Sharon Wendo is the visionary founder and creative director of Epica African Jewellery, a Kenyan brand that’s redefining how we see African culture through fashion.
Sharon isn’t just creating accessories; she’s crafting narratives, celebrating heritage, and empowering individuals.
Her latest offering, the Maua collection, is a testament to this mission. Through intricate beadwork, inspired design, and a powerful message of self-love, Sharon’s Maua collection invites everyone to embrace their unique beauty and cultural identity.
This collection is not just about beautiful pieces; it’s an invitation to self-love and empowerment.
Sharon sat down with Khusoko, and let me tell you, her passion is infectious. She’s all about celebrating African cultures through fashion and Maua. It’s her love letter to that vision.
So, what’s the deal with Maua? It’s about flipping the script on traditional beauty standards.
Celebrating Bodies as a Canvas
As Sharon puts it, “The collection is about celebrating our bodies; we all have some sort of insecurities with how we look and it affects how we show up everywhere.” She’s using flowers, those universal symbols of love, as a way to say, “Hey, your body is a canvas.” It’s an invitation to “celebrate ourselves and see our bodies as a canvas for self-reflection.”
Sharon, the founder and creative powerhouse, sat down with Khusoko, and let me tell you, her passion is infectious. She’s all about celebrating African cultures through fashion, and Maua? It’s her love letter to that vision.
So, what’s the deal with Maua? It’s about flipping the script on traditional beauty standards. As Sharon puts it, “The collection is about celebrating our bodies; we all have some sort of insecurities with how we look, and it affects how we show up everywhere.”
She’s using flowers, those universal symbols of love, as a way to say, “Hey, your body is a canvas.” It’s an invitation to “celebrate ourselves and see our bodies as a canvas for self-reflection.”
Unapologetically Themselves
And who’s invited to this party? Everyone! “The Collection is for every woman and man who is celebrating themselves and being unapologetically themselves wherever they are.”
Now, let’s talk details. This collection is handmade, which gives it that extra special touch. Sharon wanted to emphasise the “Maua” flowers—and they’ve done it beautifully with beaded floral elements.
“Everything in this collection is handmade; it’s even more special that we have the beaded flowers, which is something we wanted to add on so that even when we call it the Maua collection, you can see it in the pieces.”
Design Elements and Cultural Inspiration
Design-wise, Sharon went deep. “This is one of my best-produced collections, I put so much effort into this body of work as I wanted to delve deep into celebrating our bodies, seeing our bodies as a canvas for self-reflection and loving ourselves where we are, as confidence is an energy we exude and we all deserve to feel good about ourselves.”
And the beadwork? Forget what you think you know. They’ve taken this art and given it a contemporary twist. Imagine a dress with over 400 hours of craftsmanship, adorned with beaded flowers, and a headpiece that draws inspiration from Cleopatra, the Himba, the Hamer, and the Sangoma. It’s a cultural mashup that just works.
“Maua Collection is telling a story of self-expression and beauty, seeing our bodies as a canvas for self-expression and embracing it with love and pride.”
That beaded hairpiece, inspired by Cleopatra, is all about “power and love.” And those influences from the Himba, Hamer, and Sangoma tribes? Pure magic.
Encouraging Self-Acceptance and Body Positivity
Sharon’s motivation? Real people, real struggles. “I have interacted with quite several people who struggle a bit with their confidence; they don’t see themselves in some clothes, and that inspired me to create the collection because I believe fashion is a powerful tool to make people feel good about themselves and bring so much confidence from within, and every time you are confident, you find your voice.”
“Maua Collection invites us to not only love ourselves and bodies where we are but to also show up unapologetically ourselves.”
Inspiration and Personal Values
When asked about her inspiration, Sharon says, “I’m really in my creativity era; working on this new work pushed me to explore the depths of my creativity. I had long nights where I didn’t know if my sketches would materialise into the actual products I had envisioned, but one thing about me: when the pressure is on, I will deliver, and we did that.”
As for the future? Sharon wants Maua to go global.
“I want the collection to cross borders and for people to celebrate themselves through these pieces.” And honestly? I think it will. Because when you’re talking about self-love and unapologetic self-expression, that’s a language everyone understands.
