Product Information Contents:

Vibrant Colours

Bead and Spacers

African Beads

Our most unusual products are necklaces made from recycled paper at a women's project in Uganda.

Add a splash of Africa to your life today! The single-strand necklace is just £6. View the Ugandan Bead necklaces...

Production

How can something so beautiful be crafted from a piece of waste paper? Magazines and posters are cut into narrow triangles, which are then rolled, glued and glazed. Small decorative spacers separate the paper beads and a screw-type connector is used for fastening.

3-Strand Turquoise

Single-Strand Green

By rolling the paper tightly and applying varnish, the beads are hard, durable and reasonably waterproof (although they may not survive a heavy soaking). Given their vibrant colours, you might think the beads are painted. Infact, the colour comes only from the paper used (although it is enhanced by the varnish).

Production has grown substantially but it remains a cottage industry – the women make the beads at home and at a pace that suits their circumstances.

Products

All sorts of items have been made from the beads, including handbags and purses, but the most popular products are a range of necklaces.

An often mentioned benefit of the beads is their light weight. At 0.7 ounces (20 grams), the single-strand necklace weighs the same as three 10 pence coins. The necklace length is between 46 and 52 cm (18-20”).

Brighten your life today! View our range of Ugandan bead necklaces...