainty clouding the future, he made a life-altering decision — to return home and rebuild from the ground up.
Back in Kenya, he didn’t just return to a place, he returned to himself. He reconnected with what had always lived within him: the quiet calling to create with his hands. His journey back became more than a physical relocation — it became a spiritual return to his roots.
2. Learning by Doing: Building Craft from Scratch
Innocent’s story isn’t one of formal apprenticeships or long lineage in the trade. It’s a story of rediscovery. Faced with a blank slate, he chose to fill it with craft. He taught himself the skills he admired — carving, shaping, assembling — slowly turning raw materials into functional beauty.
The early days weren’t easy. There were mistakes, setbacks, and the financial strain of starting over. But what kept him going was a clear purpose: to create items people could use and love every day — objects that quietly add comfort and elegance to life.
3. Wood Meets Leather: Handmade Harmony
Each item Innocent creates is a marriage of functionality and craftsmanship. From kitchen towel holders to desk organizers, every product is designed to feel intuitive in your hand and essential in your space. No piece is made in haste. Every curve, polish, and joint reflects hours of careful, deliberate work.
In his workshop, wood and leather come together in elegant harmony. His leather bags are anchored by wooden bases and handles — a rare technique that gives them a timeless, sculptural feel. He sources Ethiopian leather, prized for its unmatched softness and durability. Not only does it elevate the product’s look and feel, but it also represents his belief in ethical, lasting materials.
Leather bags anchored by wooden bases and handles
Sustainably Chosen Woods
For wood, Innocent relies on local, sustainably sourced varieties like:
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Mvule, with its bold, expressive grain
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Cypress, for its soft tone and light texture
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Mango wood, a fast-growing, eco-friendly option full of natural character
All are preserved through traditional methods, without chemicals — just sun, time, and care — allowing the wood’s natural story to shine through.
A flat lay of Innocent’s products
4. What the Craft Means
To Innocent, crafting is not just a job it is a reclamation of purpose. It is healing. It is pride. It is his way of transforming disruption into design, uncertainty into intention.
His work has brought stability to his life, but more than that, it’s brought him joy — the joy of seeing his creations in people’s homes and knowing he’s part of their daily rhythm. Each piece he makes carries a quiet message: you can begin again, and you can build something beautiful.
What Innocent hopes customers feel when they hold his work is simple a sense of connection. Not just to a product, but to the hands that made it, to the story behind it, and to the culture that shaped it.
5. Looking Ahead: A Vision for More
Innocent dreams of growing a collective — a space where more young people can learn craftsmanship, find dignity in creation, and be reminded of the value in working with their hands.
He hopes to collaborate with fellow artisans, expand into new techniques, and deepen his understanding of traditional woodworking and leathercraft. What drives him forward isn’t just ambition, but legacy — the idea that future generations will look back and see craft not as a fallback, but as a powerful way to move forward.
Innocent with fellow crafts people at a group workshop session
Bring His Story Home
Innocent’s work is more than craft it’s a story of resilience, reinvention, and deep cultural pride. Every piece he creates is a reflection of his journey: starting over, working with his hands, and building something meaningful from the ground up.
Through Mawu Africa, a platform dedicated to empowering artisans by providing a global stage for their work and their stories. Innocent is now able to share his craft beyond borders. This partnership allows him to access new markets, connect with conscious customers, and continue growing his impact.
By bringing one of his handcrafted pieces into your space, you’re not just adding beauty and function to your everyday, you’re carrying a piece of his story, and helping preserve the traditions and talents of African makers.
Shop Innocent’s Collection- Woodcraft Studio
