Globally handmade

NKUKU’S ETHICALLY SOURCED HOME AND LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS ARE ALL HANDCRAFTED BY TALENTED ARTISANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Travelling can inspire some big decisions – a job change, getting married, moving home. For Alex and Ali Cooke, a year overseas prompted a serious business rethink. The result is Nkuku, their ethical homewares company – the name comes from a hut they saw in Zambia. Wherever they travelled, they came across brilliant craftspeople, and discovered traditional skills and beautiful products. So they made it their mission to find a wider audience for these talents, and moved out of London and set up home (and shop) in Devon. “From the start an ethical approach was key,” says Alex. “It’s the reason we set up the business. We work with natural and recycled materials, which shapes many of our collections. Over the years, we’ve built long-lasting friendships with the artisans we work with.”

IT BEGAN WITH JOURNALS

Nkuku started with exquisite leather journals, which are still available today, but the collection has grown and now includes gifts, decorative accessories, tableware, furniture, lighting and more – all handmade, all ethically sourced. Their team and products may have grown, but they still have the same hands-on approach, meeting and working with all of their artisans personally. Should you find yourself in Devon, the flagship store and café is at Brockhill Barns in Totnes, or discover the full collection online at nkuku.com.