I grew up in Zimbabwe where one of the languages spoken is Ndebele. The name “Gugu” originates from the Ndebele word meaning “precious” or “treasure”. I lived in Zimbabwe until I was 15, then in 1981 my family and I moved to South Africa where I finished high school. I then left South Africa in 1986 to attend the University of Texas, at Austin. I settled in Austin and made it my home with my husband and two sons.

Each handmade cuff combines the different earthy textures of leather with delicate, ornate, vintage buttons. The antique buttons are hand-sewn into the handmade leather bracelets. Each green cuff is eco-friendly and is a unique piece of jewelry with its own history and statement. I hand-picked each button from a variety of antique dealers from around the country, and the leather I use is cowhide that would otherwise be discarded.

- Sam