Yala is an award-winning African jewelry brand designed for the modern woman. Winner of "Jewelry Brand of the Year" in the 2019 Sustainable Lifestyle Awards and the very first jewelry company in the UK to become a Certified B Corporation.

Yala creates ethical jewelry that is created to last, with collaborators who are paid fairly and materials that are eco-friendly. Their small batch collections are made exclusively for YALA, and create as little environmental impact as possible.

Yala is the vision of Audrey Migot-Adholla, Founder and CEO. Born in Kenya and based in Bristol, UK with her husband, Audrey splits her time between the two countries. The brand is named after the town in Kenya where Audrey’s grandmother lived.

From beadwork to wax prints, Audrey turned her passion for accessories into Yala. It was her dream to create a business that worked with local artisans and showcased their skills across the world. Yala is the product of that dream. Their goal is to challenge the common misconceptions about Africa and its people through beautiful design, entrepreneurship, and creative talent.

Today, Audrey works directly with over 150 artisans in Kenya, ensuring they receive fair wages, safe and healthy work environments, and real recognition for their talent. She is passionate about ensuring true transparency across the production process, and a genuine connection between the people who created Yala jewelry and their customers.

Key Brand Information:

Yala chooses raw materials that can be ethically sourced, reused, and recycled. They ensure each piece is traceable, from design to delivery.
Their artisans source the brass they use from a variety of places, including waste facilities before it is melted, poured and hammered by hand. All the brass is free of nickel, lead and cadmium – YALA makes sure contaminants are removed in the recycling and purification process.
Their reclaimed cow horn is sourced from local farms where it would otherwise be thrown away. The dust left over after grinding and shaping the horn is used as fertilizer.
YALA uses surplus dead-stock leather in their pendants and trinket trays.
The glass seed beads used in their jewelry are selected for their quality and complete reusability.
YALA uses recycled fibers from plastic flour and rice sacks as thread for their beading.
Yala is very proud to be the first jewelry brand in the UK to achieve Certified B Corporation® status. By becoming a B Corp, YALA has joined more than 3,500 companies worldwide in their commitment to use business as a force for good.

YALA

Zero-Waste Pendant

About The Brand