SAMAMBA is an exciting new company which personally sources all of our own materials for its extensive range of jewellery, clothes and accessories. We are a small family business based in our home town of Cambridge in the UK and previously in Thailand. Our products are hand made, using the best natural products available. For the jewellery we use semi-precious stones, mother of pearl, shell, seeds and wooden beads (collected from many different countries). Clothes and accessories include fine linen, cotton and silk. We are currently striving to scorce organic cotton and the use of natural plant dyeing techniques.

We are now on Etsy with a shop called SamambaEtsy.  I'm currently only making and selling jewellery on Etsy but if you're interested in any of the clothes shown on this website (either as retail or wholesale) please contact me on samamba69@gmail.com and I will be happy to help.  My jewellery can be made to order and most of the earrings can be made as clip ons or with hooks, both with gold plated and stirling silver findings.  Some examples are shown below:

               

 

MY ETHICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL BACKGROUND, NEWS AND POLICIES

With my background in environmental toxicology and plant science coupled with extensive travelling and interest in social/humanitarian and environmental projects I have a strong awareness and passion for running Samamba according to very green and ethical believes. Prior to university my previous travelling throughout South America, included living with some Amazonian Indians (the Karaja) who taught me about their medicinal plants. I also worked on reforestaion projects and visited many Universities in Brazil connected to The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew where I researched sustainable and economic uses of plants which benifit and support local small communities. These experiences have all influenced the way I want to run my business.

In 2002 I first travelled to Thailand which was where the idea for Samamba was born...

In Thailand we source all our own materials ourselves. We work with small communities and family business who we have known for many years therefore ensuring fairtrade from fabric onwards. The different cultures I have seen have also inspired the colours and patterns seen in products we source.

I have visited projects and communities in Asia who weave and dye fabric using natural plant dyes. I am looking to support a cotton farmer to go organic or find one who already is. In this way I could truely trace the whole supply chain from farmer to end product. I would like to continue supporting Thailand so please let me know if you have any ideas about this. When I am successful in finding the right people, I am planning to design a new range using organic cotton, natural plant dyes and traditional weaving techniques.

RECYCLING We use all recycled packaging. All our bags are made from recycled paper and are unbleached. Occassionally I also recycle the old plastic ones too!

My jewellery boxes are also made from recycled paper and are of a beautiful quality. They come in pale pink or natural colour, in a variety of sizes and are embossed with our logo and website!

  

Many of you may have seen my supplier The Tiny Box Company on the TV series The Dragons Den (www.tinyboxcompany.co.uk). 

 

OTHER INFO

Samamba was previously in Misfits, a Cambridge community shop on Mill Rd, which supported people with learning difficulties. It contained our range of Samamba Jewellery, Clothes and Accessories and also many other business and products from other local artists. Sadly the shop was closed in 2012.

 Here are some of the great shows and festivals we attended prior to 2012 (please click here) and don't forget you can contact me directly for clothes, jewellery and accessories.

ALSO.....Would you like to host a SAMAMBA HOUSE PARTY? If you live in the Cambridge or surrounding area you could invite your friends to a private viewing of some of our products. Its a great excuse to have a girlie night and you can earn 15% commission in value of goods sold on the night. Contact me for details.

Since first visiting Thailand seven years ago, I have established strong links with family run small businesses. When some of these became victims of the Tsunami I wanted to do something to help. So in early January 2005 we booked a hurried flight; armed with as many donations as we could carry and delivered some basic essentials to a refugee camp in Khao Lac, Southern Thailand. My daughter Amber and I then stayed and worked at a Tsunami Volunteer Centre, in Khao Lac, helping in local schools and on the refugee camps. Please click on this  tsunami link  for further information and photos.