The Letasi Story
“A forgotten treasure, reawakened in colour.”
“We don’t just create textiles. We carry the soul of Africa — one colour, one story, one woman at a time.”
It Started With a Spark
Sometimes the things the world forgets are the ones that carry the most power.
On a trip to Tanzania, Comfort Badaru Smithson — designer, cultural storyteller, and founder of Letasi — crossed paths with a woman named Agatha, who was carrying stunning, handmade Batik fabrics. These weren’t new. But they felt like treasures buried in plain sight.
These Batik and Tie-Dye textiles told a story of history, spirit, and love — passed down, handmade, and almost lost to mass production.
That moment changed everything.
A Studio With a Mission
From that spark, Letasi Design Studio was born — a creative space dedicated to reviving Uganda’s Batik and Tie-Dye heritage, and reimagining it for a bold new future.
Based in Kampala and Somerset, we now create or own batik fabrics and continue to work directly with local women artisans to create vibrant, hand-dyed fabrics that celebrate culture, colour, and craftsmanship.
Letasi means “with love of Love” in Lugbara — and everything we do is made with that kind of love:
- Love for Africa’s creativity
- Love for handmade tradition
- Love for women’s authorship
- Love for stories worth remembering
We don’t design to impress.
We design to honour, uplift, and reclaim.
Why Handmade Matters to us
Letasi stands for something deeper than surface beauty.
Every piece we create:
• by hand, not machine
• by hand, not machine
• authorship, not automation
• artisans, not just profit margins
• our roots, not just trends
This is slow fashion, soulfully done.
Each Batik print holds spirit, history, and healing — and it’s time the world saw it.
Meet the Women Behind Letasi
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Comfort Badaru Smithson
Founder & Creative Director (Ugandan Born)
📍 Somerset, UK“Letasi is my love letter to African design. I was raised by colour, tradition, and stories — and now I get to share them with the world.”
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Ritah Takuwa
Co-Founder & Studio Director – Uganda
📍 Kampala, Uganda“Letasi isn’t just a brand. It’s a revival. We’re creating space for African women to rise as artisans, leaders, and storytellers.”
What We Offer
We create and collaborate on:
• Handmade Batik & Tie-Dye Fabrics
• Small-batch textile production
• Limited-edition capsule collections
• Wholesale & creative partnerships
• Workshops and artisan training
• Custom commissions & gifting
From fashion to interiors, Letasi fabrics add depth, beauty, and story wherever they land.
What We Envision
A world where:
- Handmade African textiles take their rightful place in the global design landscape
- Women artisans in Uganda are recognised as creators, not just labourers.
- Our fabrics travel far, but always point back to home
Letasi is not just a brand.
It’s a movement.
And we’re just getting started.
Join the Movement
Let’s colour the world with love of Love.
Bring the soul of Africa into your space — whether it’s a garment, a cushion, or a collaboration.