Wear this unique brown leather wristband from Ghana. Presented by Gill Quarcoopome from West Africa, this handcrafted brown wristband bracelet is made from quality leather. This men's wristband is sure to add new verve and vitality to your jewelry collection.
"Opportunities come up and sometimes we don't see them or don't want to take a risk but this is one way of moving forward – a leap in the dark."
"I have always loved making things – from paper, cloth, wood, metal or anything to make something useful out of a basic... raw material - and leather is such a versatile material. I started with soft leather scraps to make small purses and belts with jigsaw-like patterns and went on to experiment with different leathers for sandals. I have large feet so even at age 16, I was trying to make my own footwear.
"When I was at University studying German and Politics, I was still making things to sell. I went to Greece after getting a rather disappointing degree and tried to learn shoe-making but ended up with an exciting holiday and a passion for leatherwork, rather than developing lot more skills. I learnt more back in England from an Irish friend and a short course in saddlery.
"In 1975 I was working for a government agency but still making items in leather and was asked to demonstrate leatherwork at a 10 day craft fair in the north of England, where I was living. After that fair I was offered the chance to teach evening classes and the chance to rent a small workshop. So I decided to give up the security of my job, took a leap and haven't looked back. Opportunities come up and sometimes we don't see them or don't want to take a risk but this is one way of moving forward – a leap in the dark.
"I exhibited at trade fairs and supplied boutiques. I also made items to customer specifications, from a telescope case, a motorcycle seat, or a medicine bag, to briefcases, bags, belts and sandals, from baby sizes to 48 men's using a range of 22 colors.
"In the same year I met my future husband whose father had been a shoemaker in Ghana – an unlikely coincidence. He was working on the oil rigs in the far north of Britain and so I had a lot of time to myself to concentrate on getting a small business organized.
"In 1989, we decided to try working in Ghana, his home, taking with us an 11 month old baby girl, most of my machines, and very little money. I had taken a course teaching English as a foreign language, so when we arrived I was lucky to find a job at the Ghana International School, all the while continuing to make leather bags, belts and sandals for sale to busy teachers.
"He had a job in construction. My son was born in 1991 but I continued teaching until I left GIS in 1997. I still teach English privately and proofread manuscripts but the leatherwork is constantly there, playing a bigger or smaller part of my life.
"Kofi Ansah, a fashion designer, encouraged me to decorate some belts for him with Ghanaian glass beads and brass figures. This inspired a style that has developed in many directions since his exhibition at the British Council in the early 1990s. I now use old trade beads, new recycled glass and plastic beads, bone beads and as well as brass beads, discs and animal buckles together with different textured and colored leathers.
"Since 1999, I have been producing mainly for the local market but I am always happy to export. I haven't expanded my venture beyond three employees but am satisfied with this size. Having to deal with so many parts of a business can be very demanding, and after so many years producing, I still haven't found the right partner to work with.
"When my husband died in 2007, a lot of people asked if I would go back to the UK, but now I am so Ghana based that the UK would be a cold, foreign land to live in. Although I visit family and friends as often as possible, I prefer the sun and warmth of Ghana, where there is freedom to create and experiment, especially with the vibrant colors and textures of cloth and beads that surround us. There is not a lot of free time, but I have the opportunity to swim whenever I can, enjoy the company of good friends, listen to jazz old and new, and explore creativity in whatever form."
Quarcoopome signs her design with the Aya or fern Adinkra symbol, meaning perseverance and endurance.
Only valid on the Normal shipping option for shipments to 48 Lower US states.
Discounted shipping price may not be applied to previous orders.
This item ships with a free artist storycard, so you can remember who you impacted today. Customized gift messages are also available with every order.
We want you to be 100% satified with your order, so if you are not completely happy with your item, you can return it within 60 days of receiving it.
We pack, ship, certify and 100% guarantee the quality of this item. Watch this video to see how.
This item is available for backorder and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Artists love to get backorders. Placing a backorder ensures that the artisan will do their best to create and deliver your item to our local office for shipment.
Although we cannot guarantee availability, we do expect to be able to fill the order within the timeframe indicated. But sometimes life happens - special materials may not be immediately available to the artist, or there might be some other circumstance beyond our control that could delay the shipment.
If for any reason we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will notify you.
In the unlikely even that we are unable to ship the item within the timeframe indicated, we will contact you and provide an updated delivery window.
