PRESS RELEASE July 2015
BUYU COLLECTION Luxury travel accessories, ethically and sustainably sourced
Kickstarter launch date: 17 August 2015 (running for 35 days) Buyu is proud to reveal its new collection of luxury travel accessories, comprising a selection of unique, one-ofkind pieces in exclusive quantities. Combining age-old weaving traditions from Kenya with the finest American leather, Buya represents a truly global fusion – the result being products which are both pioneering and highly individual. Buyu Collection was founded with a belief that travel embodies multiple characters taken from each location and purpose, but sadly the homogeneous nature of the synthetic mass produced luggage industry has stripped the traveller of any unique variant identity. Formed with this desire to offer a difference, Buyu embarked on a journey with the belief that this vibrant idea is possible – just like people, their journeys and their stories, no two Buyu bags are the same. All Buyu products are one of a kind, with each pattern telling the unique tale of the person who produced it. No two bags duplicate any other in form lines or color. Buyu is built upon the belief that great fashion can promote positive growth in developing countries. Designed for maverick spirits with consummate taste, Buyu brings you African artisanal patterns fused with world-class design – with the bold, discerning and conscious traveller in mind, who is authentic to his or her own spirit and seeks to change the world around them. The name “Buyu”, meaning ‘seed’ in Kiswahili, reflects the brand’s key aims of preservation and sustainability. The women that Buyu employs in Kenya are the ‘seed’, and the development and sustainable wages provided in the manufacture will be the water that allows their communities to flourish and grow. By re-purposing a traditional Kenyan craft, Buyu will be able to reach new markets around the world and protect this ancient and endangered weaving culture. TBurnsArts | 18 Bishops Court, 54 Folgate Street, London E1 6UN | 0207 377 5665 | tani@tburnsarts.com
PRESS RELEASE July 2015
The first challenge was to find a fabric that could withstand the rigorous demands of global travel but was still stylish, renewable and unique. After a global search the founders of the brand were eventually led back to the source: Kenya, where in an open market an Akamba woman called Josephine introduced them to her people’s age-old weaving tradition, using hand-spun thread made from fibers of the sacred Baobab tree.
The Akamba people, also known as The Rope People, have inhabited the remote mountainous regions of the Kenyan savannah for centuries. They are famous craftspeople, hunters and long distance traders. They are also one of the few communities in Africa that still practice this ancient weaving technique, which has been passed down through generations of women. They sustainably harvest the bark of the mighty Baobab and meticulously spin it into a beautiful natural textile. It takes four weeks for a group of 30 women to weave 155 yards of material – 5 yards each. The entire process – including harvesting, spinning, dyeing and weaving – is done by hand. No two 5-yard strips of fabric are the same, owed to the Baobab’s tremendous range of colours and textures, in addition to each artisan’s personal techniques. The resulting fabric is hard wearing, all-weather, flame repellent and of an incomparable quality. Buyu is are currently collaborating with this incredible group of 30 women to source this core fibre and foster an inclusive supply chain model that will have a long lasting social impact on the Kamba community. These artisans are able to work in their original environment, earn a living and keep their cultural traditions alive. Once the fibre has been carefully selected by hand, it is exported to Buyu’s production workshop in the USA, where once again the brand is working with a family of accomplished craftsmen, to create this capsule line of luggage, combining Baobab with the finest American leathers. Prototypes have been honed and Buyu is now ready to offer their exclusive limited run accessories through Kickstarter. To be able to complete production, Buyu needs your support. If targets are reached, they will be able to supplement their inventory and streamline production processes, as well as improve our fabric acquisition logistics by introducing the Akamba communities to shuttle looming. Help Buyu continue to build a luxury lifestyle brand – and a sustainable future for the heritage of the Akamba people.
