All About Nkuku
London is where Ali and Alex met. In 2002, Ali was in corporate finance, and I had just finished volunteering in Kenya when they decided to travel the world. East Africa first. The craftsmen they met inspired and humbled us, and they believed they could help them and create a business opportunity. They founded Nkuku based on their passion for the environment, fair trade, traditional crafts, and interior design. They wrote the company strategy on a beach paperback and named it Nkuku, after a hamlet they passed in Zambia. The plan stressed ethical, eco-friendly, and handmade characteristics, which remain today.
After Africa, Nkuku visited India to see more traditional crafts and tiny enterprises. During their year overseas, they sent many purchases home on slow boats from Africa and India to sell. Moving from London to rural Devon, they sold ‘our wares’ at Totnes to Portobello markets and county fairs, using the earnings to return to India to construct their first photo albums, journals, and frames. Nkuku focused on one country and worked with a family company they met on their trip due to limited travel funds. Their wonderful family and friends unloaded the first container of items into a Dartmoor hayloft. Hand-picking and packing all orders necessitated working through the night in freezing Dartmoor winter conditions to meet deliveries. Their first child spent a significant amount of time in a cardboard cot, covered in coats and hats!
Nkuku began as a wholesaler to independent UK businesses before becoming a retail brand. Their ambition to make homewares has become a reality, with lines ranging from tableware and storage to lighting and furniture. Most importantly, the original journal remains in the collection. The Hayloft warehouse became a third-party logistics firm, the bedroom office became a garage, garden shed, and office in an ancient mill in Dartington, and the market stalls became a fashionable lifestyle store in a converted barn outside Totnes.
Nkuku have four youngsters who are great at testing and reviewing their products! They visit many of their suppliers and share their travel passion. Their amazing staff is helping us continue the journey and shares their love for fashionable homewares handmade with values.
Dining Chairs & Benches
Discover Nkuku chic range of dining chairs and add a touch of elegance and comfort to your dining or kitchen table. Nkuku chairs are handcrafted from textures such as upholstered leather, industrial iron, or sustainable mango wood. To round off the look, pair them with their reclaimed dining tables.
Vinay Woven Dining Chair – Natural
The Vinay Woven Dining Chair – Natural is a masterpiece of craftsmanship and sustainable design. It’s meticulously fashioned from mango wood that has ceased to bear fruit, thus repurposing a beautiful byproduct into something both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The chair features a unique design with armrests for added comfort and beautifully woven jute panels on both the seat and back, injecting a sense of warmth and textured elegance into any space. Ideal for not just dining rooms or kitchens, this chair’s versatile charm also shines in garden rooms or casual living areas. The use of jute, a rapidly renewable crop with minimal water needs, further underscores the environmentally conscious ethic of this design. For those looking to create a cohesive look, a matching counter stool is also available within the range, offering the same blend of style, comfort, and sustainability.
Key Features
- Sustainable Material: Crafted from mango wood that is no longer fruit-bearing, this chair not only recycles a natural resource but does so with style.
- Unique Design: Features armrests for extra comfort and is adorned with beautifully woven jute panels on both the seat and back.
- Versatile Use: Perfect for dining rooms, kitchens, garden rooms, or casual living areas, proving its adaptability in various home spaces.
- Eco-Friendly Choice: Utilizes jute for the weaving, a sustainable crop known for its low water requirement, reinforcing the chair’s eco-conscious design.
- Matching Pieces Available: For those seeking a unified aesthetic, a matching counter stool enhances the range, offering the same fusion of sustainability, style, and comfort.
Anbu Acacia Dining Chair – Washed Walnut
The Anbu Acacia Dining Chair in Washed Walnut is not just a piece of furniture but a statement of elegance and a testament to the timelessness of good design. Crafted from solid Acacia wood, it boasts a deep walnut finish that enriches its surroundings with warmth and sophistication. The unique organic curve of the frame coupled with the stark simplicity of its legs offers an effortless appeal, seamlessly blending with various decor styles. Whether arranged as a cohesive set around a dining table, positioned individually at a desk, or strategically placed in a cozy corner of a living space, this chair elevates any setting. It is an integral part of the Anbu collection, promising durability and comfort while enhancing the aesthetic essence of any room.
Key Features
- Material: Made from high-quality, solid Acacia wood for long-lasting durability.
- Finish: Features a deep Washed Walnut finish, adding warmth and sophistication to any space.
- Design: The chair showcases a unique organic curve that harmonizes with stark leg simplicity, offering versatility in a range of decor styles.
- Versatility: Ideal for various settings – as part of a dining set, as individual seating at a desk, or as an elegant accent in living areas.
- Collection: Part of the revered Anbu collection, designed to complement and enhance the aesthetic of modern interiors.
- Comfort: Designed not just for style but also for comfort, ensuring a pleasant seating experience.
