HONOR THE TRIBES
Inspired by the people who welcomed us into their world.
Created to honor the beauty of living cultures.
Every journey begins with people. With stories shared around a fire, traditions passed from one generation to the next, and a way of life that has shaped communities for centuries. Our first journey brought us to Ethiopia's Omo Valley, where the beauty of five remarkable communities inspired the beginning of Honor The Tribes. Not to document what we saw. But to honor their living traditions through contemporary art.
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BORN TO HONOR LIVING CULTURES
Some traditions are written in books. Others live in people.
They are carried through ceremonies, body art, jewellery, craftsmanship and the quiet rituals of everyday life. They are expressions of identity, belonging and heritage.
As the world changes, many of these traditions are slowly fading.
The beauty of these traditions deserves to be honored while they continue to live.
Honor The Tribes was born from that belief.
Every collection begins by spending time with the communities who inspire us.
We listen, learn and build relationships before creating contemporary artworks that celebrate the stories people choose to share.
AUTHENTIC STORIES
Every artwork begins with real people, genuine encounters and the traditions they continue to keep alive.
ARTISTIC CREATION
We do not recreate what we see. Every piece is an artistic interpretation inspired by the beauty, identity and spirit of the people who welcome us into their world.
LOCAL CONNECTION
Whenever possible, we collaborate with local artists and makers, ensuring every collection remains connected to its origins and the communities that inspired it.
The Omo-Valley Collection
Ethiopia - OMO VALLEY - APRIL 23'
Our first collection is inspired by the remarkable communities of Ethiopia's Omo Valley.
The Hamar, Mursi, Karo, Daasanach and Ari have each preserved unique traditions for generations.
Their ceremonies, body art, adornments and cultural expressions became the inspiration for a collection created with deep respect for the people behind them.
Not as documentation. Not as photography.
But as contemporary works of art that honor their living heritage.
Honor The Tribes - Ethiopia Collection
A short Movie
Our journey through Ethiopia changed the way we looked at art.
Our journey through Ethiopia changed the way we looked at art. We travelled to the Omo Valley expecting to discover extraordinary craftsmanship. Instead, we found something far more meaningful. We met people whose traditions have been carried through generations. Stories are woven into every ceremony, painted onto the body, expressed through jewellery and passed from parent to child. Every colour, every pattern and every handcrafted detail carries meaning. They are expressions of identity, belonging and a deep connection to the land and to those who came before. These are not traditions of the past. They are living cultures. Yet the world around them is changing. As younger generations embrace new opportunities and modern life reaches even the most remote communities, ancient customs, rituals and artistic expressions are slowly beginning to fade. The beauty of these traditions deserves to be honored while they continue to live. That is where Honor The Tribes began. Not with the intention of documenting cultures. Not by recreating what already exists. But by listening. By building relationships. By understanding the stories people choose to share. Together with local artists and makers, we translate those stories into contemporary works of art. Every piece is created with respect for the people, their traditions and the place they call home. Our artworks are not portraits of cultures. They are tributes to the people who keep them alive. The Omo Collection is the first chapter of this journey. A collection inspired by the remarkable communities of Ethiopia's Omo Valley and created to honor their identity, their heritage and the enduring beauty of their living traditions.
Our products
- Every collection begins with a journey.
- Every artwork starts by listening.
- Every piece is inspired by real encounters and living cultures.
- We create artistic interpretations rather than documentary images.
- Whenever possible, we work together with local artists and makers.
- Our first collection takes the form of woven textile art.
- Future journeys may inspire ceramics, sculpture, wood, natural fibres or entirely new artistic expressions.
Our next destinations
The Omo Collection is only the beginning. Honor The Tribes is an evolving journey. Each destination introduces us to new people, new traditions and new stories waiting to be shared. Future collections will take us across Africa and beyond, always beginning with curiosity, respect and human connection. No two collections will be the same. Every culture will inspire its own artistic language. Every material will be chosen for the place where the story begins. Because every journey deserves its own expression.
EXHIBITIONS
Ethiopia COLLECTION - JUNE 23'
On our recent trip to the Omo Valley in Ethiopia, we acquired an impressive collection of 22 one-of-a-kind pieces of art.
These masterpieces will be unveiled for the very first time soon in several cities around the world
About Us
Honor The Tribes was founded by Laura Davis and Katja Schutte, two women whose lives have been deeply shaped by Africa and its people.
Laura has called Africa home for more than fifteen years. Katja was born in Nairobi and, after returning to East Africa years later, spent time living in Ethiopia and Kenya, working closely with local artisans and communities. Through these experiences they discovered that the greatest beauty was never found in the objects themselves, but in the people, traditions and stories behind them.
Every encounter revealed a culture expressed through ceremony, body art, craftsmanship and generations of shared knowledge. These living traditions inspired the beginning of Honor The Tribes.
An evolving art collection that honors the people who continue to keep these traditions alive.
Together with local artists and makers, every collection transforms these encounters into contemporary works of ar, created with respect, inspired by culture and rooted in the places where each story begins.
Through every journey we realised something important.
The true inspiration was never the object.
It was the people.
Inspired by the people who welcomed us into their world.
Created to honor the beauty of living cultures.
Honor The Tribes creates contemporary art that honors living cultures.