*ENDS* TBurnsArts | 18 Bishops Court, 54 Folgate Street, London E1 6UN | 0207 377 5665 | tani@tburnsarts.com
PRESS RELEASE July 2015
KICKSTARTER REWARDS $5- Buyu Postcard mailed to you from Kenya ...signed by our community group of weavers that we work with in tshikuru, Kenya with a word of thanks. $25- Buyu collection luggage tag with customised personal initials embossed on the tags (limited to 150 pcs). $35 - Buyu collection Globetrotter Welcome T-shirt (Available in Womens and Mens style cuts) Arrive in Style in this Buyu Globetrotter t-shirt featuring the word welcome in four international languages. Printed on 100% organic 90% earth positive apparel. $35- Buyu collection Globetrotter Goodbye T-shirt Depart in style in this Buyu Globetrotter t-shirt featuring the word goodbye in four international languages. Printed on 100% organic 90% earth positive apparel. $55 - Buyu collection T-shirt plus Buyu luggage tag with personal initials embossed $65 - Two Buyu collection Globetrotter Welcome and Goodbye T-shirt pack $80 - Buyu collection Catch all Dopp Kit (limited to 150 pcs) $100 - Buyu collection hand beaded Maasai Belt (limited to 150) $175 Buyu collection Maasai belt and Dopp kit combo pack
BAGS – FASTEST FINGERS FIRST! $350 - Buyu collection “Soko” Tote bag with personalized initials embossed – 30% 0FF Limited to 50 bags (* in order not to Strain the natural resources and the quality of our bags we offer our Buyu collection in a limited collection offering of 300 pcs only per season worldwide) $395 - Buyu collection “Soko” Tote bag with personalized initials embossed – 20% 0FF Limited to 50 bags (* in order not to Strain the natural resources and the quality of our bags we offer our Buyu collection in a limited collection offering of 300 pcs only per season worldwide) $445 - Buyu collection “Soko” Tote bag with personalized initials embossed – 10% 0FF Limited to 50 bags (* in order not to Strain the natural resources and the quality of our bags we offer our Buyu collection in a limited collection offering of 300 pcs only per season worldwide) $630 - Buyu collection “Safari” Duffel bag with personalized initials embossed – 30% OFF Limited to 50 Pcs worldwide. (* in order not to Strain the natural resources and the quality of our bags we offer our Buyu collection in a limited collection offering of 300 pcs only per season worldwide) $720 - Buyu collection “Safari” Duffel bag with personalized initials embossed – 20% OFF Limited to 50 Pcs worldwide. (* in order not to Strain the natural resources and the quality of our bags we offer our Buyu collection in a limited collection offering of 300 pcs only per season worldwide)
TBurnsArts | 18 Bishops Court, 54 Folgate Street, London E1 6UN | 0207 377 5665 | tani@tburnsarts.com
PRESS RELEASE July 2015
$810 - Buyu collection “Safari” Duffel bag with personalized initials embossed – 10% OFF Limited to 50 Pcs worldwide. (* in order not to Strain the natural resources and the quality of our bags we offer our Buyu collection in a limited collection offering of 300 pcs only per season worldwide) $465 Buyu collection “Soko” Tote + Tag + T Shirt pack $750 Buyu collection “Safari” Duffel + Tag + T Shirt Combo pack $1000 Buyu Collection “Safari” Duffel + Tag, Buyu “Soko” Tote Combo pack $3000 DESIGN WITH US NAMING RIGHTS custom made, choose your color design with us.. an one of piece You get to name it. $6000 BUYU collection Ultimate Safari (limited to 4 spaces) “The ultimate insider adventure with Buyu Collection in collaboration with Tastemaker.com” Come live out the adventure on the ground, touch feel and create new memories... meet the women on a sourcing trip and spend a week in Kenya. You take care of your airline tickets and visa and we will take care of accommodation on the ground transportation, food sites, sounds and safari. We will pack you a Buyu duffel (luggage tag + initials + Buyu Collection Earth positive t shirts + Belt + Buyu Catch all dopp kit) + meet the weavers, custom pattern weave + lessons in weaving + 3 day safari) included hotel/food and local travel in Kenya for 7 days.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES For further information, interviews or images please contact Tani Burns: T: 0207 377 5665 M: 07888 731 419 E: tani@tburnsarts.com W: www.tburnsarts.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/tburnsarts?fref=ts TW: @tburnsarts
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TBurnsArts | 18 Bishops Court, 54 Folgate Street, London E1 6UN | 0207 377 5665 | tani@tburnsarts.com