At the Johari Africa gift shop in Clarkston, the holidays arrive with color, texture, and stories stitched into belts, bags, bracelets, and other handcrafted goods. The shop, which sits inside the Amani Women Center’s headquarters on Church Street, holds the memories and traditions of many places at once—Kenya, Ghana, Burma, Afghanistan, and more.
The women who make Johari’s apparel, bags, jewelry, and home goods come from refugee and immigrant communities across the region. Their work blends cultural memory, modern design, and the empowerment that comes from learning a skill and being paid for it.
The Johari Africa gift shop was built through Amani’s economic empowerment program, which trains legal refugee and immigrant women and survivors of violence at the Amani Sewing Academy. The shop operates as a social enterprise that supports wages, stability, and creative agency for the women behind the products. It is also one of the most meaningful holiday shopping experiences in metro Atlanta.
A design language rooted in heritage and sustainability
Founder Doris Mukangu says Johari Africa’s design language draws on traditional African craft but evolves as new artists join the community.
“[We blend] sustainable, handcrafted materials with bold African aesthetics—favoring recycled paper beads, coconut shells, and vibrant textiles that celebrate individuality and authenticity,” Mukangu says. “The work…shares a commitment to traditional African craft techniques, natural materials, and visible handwork.”
Johari has evolved as more women enroll in the Sewing Academy. “As our program has expanded its outreach, we’ve incorporated influences from other cultures, such as Burma and Afghanistan, further enriching our shared story of empowerment, sustainability, and cross-cultural creativity.”
Each material the women use carries meaning. Recycled paper speaks to renewal. Coconut shell connects to traditional Kenyan craft and resourcefulness. African wax print fabrics tell stories through color and pattern.
“These fabrics carry deep cultural identity and storytelling,” Mukangu says. “They express heritage, community, and pride.”
Each piece embodies a story of craftsmanship, resilience, and cultural collaboration.”
Amani Women’s Center Founder Doris Mukangu
Craft, art, and livelihood—equally
Inside the shop, the holiday collection features pieces made with intent rather than speed. Hand-sewn crossbody bags line the shelves. Table runners brighten the room. Clay jewelry, beaded animals, and coconut-shell ornaments rest near embroidered garments made at the Sewing Academy.
Mukangu says the women view their work as layered. “[They] see their work as a blend of craft, art, and livelihood,” she says. “It is craft in its preservation of traditional techniques, art in the creativity and cultural expression… and livelihood in the economic independence and empowerment it provides.”
One Clarkston-based artisan, who asked not to use her name, joined the Sewing Academy because many women from her community recommended it. She says the program offered a way to build her skills and confidence. It also gave her a place to connect with others who share similar journeys.
When she makes something new—whether a dress, ornament, or bag—she works with pride in mind. “I am inspired to make something I am proud of making,” she says.
Some techniques come from home. “Sometimes I use embroidery, and I like it because I did this back home,” she adds.
Knowing that someone might wear or display her work brings deep meaning. “It makes me very happy and proud,” she says. When asked what she hopes people feel when they receive her pieces, she replies simply: “They see a beautiful dress.”
A holiday collection built on connection
The Johari Africa holiday gift shop offers one-of-a-kind goods made with care rather than speed. But the larger idea is connection. Connection between Clarkston and Kenya, between tradition and reinvention, and between the artisan and the person who brings that piece home.
Mukangu wants shoppers to feel the deeper stories behind the pieces. “We hope Atlantans feel a sense of connection, warmth, and purpose,” she says. “Each piece embodies a story of craftsmanship, resilience, and cultural collaboration.”
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For Mukangu Johari Africa is more than a gift shop. It is a community stitched together, one handmade piece at a time.
Shoppers can explore Johari Africa’s handmade gifts online at johariafrica.com or visit the Clarkston shop at 3777 Church Street. Every purchase supports refugee and immigrant women as they build new lives and new creative traditions here in Georgia.