How Treana Peake is Empowering Artisan Communities

“When I asked him what he wants people to think when they see his work on a couch or on a pillow, he sat back and thought about it for a moment, then said, ‘All I want people to know is that it was made by a human being.’”
—Treana Peake

What does it mean for products and companies to be sustainable? This is the question on the mind of every business owner concerned with the well-being of our planet and its inhabitants. For Treana Peake, the founder of Obakki, it’s a never-ending pursuit to improve the quality of life for customers, artisans, and the communities they live in.

“I met a man in Mali named Boubacar Doumbia,” Peake says. “He makes traditional mud cloth. When I asked him what he wants people to think when they see his work on a couch or on a pillow, he sat back and thought about it for a moment, then said, ‘All I want people to know is that it was made by a human being.’ To me, that was so simple, but so important.”

This human touch is at the centre of Obakki’s mission. Through its online store, the company offers homeware, apparel, skincare, and gifts—all sourced from talented craftspeople around the world. The products are artisan-made in small batches and purchased through sustainable partnerships that are bolstered by the non-profit Obakki Foundation.

Putting it all together

In recent years, Peake has spoken about social entrepreneurship and innovative philanthropy at the United Nations and the U.S. Congress. She has given a TEDx Talk on the cycle of giving and has also travelled around the world, including to Africa, Mexico, and Central America, setting up initiatives that foster local communities.

Obakki works with artisans in some of the most war-torn and forgotten corners of the world who have survived trauma, natural disasters, and poverty. But Peake isn’t offering them handouts—she is helping them build sustainable businesses.

“I work on the foundation side to make sure that the artisans’ businesses are locally sustainable. I first help them bridge market gaps in their own countries through philanthropic work, and only then does Obakki start to buy from them,” Peake says. “If they become completely dependent on us, what happens next season if we decide to move on?”

Intentional living

The world of fast-fashion and unsustainable consumption has left a gap in the North American market for meaningful products. Most people don’t have any connection to the people who make their clothes, yet there is a growing hunger for that.

“Getting a beautiful, meaningful piece and knowing where it came from and who made it is a big part of how we define luxury. It’s about collecting items that are classic and meaningful,” Peake says.

Whether it’s a wooden bowl, a mohair rug, a couch cushion, or a facial cream, Peake personally meets with individual artisans to determine what makes their crafts exceptional. She also helps them find innovative ways to maintain their traditions, while still meeting the demands of local and global markets.

Obakki also works to change customer perceptions in North America. Peake points out that people often view African or Latin American artisans differently from their European or Asian counterparts. That is because shoppers are more familiar with traditional crafts from countries such as Italy and Japan, and they tend to be comfortable with their quality, style, and price tags. When it comes to other regions, there is a gap in market awareness that Obakki works to bridge.

“At Obakki, whether you’re a woodworker from Mali or a glassblower from Italy, you’re given the same platform because you’re being recognized for your skill and trade. We refute the idea that if this came from a little village in Africa it must be worth less. It isn’t. These skills have been passed down from generation to generation,” Peake says.

“With all of our partnerships, it’s about investing back into the communities and doing some good.”

Building the future

The Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement in Uganda is home to more than a quarter million displaced people, mostly from the civil war in South Sudan. The people there live in poverty, struggling to meet their most basic needs, one of which is fuel. Peake has visited the settlement repeatedly and has spent countless hours with the people there, trying to understand how to form effective partnerships.

On one of these trips, she noticed that the trees the locals were cutting down to make charcoal were shea trees. They had no idea of the value they were sacrificing to make a simple cooking fire. Peake taught them how to harvest the oil from the shea nuts and turn it into soaps and lotions. Through this one project, people are now protecting their native forests, providing jobs in their communities, and creating valuable products for both local and international markets.

In addition to supporting artisans, the Obakki Foundation has many international development initiatives. These include drilling over 3,500 wells to provide clean water to communities and building schools that serve around 20,000 children. The Obakki brand absorbs all the administrative costs for its foundation, allowing 100 percent of all donations to go directly to programs.

“This has been 30 years in the making,” Peake says about her multi-faceted approach to design, development, and retail. “Being able to work with these different communities and artisans around the world—it’s really an exciting time for us.”

“At Obakki, whether you’re a woodworker from Mali or a glassblower from Italy, you’re given the same platform because you’re being recognized for your skill and trade.”
—Treana Peake