Hi girls! 💖 Hellen here.
In our collection, you’ll see lots of geometry, bold colours, and repeating motifs. In Kenya, and across East Africa, a pattern is not just aesthetic—it’s a language! Fabrics, jewelry, and decor tell stories of status, family, wisdom, and prosperity. ✨
When you know what a pattern means, your accessories gain incredible power! Want to know what you’re wearing? Let's explore five key African symbols and motifs that influence our collection:
1. Adinkra Symbols (From Ghana) – Wisdom in Every Curve 🌿
While Adinkra originates in West Africa (Ghana), it’s a universal visual dictionary known across the continent.
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⚡ Symbols in Our Design: We look for geometric motifs inspired by Adinkra that symbolize strength, perseverance, or wisdom.
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💖 What They Symbolize: The most famous is Gye Nyame (Except for God), the symbol of God. We wear them as a reminder of unwavering faith and strength.
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How to Wear It: These symbols look fantastic on metal pendants or as a delicate texture on cuff bracelets. They give you a sense of grounding in the modern world.
2. Kente Patterns (From Ghana) – The Power of Colour 🌈
Kente is an incredibly rich, hand-woven fabric that is synonymous with African pride worldwide.
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📏 Patterns in Our Design: Our textiles and headwraps often use colours and divisions inspired by Kente.
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💖 What They Symbolize: In Kente, every colour has meaning: Green is growth/harvest, Yellow is wealth/prosperity, Red is blood/political tension, and Black is spirituality/maturity.
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How to Wear It: Kente-inspired scarves are a perfect statement piece—let it dominate, and keep the rest of your outfit simple.
3. Maasai Beaded Patterns (From Kenya/Tanzania) – Life and People 🔴🔵
The Maasai use beads to narrate stories about age, social standing, and events.
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⚡ Patterns in Our Design: You'll find these in our beaded necklaces and cuffs. We are surrounded by them here in Kenya!
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💖 What They Symbolize: The patterns are often geometric: Blue means sky/rain, Red means courage, White is peace, and Yellow symbolizes sun rays and prosperity.
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How to Wear It: These pieces are ideal when you need to inject true colour and depth into your outfit. They are works of art in themselves.
4. Geometry and Spirals (Universal) – The Endless Cycle 🔄
Spirals, circles, and triangles appear across African art.
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📏 Patterns in Our Design: You find these in our geometric earrings and figurines.
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💖 What They Symbolize: The spiral often represents the journey of life, rebirth, and continuous movement. The triangle (pointing down) is femininity and fertility, (pointing up) is masculinity and growth.
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How to Wear It: Geometric pieces are a modern classic—they look excellent with minimalist clothing that allows them to stand out.
5. Sun and Earth (Universal) – The Strength of Nature ☀️
Motifs inspired by natural elements like sun rays, desert landscapes, or animal outlines.
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⚡ Patterns in Our Design: Everything related to natural textures and gold or brown tones.
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💖 What They Symbolize: The Sun is life and energy (our "Glow"!), while earth colours (brown, terracotta) symbolize connection to home and stability.
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How to Wear It: These motifs are perfect for home decor, where they bring warmth and a sense of security.
Conclusion: Wear More Than Just Style ✨
I hope this short guide gave you a new perspective! Remember, when you wear African-inspired pieces, you carry a part of rich history and wisdom with you.
Choose the pattern that holds the message you want to send out into the world, and let it shine. Glow with meaning!
🔥 READY TO WEAR THE STORY? EXPLORE THE SYMBOLS!
Do you feel a connection to the courage of Ndeu (the Lion) or the Maasai symbols of prosperity? In our collection, you can wear the symbol that defines you:
CLICK FOR THE STATEMENT JEWELRY AND DECOR COLLECTION
WHAT TELLS YOUR STORY? Which African symbol would you like to wear every day and why? Write to us in the comments or send us a message! We would love to share your story on our social media channels and inspire other Glow Ladies in our community.
With love from Kisumu, Hellen Anyango (Founder of Glow by Hellen)
