CHANGING LIVES, STITCH BY STITCH.

Our story begins with the incredible women of Kenana Knitters in rural Kenya, who transform natural wool and cotton into beautiful hand-knitted toys, one stitch at a time.
Two people working on a craft project with yarn at a table.
Kenana Knitters is a grassroots organisation located near Njoro, in Kenya’s Rift Valley.

Founded in 1998 by local Kenyan, Patricia Nightingale, Kenana Knitters began with a simple mission: to support local women who were lacking a market for their homespun wool. With clever designs and collaboration, Patricia and the knitters transformed this yarn into unique creations, using local, sustainable resources and traditional skills to build a future filled with dignity and independence.

Melissa Shepherd is now at the helm of the project in Kenya and under her expertise Kenana Knitters continue to flourish and build on existing sustainability practices. 

Meet Tanya, the heart behind Kenana Down Under.

A mother of two and aunty to many, Tanya is a firm believer that everyday choices matter. She is passionate about natural fibres not only for their gentleness and safety for little ones but for their lighter impact on the planet. With years of experience working alongside Fair Trade brands, Tanya welcomed the opportunity in 2020 to become the Australian and New Zealand distributor for Kenana Knitters, taking the reins from KDU founder, Di Stitt.

At Kenana Down Under we bridge two communities - bringing the work of Kenyan artisans into homes across Australia and NZ. We are so proud to to share these hand crafted ‘knitter critters’, each one carrying the hope and energy of the maker. We find deep joy connecting families with pieces made with care, purpose and heart - we hope you love them.