New Era of Product Development for Retailers and Designers

In a world where retail shelves are saturated with mass-produced goods, standing out means offering more than just beautiful products; it means showcasing pieces with purpose that evoke emotion. For independent retailers and interior designers looking to deepen their product and service storytelling, co-creating unique products rich in design heritage is an exciting path forward.

At Meekono, we help you bridge your creativity with craftsmanship through collaborative product development projects with our network of artisans. Our mission is to keep traditional crafts alive and relevant by aligning them with global design trends and your client's needs.

Why Co-Create with African Artisans?

1. Offer Trend-Relevant Handmade Products: Working with Meekono gives you early access to handmade collections developed in collaboration with pre-vetted, skilled artisans across Africa, featuring colour palettes, finishes, and forms that match global trends.

2. Unlock Exclusive Wholesale Collections: Want products no one else is selling? Through limited-edition collaborations, we help you source or co-develop items that are exclusive to you. Whether you're a boutique, concept store, hotel, or corporate seeking thoughtful, design-led options. 

3. Ethical Sourcing Made Simple: More and more customers are asking, “Who made this?” We pre-vet all sellers to ensure their practices align with your values, from responsible production methods to cultural authenticity. 

4. Tell Cultural Stories That Sell: Each product you co-create with our makers tells a story; we equip you with the stories and maker profiles that you can proudly share with your audience.

How the Co-Creation Process Works

• Consultation: We explore your goals and product preferences
• Matching: We match you with vetted artisan producers from our network
• Design Phase: You give creative input while we guide feasibility and timelines
• Production & Delivery: We oversee the final production and logistics

In our most recent project, we worked with the Raaswater artisan community in South Africa to co-create a hand-painted, stackable wine rack that blends art, storytelling, and function. Designed with independent retailers, boutique hotels, and corporate gifting clients in mind, this piece showcases the kind of product that emerges when artisans and buyers collaborate from concept to creation.

Email us or view the collection.