KESSINONU DESIGNS

Her Journey

Behind every purchase, there are local artisans to uplift and support.

For its first collection, “Faith and Royalty”, I’M SHE collaborated with Akossua Josiane TOGA-MIDEM, known as KESSINONU DESIGNS, a young Togolese woman from Aképé with a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Central University College in Accra, Ghana.

Her love story with beads began early. At just twelve years old, she started making her own waist beads (baya) because she did not like the market mixtures offered by the women vendors. What began as a personal search for beauty soon became a lifelong passion.

Her Craft

It was during her years of study in Accra that she truly discovered the wider world of beads. Markets became her workshops, artisans became her mentors, and passion became her compass. She inquired about every tool and accessory she needed, steadily building the knowledge to craft bracelets, necklaces, and more. For more than ten years, her hands have continued this creative journey, shaping beads into works of meaning.

Her Workshop

In 2024, facing challenges in sourcing materials that slowed her creative process, Akossua Josiane opened her own bead-making workshop using recycled glass. This milestone not only sustained her artistry but also deepened her commitment to sustainable and locally rooted creation.

Her Vision

Today, she stands as a complete artisan. In her showroom, one can discover necklaces, bracelets, earrings, waist beads (baya), keyrings, bags, and hats, each piece carrying her distinct signature of dedication, heritage, and grace.

With hope and determination, she looks forward to opening herself even more to the world, sharing her knowledge of beads and accessory-making, and ensuring that her craft remains not only a livelihood but a lasting testimony of heritage, faith, and beauty.