Ukari Leather Dining Chair – Chocolate Brown
The Ukari Leather Dining Chair in Chocolate Brown exemplifies elegance with its minimalist design, seamlessly combining functionality with luxury. Crafted from the durable and naturally rich buffalo leather, this chair offers both comfort and style to any dining space. The padded seat and backrest, detailed with subtle stitching, promise a seating experience that is both pleasing to the eye and comfortable for long dinners. The beauty of this chair lies in its leather, which is not only a sustainable by-product but is also treated with vegetable extract and tree bark. This unique dyeing process ensures that the chocolate brown hue of the leather deepens and becomes more exquisite over time. The Ukari collection’s commitment to both craftsmanship and sustainability makes these dining chairs and counter stools an ideal choice for those looking to add a touch of sophisticated, eco-conscious design to their home.
Key Features
- Minimalist Design: The Ukari Leather Dining Chair boasts a sleek, minimal design that blends seamlessly with any dining room decor.
- Crafted from Buffalo Leather: Made from durable and rich buffalo leather that adds a layer of luxury and sophistication to your dining space.
- Comfortable Seating: Features a padded seat and backrest, detailed with subtle stitching, ensuring comfort during long dinners.
- Sustainable By-product Leather: The leather is a sustainable by-product, making it an eco-conscious choice for home furnishings.
- Unique Dyeing Process: Treated with vegetable extract and tree bark, the leather undergoes a unique dyeing process that enriches its chocolate brown hue over time.
- Elegance and Durability: Combines elegant design with long-lasting durability, embodying the essence of luxury and functionality.
- Sophisticated, Eco-conscious Design: Ideal for those seeking sophisticated design that does not compromise on environmental values.
Iswa Leather & Cane Dining Chair – Green
The Iswa Leather & Cane Dining Chair in Green is not only a piece of furniture but a statement of sophisticated taste that blends diverse materials and textures into one harmonious design. Its industrial-strength black iron frame provides a stark, yet elegant contrast to the warmth of the wood and the organic feel of the cane back support. This juxtaposition is further enhanced by the plush comfort of a dark green goat leather seat, which adds a touch of luxury and a pop of color. The chair’s design cleverly incorporates the natural cane detailing, lending an air of lightness and traditional charm to its overall modern aesthetic. Comfort meets style in this unique chair, making it a perfect addition to any dining room looking for a touch of elegance and a nod to artisan craftsmanship.
Key Features
- Industrial-Strength Black Iron Frame: Offers a stark, yet elegant contrast to the softer materials, ensuring durability and stability.
- Warm Wood Accents: Provide a touch of natural beauty and warmth, blending seamlessly with various interior styles.
- Organic Cane Back Support: Lends an air of lightness and traditional charm, enhancing the chair’s unique aesthetic.
- Plush Dark Green Goat Leather Seat: Adds a luxurious touch and a vibrant pop of color, ensuring comfortable seating.
- Harmonious Blend of Materials: Combines diverse textures and elements into a single, cohesive design that exudes sophistication.
- Modern Aesthetic with Traditional Charm: Marrying contemporary design with artisanal details, perfect for any dining room looking to elevate its style.
- Artisan Craftsmanship: Each chair showcases the beauty of skilled craftsmanship, making it a statement piece in any setting.
Fia Bench – Small
Nkuku well-designed Fia Bench, in its smaller variant, gracefully combines functionality with aesthetic appeal. Boasting striking angular legs that serve both as a sturdy foundation and a chic accent, this bench sits stylishly in any space, be it your hallway, living room, or at the foot of your bed. The seat, crafted from tactile mango wood, not only adds a touch of warmth and natural beauty but is also a nod to sustainability. The mango wood used is sourced from trees that are no longer fruit-bearing, providing an eco-friendly solution by repurposing the wood for furniture. This practice not only supports the environment by reducing waste but also aids mango farmers with a supplementary income. Please be advised that large furniture items, including this tasteful piece, can take up to 3 weeks for delivery, ensuring its safe and careful handling.
Key Features
- Striking Angular Legs: Offers a sturdy foundation while adding a chic aesthetic to any room.
- Versatile Use: Perfectly situates in hallways, living rooms, or at the foot of a bed, blending effortlessly with various decors.
- Tactile Mango Wood Seat: Adds warmth and natural beauty with its textured surface, enhancing the bench’s visual appeal.
- Eco-Friendly Material: Made from repurposed wood of non-fruit-bearing mango trees, supporting sustainability and aiding farmers.
- Sustainable Sourcing: Demonstrates a commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
- Delivery Time: Please allow up to 3 weeks for the safe and careful handling and delivery of this large furniture item.
What Is So Unique About Nkuku Dinning Chairs?
Nkuku dining chairs stand out for their unique combination of style, sustainability, and craftsmanship. Each piece tells a story of traditional techniques blended with contemporary design, crafted by skilled artisans from sustainably sourced materials. These chairs not only add an aesthetic charm to any dining room but also reflect a commitment to ethical production and environmental responsibility. Their distinctive character and durability make them a prized possession in any home.