WE BUILD CAPACITY THROUGH OUR COMMITMENT TO

EMPOWER     INNOVATE    PROMOTE

Entuma is dedicated to three values: 

Training the trainers:

We train artisans who want to start and expand their business, and bring more income to their wider communities. We have offered workshops in Cameroon, Ghana, Guyana, Benin and the United States on all things textiles.  Particular attention is placed on quality as the fundamental deciding factor on how products will fair in the market place.

Power to the artisans:

Our main passion is producing textiles, which is done under one roof so as to nurture a better and brighter future for the industry and for all the staff.  We operate a completely transparent system where artisans are empowered through creative control and respect for them as professionals. 

Preserving the ancient traditions:

As competition from imported textiles and crafts, and the lure of better-paid positions at garment factories threaten to destroy centuries-old crafts, Entuma strives to ensure indigenous crafts are preserved. Through the cultivation of a community’s original heritage of producing things by hand, Entuma offers a higher quality and more authentic product than machine made pieces.

A culture as imaginative as the products:

Cynthia Sands, the creative director and a trained textile artist, challenges the creative process by encouraging a cross-cultural exchange of techniques and applications from countries such as Uganda and the Congo.  Typically, batik and tie-dye artisans, or expert tailors work individually in an assembly-like process but at Entuma, they collaborate together and have conversations about creating pieces they wouldn’t have otherwise. 

“Old ways” applied to “now ways”:

Entuma does its best to use local, high-quality natural fibers and old traditional techniques and resists the introduction of cheaper, imported material. Entuma experiments with synthetic fibers and advanced dyes that add strength, color, texture, and sheen to its products. 

Reinventing tradition:

Entuma’s innovation lies in the integration of traditional pattern-rules (e.g., symbolic meanings, harmony, symmetry) with modern, contemporary patterns that are free-forming – resulting in a new, original creation.

Global reach:

Artisans from around the world (many living in rural communities) don't have the means to sell their work on the international market. Entuma gives them a platform to do this and reach customers on a global scale.  We have helped connect brands to buyers through Buyer Missions, Trade Shows and our network.

Full-service support:

With expertise in quality control, production development and a major concern for their overall wellbeing, our team provides artisans with all the backup they need. We are there to make their production process as smooth as possible and manageable within their socio-cultural environment.

Creating viable business:

The small size of our company allows us to work with and help artisans who are trying to make a living out of their craft. If you're like us, you care about who you're buying from, and who you're supporting.