News from Theo Shepherd-Smith (Cobham 15)

24 April 2024

OS Theo Shepherd-Smith (Cobham 15) is a Director of Manyatta Limited, a company which imports and sells Maasai beaded belts.

Theo writes, "There are a few other companies which sell Maasai beaded belts but what makes Manyatta unique is that we produce belts to commission. Official commissions include: The Queen’s Club, Hurlingham Club, I Zingari, Chelsea Arts Club, Old Wellingtonians, Eton Ramblers, The Old Etonian Golfing Society, Radley Rangers and many more.

The Old Stoics belts can be found on our website.

OS  - https://manyatta.co.uk/products/stowe-school

OS Shooting Club - https://manyatta.co.uk/products/old-stoic-shooting-club

OS Racing Syndicate - https://manyatta.co.uk/products/old-stoic-racing-syndicate?_pos=3&_sid=ed9dd1832&_ss=r 

Stowe Beagles - https://manyatta.co.uk/products/stowe

Stowe Templars - https://manyatta.co.uk/products/stowe-templars 

All of these are utterly authentic and of exceptional quality. 

The leather is produced in Thika, the buckles are made of recycled brass and are fashioned in Ngong and the belts are beaded by Maasai ‘mamas’, primarily in Kajiado district, near Nairobi. The belts take 3-4 full days to bead and an average sized belt contains around 6-7000 beads.

The cost is £85 and reflects the quality of the leather, the remarkable skill involved in the beading and the attractive branding.

Purchasing a belt produces employment (where there is none) to some of the poorest communities in Kenya and enables their children to be educated, a fundamental need in the country.

If you would like more information, please do email Theo on theo@manyatta.co.uk