Profession / role:

Co-founders: Marisa Zawacki (Head of Operations) + Rikke Clevin Jensen (Head of Design)

Company / organisation:

Salone Style

Website (if you have one):

www.facebook.com/salonestyle

My primary role in relation to fashion is:

Business Owner

I am looking to discover or buy

Mentoring + connections to other like minded ethical fashion initiatives; stockists

About me / About business or organisation:

Style with substance
Salone Style combines contemporary design with traditional African materials. We create vibrant, one of a kind designs inspired by the beautiful surroundings and fun loving people of Sierra Leone, a small country on the West coast of Africa.

Ecochic....and unique
Our modern designs mix the bold graphics and vivid hues of West African textiles with eco-friendly materials made of bone, metal, clay, recycled glass, paper and coconut shells. All materials are sourced locally through artisans and traders. No two items are the same.

Design doing good
We are a design driven social enterprise. Each piece is handcrafted by women in Sierra Leone who are being paid fair wages for their work. In a country where the average earnings are just over $1 dollar a day, these women are being empowered through new skills and economic opportunities to provide for themselves and their families. All proceeds from the sale of our jewellery are invested back into the social enterprise.

Proud member of the Ethical Fashion Forum.

For more information
www.facebook.com/salonestyle

Career history / Company history:

Founded in December 2011, Salone Style was born out of a desire to empower women in Sierra Leone (economically and emotionally). Salone Style is the brainchild of Rikke Clevin Jensen (Head of Design) and Marisa Zawacki (Head of Operations). Rikke and Marisa founded Salone Style based on their mutual love for Sierra Leone. They both reside in the country and volunteer 100% of their time. The initiative started as a 6-week skills based training course in jewellery design with a group of disadvantaged women. It has led to a production studio employing women to make beautiful handcrafted jewellery that are now sold on four continents: Africa, Europe, Australia and North America.