About Kasuku...

Kasuku U.K. Ltd was established in 1994. Our workshop is in Kenya and has been manufacturing kikoys since 1998. Kasuku is a family run business and we pride ourselves in offering friendly service and personal attention.

We offer jobs and support to the local Kenyans and we also outsource some of our work. Several accessories are handcrafted and the work is outsourced to 'collectives' of Masaai and Mkamba women and other groups who benefit from the extra income. We are totally compliant with the labour laws and support the community at large.

Our name "Kasuku" means parrot in Kiswahili. Our vibrant colours tell the story of why we call ourselves Kasuku. At Kasuku we constantly monitor the fashions and regularly add or change our products and colours to keep with the trend. We believe in giving choice, hence our wide range of colours, products and designs giving unlimited possibilities to mix and match clothing items with various accessories.

Why are Kasuku Kikoys unique?

Kasuku guarantees kikoys of exceptional quality. Our kikoys are made from mercerised cotton and this unique quality of kikoy cannot be found anywhere else. The cotton fibres are treated to increase their lustre and affinity for dye. Mercerised cotton guarantees you brighter colours and a softer fabric, that doesn't fade or shrink upon washing.

Whilst Kasuku has its own line of clothing and accessories, our Kenyan workshop can take orders (based on minimum quantities) for custom woven fabric or corporate branded items.

Kasuku also makes items for the home with all these East African fabrics. Our radiant shades brighten up cold grey bedrooms and add a splash of colour to everything they touch.

Delve into our website and check out our rainbow of kikoy colours, our exquisite range of kikoy products and be astounded with the ethnicity of this prized East African textile.

What is Mercerization?

Mercerization is a continuous chemical process used for cotton and cotton/polyester goods to increase dyeability, luster and appearance. This process, which is carried out at room temperature, causes the flat, twisted ribbon-like cotton fiber to swell into a round shape and to contract in length. This causes the fiber to become more lustrous than the original fiber, increase in strength by as much as 20 percent, and increase its affinity for dyes. Mercerizing typically follows singeing and may either precede or follow bleaching (Corbman, 1975)