T-Shirts
A true classic amongst our designs is our ELEPANT – let us correct that: ELEPHANT. The spelling mistake that crept into this lovely design from 2011 was carried over directly onto the T-shirt and remains one of our most popular designs to this day. Thanks to this design (alongside others), school fees have been paid, a new kitchen block has been built and a computer room has been set up in Arusha, Tanzania, over the last few years.
The little monkey NYANI jumps out of a fabric pouch made from traditional Kitenge fabric, which contrasts sharply with the T-shirt. The NYANI motif was first created back in 2014 during a natural history lesson at a school in Tanzania, whilst discussing the animals of the Serengeti. This motif is an integral part of our collection, even though the design of the breast pocket changes from time to time.
A total of three different crocodiles, drawn by three different schoolchildren from the ‘Songa Mbele na Masomo’ Children’s Centre in Nairobi, feature on our CROCODILES T-shirt. The design has been printed tone-on-tone using a large-format screen onto the vibrant green fabric, so that every part of the T-shirt is densely populated with crocodiles – just like the Mara River, which is famous for its high concentration of crocodiles.
Is it a bicycle, a balance bike or perhaps a motorbike? We’re not sure, but we thought BAISIKELI (bicycle in Kiswahili) was the loveliest name for this little work of art, the original drawing of which, dating from 2018, measures just under 2 cm. The drawing was created following a school trip organised by the ‘Songa Mbele Na Masomo’ Children’s Centre to Nairobi’s most beautiful urban forest – the Karura Forest. After the trip, the pupils at this full-time residential centre for children with special needs drew what they had enjoyed most, and some of the children were clearly particularly fascinated by the bustling streets with their countless different modes of transport, such as buses, motorbikes and cars. Proceeds from the sale of this T-shirt and other designs created at the ‘Songa Mbele Na Masomo’ Children’s Centre have been used to build a new wall around the school playground and construct paths that separate the centre from the neighbouring slum and make the playground accessible all year round, even for children in wheelchairs.
Our WATAMU design was created during a normal school day in Watamu, Kenya, one of Africa’s oldest marine protected areas. There, the local organisation ‘Bahari Hai’ (Swahili for ‘Living Ocean’) educates schoolchildren about marine conservation projects, such as the protection of sea turtles. It was during one such school lesson that the drawing of a small sea turtle emerged – one that is just leaving its nest and making its way to the ocean. By purchasing this special T-shirt, you are supporting the vital work of our partner organisation, Bahari Hai, in protecting these remarkable animals.
A T-shirt design that literally stands head and shoulders above the rest. This is our TWIGA giraffe – Tanzania’s national animal. Our little Twiga was created in 2014 at a school in Arusha, Tanzania, and is as unique as every spot on a giraffe’s coat. The design came about whilst the animals of the Serengeti were being discussed in a natural history lesson. The beautiful ochre shade of the print harmonises beautifully with the Marsala T-shirt, which is reminiscent of the Tanzanian savannah.
Is it a river hippo, or perhaps more of a honey cake horse? Given the broad grin on our HIPPO’s face (Kiswahili for ‘Kiboko’), this question might well spring to mind, as this little creature looks like the complete opposite of one of Africa’s most dangerous animals. A real Happy Hippo, in fact!
The little, colourful bird NDEGE is perched on a branch, wondering how on earth he ended up here. We’re happy to help, as we were there when the design was created. For years, we’ve enjoyed a close friendship with the small sewing workshop NYUZI in Karai, near the Lusigetti region. It is here that NYUZI founder Sarah Ambai designs our T-shirt patterns. The NDEGE design came about whilst we were working on new children’s and baby products in 2024, and Sarah’s children were drawing pictures alongside some of the seamstresses’ children.
This little tortoise was drawn in 2016 at a small school in Arusha, Tanzania, by a pupil following a school trip to Meserani Snake Park. We can only guess exactly what sort of tortoise it is. Judging by the shell pattern in the drawing, it could be a panther tortoise, as this species is named after its panther- or leopard-like shell pattern.
The Serengeti is renowned for its diverse wildlife. Particularly in the early morning hours during the dry season, many different inhabitants of the savannah make their way to the waterhole and stand shoulder to shoulder, just like on our SERENGETI T-shirt. The designs have been created since 2009 at various schools in Tanzania and Kenya and thus represent a small ‘best of’ selection of our motifs.
The Serengeti is renowned for its diverse wildlife. Particularly in the early morning hours during the dry season, many different inhabitants of the savannah make their way to the waterhole and stand shoulder to shoulder, just like on our SERENGETI T-shirt. The designs have been created since 2009 at various schools in Tanzania and Kenya and thus represent a small ‘best of’ selection of our motifs.
Our BABY-TURTLE design was created during a perfectly ordinary school day in Watamu, Kenya, one of Africa’s oldest marine protected areas. There, the local organisation ‘Bahari Hai’ (Swahili for ‘Living Ocean’) educates schoolchildren about marine conservation projects, such as the protection of sea turtles. It was during one such school lesson that the drawing of a tiny sea turtle just hatching from its nest was created. By buying this special T-shirt, you’re supporting the vital work of our partner organisation, Bahari Hai, to protect these remarkable animals.
Our WANYAMA (Kiswahili for ‘animals’) T-shirt features a host of different animal inhabitants of East Africa. Zebras stand peacefully, shoulder to shoulder with rhinos and lions. It works a treat, as the animals have known each other for a very long time. All the drawings were created between 2009 and the present day at various schools in Tanzania and Kenya.
One of the rarest animals in Africa is the CRICODILE. Not to be confused with its (probably) closest relative, the crocodile. Don’t be fooled by its thick, cucumber-shaped body, because the CRICODILE is a nimble creature and will jump straight into your shopping basket in a flash!
The little birds are flying on this T-shirt, wondering how on earth they ended up here. We’re happy to help, as we were involved in the creation of the designs. For years, we’ve shared a close friendship with the small sewing workshop NYUZI in Karai, near the Lusigetti region. It is here that NYUZI founder Sarah Ambai designs our T-shirt patterns. The BIRDS design came about whilst we were working on new children’s and baby products in 2024, and Sarah’s children were drawing pictures alongside some of the seamstresses’ children.
Is it a sloth or just a little monkey with excellent body control? We don’t know, but as sloths don’t live on the African continent, we’ve named the shirt NYANI (monkey in Kiswahili). With its green sleeves, the sloth-monkey on this shirt feels just as at home as it would in the treetops.
JIKONI means ‘kitchen’ in Kiswahili. That is why this T-shirt features lots of small drawings of kitchen utensils and food items from everyday school life in Kenya. The drawings were created in 2021 at a school in Kangundo during home economics lessons and were produced by many different pupils.