About Us and Our Beads

Not Your Average Company

What a start it’s been for us all at Acacia Creations! Since our products debuted in the U.S. in October 2007, we’ve been working overtime to meet demand and we couldn’t be happier. That’s because at Acacia Creations we operate according to fair trade principles and return a percentage of each sale to our employees in Kenya. That means the more we sell, the more our workers and their families benefit! Also, because our Acacia Beads are made from recycled magazines, the more we sell, the more paper we keep from being thrown away.

Each month we’ll be donating 5% or more of your purchases to a charitable organization in Kenya or Uganda. Check back each month to see which charities are benefitting, or you can suggest the organization of your choice.

A Brighter Future for Our Artisans

Our workshop is located in Nairobi, Kenya where we’ve been making fun, ethical, recycled paper jewelry since October 2007. We currently have 9 men and women working with us in Nairobi to make the one-of-a-kind pieces you see here. In keeping with fair trade practices, each of our employees is paid a monthly salary IN ADDITION TO receiving a percentage of each sale. If you’re wondering what that means.

1. At the end of every month the artisans of Acacia Creations receive their regular monthly salary. (It’s standard practice in Kenya to pay an entire month’s salary in one single payment at the end of the month).

2. Throughout the course of a month, our workers are also paid a certain amount for every single piece of jewelry they make. In other words, they receive a percentage of the sale of that item before it’s even sold! Depending on the item, they earn between 5 and 15% of the item’s wholesale price. This ensures that our workers are paid throughout the month.

In all, our workers earn a wage 5 times higher than the national average in Kenya!! Acacia Creations also covers most medical costs for our employees and their families.

What About the Paper Beads?

At our Kenya workshop we don’t make the individual paper beads. Instead, we buy hundreds of thousands of beads every month from a group of women in Uganda. We pay a fair price directly to the women who meticulously cut, roll and lacquer each bead. There’s no middle man so we can guarantee 100% of the money goes directly to the beaders. The beads are then brought to our workshop in Kenya and made into your one-of-a-kind wearable art.

How the Paper Beads are Made

Every single paper bead is individually hand-cut, rolled and lacquered. The process begins by cutting a long, narrow triangular strip from the page of a magazine. The bead is then rolled from the base of the triangle and the tip is secured with a tiny bit of glue. It’s then dipped in clear varnish and left to dry.

No color is added to the beads, so what you see is the actual coloring of the magazine page. Look closely and you’re likely to see text and other print.

Our recycled paper beads are surprisingly lightweight and durable. We don’t suggest leaving them submerged in water for prolonged periods of time, but they hold up beautifully through regular handwashing, dishwashing, rain, etc!!