Our name “Indego” is meant to evoke the fundamentals of our misson.  Not only does Indego Africa have a special connection to the trading history of indigo cloth (more below), but Indego Africa partners with local organizations.  The goal of such partnerships is to create communities that achieve new levels of:

IN-DEPENDENCE.  DE-VELOPMENT.  GO-VERNANCE.

Tailor at Indego Africa partner ANGE.

The beneficiaries of Indego Africa projects achieve a new level of economic, social and personal DEVELOPMENT.  Our artisans gain immediate income-earning opportunities that allow them to upgrade their housing, improve their nutrition and send their children to school.  As our development partners become durable community institutions, they provide a better environment for social interaction.  And because Indego Africa donates 100% of profits back to our partners for skills training, Indego Africa engenders in each partner a sense of pride and ownership in their own development. 

The concept of organizational GOVERNANCE permeates both Indego Africa and its development partners.  Within Indego Africa, our entire team focuses on being completely transparent towards all of stakeholders, as elaborated on our Transparency & Ethics webpage.  The cooperative structure of our Rwandan partners has proved an invaluable learning and supportive environment for women, but it must be managed effectively to provide benefits continually.  Using its leaders’ significant business experience, Indego Africa implement governance workshops that focus on recordkeeping, banking, customs paperwork, government licensing and effective communication.  Not only do our development partner become more effective, but the member artisans observe how an organization and model small business should function.

INDEGO AND INDIGO: A HISTORY OF TRADE IN AFRICA

The Indego Africa name draws no small measure of inspiration from the traditional indigo cloth produced throughout Africa.  The mythical design process and unique trading history of the cloth represent both the artistic and cultural objectives of Indego Africa.

Renowned for its incredible deep blue color, the creation of indigo cloth requires great skill and care.  The Nigerian adire style was noted for its design and quality, becoming a major source of wealth in northern Nigeria.  In North and West Africa, wearing indigo cloth historically signified affluence.  Even today, modern African designers such as Senabu Oloyede and Kekekomo Oladepo use abstract adire motifs and traditional dying techniques to meet contemporary tastes.  In much the same way, Indego Africa artisans are translating their centuries-old artistic skills and sensibilities into products that appeal to discriminating consumers around the world.

Indego Africa Wine Coaster Motif

Indigo cloth is notable further for its value as a tradable commodity that brought together foreign communities.  African societies often incorporated imported materials, textiles and styles into their clothing traditions.  Trans-Saharan trade caravans carried cloth between city-states in the West African savanna and the tribes of North Africa.  Other types of cloth even served as currency in West Africa.  In the larger historical scheme, indigo dye became a major commodity between the 15th and 19th Century.  For Indego Africa artisans, indigo symbolizes an outward disposition towards the world and a recognition that trading in export markets is one key to development.

Sources:

Claire Polakoff, African Textiles and Dyeing Techniques, p. 66 (1982, Anchor Press/Doubleday).

Henry Louis Gates and Anthony Appiah, Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience, p. 470 (1999, Basic Civitas Books).