Thank you for landing on the Tooka website and taking the time to find out more about me and Tooka!

 For 20 years, I worked as a tea trader, which took me to Africa and Asia. This experience had a huge influence on my life and these two continents completely captured my heart. It wasn't just the tea that inspired me; it was the incredible craftsmanship I saw everywhere. From African basket weavers to Indian bone inlay artisans, I was in awe of the skill and dedication that went into creating these, and many other, beautiful, handmade pieces. It resonated with me, how, in the age of mass production, there was a need to stop and appreciate the skill and beauty of slow craftsmanship.

In 2018 I had two small children and the travel that came with being a Tea Trader meant being away from home for weeks at a time and this was something I no longer wanted to do.  I wanted to spend more time with my family. For years, I’d dreamt of diving into the world of design and interiors, and in 2018, I finally took the plunge and I launched my first collection of bone inlay planters, and with that Tooka was born. Since then, the collection has grown into a vibrant range of homeware, full of colour, pattern, and personality. Every piece starts out as a drawing in my sketchbook which somehow the artisans manage to translate into pieces of art.

All our products are handmade, so no two are ever exactly the same. Those little variations? That’s what makes them truly special.  I hope you love exploring the collection as much as I’ve loved creating it. If you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you!