Olivia Kennaway, the founder of Asha : Eleven, draws deeply from her Kenyan heritage and her extensive work with African artisans and suppliers. Her journey into fashion began after she was inspired by the rich cultural traditions and the craftsmanship of local artisans in her birth country , Kenya. This connection to her roots sparked her passion for creating designs that honour Africa's vibrant heritage while embracing contemporary aesthetics.

With a background in design and a keen interest in ethical fashion, Olivia founded Asha : Eleven as a way to merge her love for Africa's craftsmanship with her vision for sustainable, modern fashion. She works closely with artisans across the continent, incorporating traditional skills like beadwork, weaving, and embroidery into her collections. Each piece is not just a garment but a tribute to the communities and cultures she works with.

Olivia's commitment to sustainability and empowering local artisans has made Asha : Eleven a symbol of conscious luxury. Her brand’s unique fusion of modern design and cultural authenticity has garnered international attention, with her pieces being featured in renowned fashion publications and worn by influencers around the world. Through her work, Olivia continues to redefine African fashion, blending tradition with innovation while supporting local economies.

We sat down with Olivia to delve into her entrepreneurial journey. From the key moments that shaped her path to the lessons she’s learned along the way, here’s what she shared about building Asha : Eleven and her vision for the future.

1.⁠ ⁠What inspired you to start your business?

A love for creating was definitely the core inspiration behind starting Asha Eleven. Being able to creatively express through all forms of art (drawing, painting, pattern making, dress making and so on) and then seeing these come together and come to life—bringing people joy whilst making them feel really good, is truly such a gift. But creating unconsciously definitely wouldn't be inspiring in any way and so, I guess the challenge of approaching an industry that for so long has been rooted in unconsciousness and with a big lack of sustainability, was really inspiring for me. From the very early days of conception, I made the decision to approach every decision I made with 'what does this mean for the planet, how does this benefit the person and how can we do it better?'

2.⁠ ⁠What challenges have shaped your business?

Gosh, challenges shaping the business is basically a constant, hahah. I think the biggest shift for me in terms of mindset was really learning to trust the process and know that everything really is exactly as it's meant to be. So, I suppose I prefer to not really view them as challenges but redirections from the universe which I trust are guiding us to where we are supposed to be. An example would be for instance, a supplier is unable to supply us with fabric we have been using consistently for a while so we're forced to look elsewhere, only to find something that's even better for the brand etc.

3.⁠ ⁠How have your struggles made your business stronger or more unique?

Asides from never quite having enough time to do all the things on the list, the business is a really positive space where we emphasise flow

4.⁠ ⁠How do you stay passionate?

It's often hard to find time and space to be creative in amongst wearing all of the other hats of a small business owner but whenever I do get stuck into creating, it really brings out the passion in me. I'm also really inspired by people and the community we work with and they will often remind me why we're on this often seemingly crazy journey - we're in it together and we're just doing the best we can. And of course our customer community, it's so awesome seeing more and more people showing up to make better choices and do things better and those are the people that we're (mostly) surrounded by - when you have that on the receiving end of what you create, it really fuels the passion.

Her chosen Black Betty Flawed Diamond? The Trio Herkimer Diamond Ring. 

"I love the rugged and rawness of it, quite different - it is just beautiful!"

Click here to shop this beauty.

 

For fashion that fuses thoughtful design with cultural roots, her pieces are a beautiful balance of craftsmanship and contemporary style. Follow along on Instagram and explore the collection at ashaeleven.com.