This item has a special shipping flat fee which means that due to bulk, duties, or other special requirements, the item will be shipped to you via one of our special one-rate services. Shipping is only available to the United States (lower 48 States only).
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
BUST
35 - 36
37 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
WAIST
27 - 28
29 - 30
31 - 33
34 - 36
38 - 40
HIPS
37 - 38
39 - 40
42 - 43
45 - 46
49 - 50
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
CHEST
36 - 38
39 - 41
42 - 44
46 - 48
50 - 52
WAIST
30 - 32
32 - 34
35 - 37
38 - 41
43 - 45
NECK
14 - 14.5
15 - 15.5
16 - 16.5
17 - 17.5
18 - 18.5
SLEEVE
32.5
33.5
34.5
35.5
36.5
FINDING YOUR SIZE
Take your measurements with the tape measure over your under garments. If your measurements fall between sizes you may prefer the next larger size. Inseam, skirt and dress lengths vary by style and will be listed in the item description. Our sweaters are knit in standard American sizes, however actual measurements vary by style.
BUST / CHEST
Measure around the fullest part of chest under the arms and over the shoulder blades keeping the tape measure level.
WAIST
Measure around the smallest part of the waist keeping the tape measure comfortably loose. Most garments use the low waist measurement noted below.
LOW WAIST
Measure around the body approximately 1.5" below the natural waist (above). This is the area where most pants and skirts actually fit.
HIPS
Standing with your heels together, measure around the fullest part of the body approx 7"-8" below the waist.
NECK
Measure around the base of the neck keeping the tape measure comfortably loose.
SLEEVE
Bend elbow slightly and starting at the center back of the neck, measure across the shoulder, to the elbow and down to the wrist.
INSEAM
Our standard inseam length for women is 32" and 34" for men; however inseam measurements will vary slightly by style.
Belts with buckles are measured in inches that correspond to a waist size however, most people do not wear belts on the waist, they wear them closer to the hips. A buckle belt measurement is take from the end of the "pin" of the buckle to the middle hole on the belt. Generally there are 5 holes for size adjustment, with a 1" space between each, so the middle hole will the be average size of the belt.
For at tie belt (no buckle) measure the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This again is the medium size of the belt.
For a soft fabric tie belt it can be called "1 size fits most" and the entire length of the belt should be measured and listed.
See buckle/tie belt size standards below.
WOMEN
S
M
L
XL
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
inches
26 - 30
28 - 32
31 - 35
34 - 38
38 - 42
cm
76 - 86
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
MEN
S
M
L
XL
XXL
inches
30 - 34
32 - 36
35 - 39
39 - 43
43 - 47
cm
81.5 - 91.5
86.5 - 96.5
91.5 - 101.5
96.5 - 106.5
109 - 119
+/- tolerance: 0.5 inches or 1.25 cm
Sash tie length
Lay sash/tie out flat away from the garment and measure from end to end.
Belt with buckle
Measure from the end of the pin of the buckle (where it touches the buckle) to the middle hole.
Belt without buckle
Measure from the belt portion end to end and half of the tie portion. This is will give you the medium size of the belt.
Download our printable ring sizing chart to find the perfect fit!
We refer to these items as "discounted wholesale". Such items carry a deeper wholesale discount than other items, and have greater potential to provide your business with healthier resale margins.
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UNICEF Market offers triple win pricing, where YOU the consumer, Children from around the world, and Artisans all benefit.
WIN # 1 You Save!
Handmade goods from developing nations usually pass through a series of intermediaries before being purchased by retail consumers. Each of these intermediaries adds cost to the product, and that cost is passed on to the customer. UNICEF USA partnered with NOVICA, who works directly with artists through their regional offices in Asia, Africa and Latin America, allowing purchases from UNICEF Market to go directly from the artisans to fulfilling customer orders. By skipping steps in the traditional supply chain, you can buy high quality items for less than the regular retail prices.
WIN # 2 Children Benefit!
Each item purchased from UNICEF Market will benefit UNICEF's programs that provide lifesaving nutrition, medicine, education, clean water, emergency relief and more to children in need.
You can learn more about UNICEF's work, on About UNICEF.
WIN # 3 Artisans Profit!
UNICEF Market artisans set their own prices and control their own businesses. UNICEF Market offers artisans a free platform to sell their work throughout the United States.
