Amsha - Ethically Sourced Artisan Baskets

For Laura Walker, it was love at first sight when she first stepped on the continent of Africa in 2008. After several trips spent traipsing through Sub-Saharan Africa, a summer in South Africa working in social enterprise and a deep sense of awe for its diverse people and cultures, she knew she could use business as a tool for social change. With her background in design and business, Laura founded Amsha Studios. Amsha means “to Awaken” in Swahili. 

Believing that everyone should have access to education, Laura knew through job creation, we could educate future generations and support self-sufficiency.  She researched artisanal work in East Africa and worked in micro-enterprise development in South Africa, before moving to Kenya at the end of 2012 to start Amsha. Now Amsha is based out of Portland, Oregon.

Amsha works directly with artisans across Africa to create handmade products. They focus on driving social change in underserved communities by bringing quality, ethically made goods to the marketplace.