Anthony Nsofor saw what displacement does to artisans: the skills stay, the opportunities disappear. Udiri, the brand he founded in Lagos, Nigeria, is his answer. Many of its makers are women from internally displaced and refugee communities, earning an income by turning waste paper into hand-rolled beads. Each piece carries a story of resilience, and Udiri wants you to know it.
Every bead starts as a sheet of paper someone threw away. The artisans soften it, roll it and bind it by hand into necklaces, earrings and bracelets, so no two strands are quite the same. Looking for something with a bit more weight? The brass jewellery line includes rings, studs and bracelets, and the bags are made from cellulose fibre, from the small Akpa pochette to the roomy Akpa tote and the Àrọ sling bag. Most names come from Igbo, and so do many of the motifs, drawn from land, memory and lived experience. The range keeps growing. The range now includes a men’s collection with a bifold wallet, a bracelet, and a tote; a Signature & Limited line of one-off pieces; and Èkè, a homeware and lifestyle collection named after the first of the four traditional Igbo market days, a day for discovery and trade. Prices start at around €25 for an enamel cup, while most jewellery sits between €95 and €300.
What happens when you’re done with a piece? Udiri runs a buyback programme: send it back, and the artisans rework the materials into something new, keeping them involved in each product’s full lifecycle. The packaging gets the same attention, with recyclable boxes, papier-mâché jewellery inserts, and plantable gift cards. Udiri also holds ESGmark® certification, a UK scheme that assesses businesses on environmental, social and governance criteria. The workshop is in Lagos, so the easiest way to shop is online, with prices shown in euros. Curious how the brand scores? The Udiri brand page on COSH! explains it. Hunting for a gift with more meaning than a voucher? Start with a pair of paper bead earrings.
