Our Story
A consciously created affordable luxury fashion brand, UDO & HARMONY brings refined contemporary design to the vibrant cultural cloths of Africa.
Handmade in Cape Town, South Africa, the brand blends thoughtfully curated traditional or traditional inspired textiles with modern silhouettes to create one of a kind wearable works of art.
The African continent is steeped in history and bursting with culture, and within every culture and every tribe found in all the countries of this vast continent there is beauty, there is art and there is craftsmanship. But most of these creations are becoming lost and dying art forms.
The skills of making handmade traditional art forms go back centuries to the artisans who created them. They were historically passed down orally from mother to daughter, father to son. As time passes and life goes on, we find the young losing interest in these traditional skills, and with no one to pass it down to, no one to learn and pick up these skills, they die.
Our mission is to do our part in keeping the century’s old heritage skills of The African Artisan alive by creating new pathways for those stories and skills to still be passed on for generations to come, and for us to enjoy them as new modern heirlooms through refined contemporary design.
"I founded UDO & HARMONY as an homage to traditional African craftsmanship. I want to do my part in the redefining of the African narrative, my part in preserving and raising our heritage crafts and culture to a place of esteem, and (further) cementing its relevance into this world. Why? Because its history matters. Our history matters. By giving traditional craftsmanship a new medium for their stories to be retold, new life is immediately breathed into them, bestowing upon them a deserving dignity and honour to live on. Our heritage belongs on the world stage, requires a seat at the table, and any false narrative of its inferiority must no longer exist." Harmonie - Founder
When you shop with us, you are investing in art, a new modern heirloom, a piece of The African Story, retold. You are supporting us on our mission for the celebration and the retelling of The African Story and its Maker through slow fashion and intentional design.
UDO means peace in a Nigerian language called Igbo.
UDO & HARMONY translates to the phrase 'peace & harmony' in English.
We thread good intentions into every item you make yours and hope it adds to
the peace & harmony in your world.