Sylvia Omina, founder of Omina Otsieno, has built a fashion brand that prioritises sustainability and community empowerment. Her company creates jewellery from banana fibre, a material she discovered while exploring ways to tackle environmental issues and economic inequality.
“We adopted a circular business model to safeguard the environment,” she shares, highlighting her commitment to producing value with minimal waste.
Raised between Busia and Nairobi, Omina grew up immersed in creativity. Her mother crocheted, and her grandparents wove traditional baskets to make a living. These formative experiences instilled in her a deep appreciation for transforming local resources into meaningful creations. As a child, she crafted clay dolls, styled their hair, and crocheted clothes for them, which sparked her early interest in design and craftsmanship.
Eventually, in 2017, Sylvia Omina founded Omina Otsieno, initially focusing on clothing and yarn jewellery. By 2021, she shifted her focus to banana fibre jewellery, driven by her desire to blend environmental awareness with cultural preservation. The production process begins with farmers supplying banana stems, from which fibres are extracted and woven into intricate designs. Women in Busia are trained to craft the jewellery, while artisans in Nairobi collaborate to create brass accents that complement each piece.
Through her work, Omina has empowered women in Busia by offering opportunities to learn new skills and earn sustainable incomes. Collaborating with artisans in Nairobi ensures that the business’s economic benefits extend across rural and urban communities, bridging the gap between the two.
Sylvia Omina draws inspiration from the Marachi people of Busia, whose weaving traditions heavily influence her designs.
“Every piece of our jewellery is unique, timeless, and tells a story,” she explains.
By incorporating these cultural elements, Omina Otsieno helps preserve traditional skills at risk of fading. These designs bridge past and present, blending heritage with contemporary aesthetics and ensuring they remain relevant to modern tastes.
Building her brand has come with challenges. It took time to convince communities to embrace the vision of combining sustainability with traditional craftsmanship. Gaining the trust of farmers, artisans, and consumers required patience and persistence. These challenges shaped the brand’s evolution and deepened its commitment to uplifting communities while promoting environmentally conscious practices.
The impact of Omina Otsieno is clear. Women in Busia now have access to stable livelihoods, while farmers benefit from a reliable market for banana stems. Consumers are drawn to the brand’s distinctive designs and its focus on sustainability. Each piece showcases Kenyan craftsmanship and carries the story of the people involved in its creation.
Omina’s work aligns with global goals for gender equality and sustainable communities. She has proven that creativity can drive meaningful change by turning local resources into valuable products. Her efforts preserve culture, reduce waste, and uplift marginalised groups, offering a model for how fashion can positively impact people and the planet.
Through Omina Otsieno, Sylvia Omina has created more than just a business; she has built a platform that connects artistry with social impact. She has shown that fashion can empower communities, drive economic growth, and inspire future generations by weaving traditional techniques into modern design.
