By Anyango Omondi: Crafting Beauty from What the World Discards
In the heart of Nairobi’s creative scene, Anyango Omondi, the visionary founder and CEO of Zanta Adeyde https://zantaadeyde.com/, has built a brand that redefines what luxury can mean in Africa.
Her pieces, bold, refined, and unmistakably African, are born from materials most would overlook: bones, horns, and leather remnants. For her, sustainability isn’t a trend; it’s the soul of her work.
“It all started with curiosity,” she recalls.
“I was employed in a meat abattoir, and one day the manager asked me to sell horns, literally a mountain of horns and bones. I was confused. What would I even do with them?”
That moment of confusion sparked a journey. Research led her to discover artisans turning discarded materials into art, and a deep realization followed: beauty can live in what society throws away.
“I saw the beauty in what had been forsaken. These materials were harming the environment, yet nobody was thinking about it,” she says. “Many years from now, this would have become a hazard. I wanted to change that.”
Anyango Omondi: Crafting Beauty from What the World Discards
Jewelry as a Story and a Statement
For Anyango, jewelry is more than an accessory; it’s a language. “I design from emotions, happenings, and people,” she explains.
“Each texture mirrors who we are, as women, as people navigating work and life.”
Behind every Zanta Adeyde piece lies a story: of friendship, of sustainability, and of the artisans whose hands bring it to life.
“When I see someone wearing Zanta Adeyde jewelry, I see employment, craftsmanship, and community. It’s a whole story woven into one piece,” she says.
Her aesthetic draws heavily from her heritage, a tapestry of tribes and traditions that spans Kenya. Born in Loitoktok, raised in Kajiado, and with ancestral roots in Nduwo, she draws inspiration from the colors, rhythms, and stories of African life.
“My heritage is my heartbeat,” she says. “I balance it with modern craftsmanship to create pieces that speak globally but remain authentically African.”
Anyango Omondi: Crafting Beauty from What the World Discards
Sustainability Meets Luxury
For Anyango, sustainability isn’t just about the environment; it’s about creating beauty that lasts.
“It means designing with purpose,” she explains. “Knowing your materials, valuing the artisans you work with, and eliminating waste.” Even the smallest offcuts from leather are turned into earrings, ensuring nothing goes to waste.
Her materials are locally sourced from abattoirs such as KMC and Dagoretti, and sometimes even as far as Turkana.
“It’s not glamorous work,” she laughs. “But we’ve created a network that supports employment for many. It’s a dirty job, but it’s honest, and it’s ours.”
The work is not without challenges. In an age dominated by fast fashion, her commitment to conscious creation often feels uphill.
“Not many young people want to handle bones or horns,” she admits. “But we keep pushing. We know where we’re headed.”
Collaboration, Culture, and Conscious Living
Her latest collaboration with Casamigos Tequila blends two worlds style and taste into a shared experience of storytelling.
“Casamigos celebrates authentic connections,” she says. “We’re a friend-based brand, so this partnership fits perfectly. All the women I work with are my friends first and partners second.”
The upcoming Casamigos x Zanta Adeyde Experience promises sensory storytelling, pairing sustainable fashion and jewelry with an intimate tasting session. “It’s all about friendship, sustainability, and celebrating life,” she adds.
As a designer, Anyango sees herself as a bridge between cultures, a storyteller carrying African creativity into the global luxury space.
“African design is rich and bold. We are evolving. I want the world to experience that through every piece I create.”
If her jewelry were a toast, she says it would be “to growth, friendship, resilience, and the beauty of becoming together.”
The Power of Purpose
What keeps her going is not fame or fashion week features, it’s the women she empowers.
“When I see women thrive, I know an entire community is growing,” she says. “They glow differently when they can support their families. That’s what keeps me pushing.”
Her advice to young creators is simple yet profound: “Be original. Be authentic. That’s what sells you.”
From a pile of discarded horns to the global luxury stage, Anyango Omondi has proven that purpose and creativity can coexist beautifully and sustainably.
Through Zanta Adeyde, she continues to craft not just jewelry, but stories of resilience, friendship, and African pride.
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