Kenyan-American couple Luke and Rosemary McClure, who run a leather and brass products business in Richmond, Virginia. They source their handcrafted pieces from artisans in Nairobi, Kenya.
In Richmond, US, a story of two worlds meeting has grown into a thriving business. A Touch of Kenya, the business owned by Luke and Rosemary McClure, has become a bridge between two continents, offering authentic Kenyan-made leather bags, beaded jewellery, and brass accessories to the American market.
A Touch of Kenya began with a meeting thousands of miles away from Nairobi. Luke, a former US Army officer, and Rosemary, a Kenyan healthcare professional, met at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 2011. Their friendship quickly grew into a partnership, first in marriage, and later in business.
Luke had travelled widely during his military service and was fascinated by Africa even before meeting Rosemary. During these visits to Kenya, he noticed a vibrant luxury craft industry hidden in plain sight, fine leather handbags, hand-beaded jewellery, and brass accessories that rivalled international brands in quality and design.
“You do not see the luxury side of Africa unless you travel,” Luke recalls. “I remember walking through Village Market and Westgate Mall in Nairobi and being amazed at what Kenyan artisans were creating. European tourists would buy them immediately, but in America, hardly anyone knew such quality existed.”
The thought stayed with him. One evening, Luke turned to Rosemary and asked, “Why can’t we bring these products home and build a business that connects both worlds?”
That question became the seed that grew into A Touch of Kenya.
Idea into business
The couple started small. During their visits to Kenya, they would buy a few handbags and jewellery pieces from trusted designers, pack them into their suitcases, and sell them to friends and colleagues in the US. The customer feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
Encouraged by the feedback, Luke and Rosemary decided to formalise their venture. Two years ago, they registered the business as a limited liability company. They began with a capital investment of about Sh6.5 million from their savings, a figure that has since doubled to nearly Sh12.9 million.
Some of the products sold by Kenyan-American couple Luke and Rosemary McClure on display in Richmond, Virginia.
In the early days, the business was a two-person operation. Luke handled logistics, marketing, and retail setup, while Rosemary managed product sourcing and artisan coordination from Nairobi. Today, they have full-time bag designers and a sales manager in Kenya, as well as a growing network of skilled artisans, including beaders, brass workers, leather stitchers and jewellers.
“The talent in Kenya is endless,” Rosemary says proudly. “It is not about whether the skills exist; it is about giving people opportunities to showcase them. Every artisan we work with is part of this story.”
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Their work is showcased in two main spaces in Virginia. One is a neat and stylish vendor shop called Painted Tree, where rows of polished leather handbags hang beside beaded bracelets and brass earrings. The air carries the faint scent of tanned hide, while shoppers browse as they would in any boutique.
The second space is less conventional, a 7-by-16-foot mobile trailer wrapped in images of the Maasai Mara and Nairobi’s skyline. The trailer doubles as a travelling boutique, taking their products to cultural festivals across cities such as Atlanta, St. Louis, Baltimore, and Washington DC.
“The festivals are where we come alive,” Luke says. “People want to touch the leather, smell it, and try it on. They realise it is not just beautiful, it is durable. And then they come back the next year wearing our bags.”
Raw materials
The McClures were clear from the start that everything sold under the A Touch of Kenya would be 100 percent Kenyan-made. From the leather hides to the brass fittings and beadwork, all materials are sourced locally. Even the branding, photography, packaging, and marketing materials is done in Nairobi.
“It would not make sense to call it ‘A Touch of Kenya’ and then sell items made elsewhere,” Luke says. “The idea is to create something authentically Kenyan and show that our artisans can produce luxury products equal to global brands.”
The couple sources leather from reputable tanneries in Thika and Athi River, brass from local foundries in Kariokor, and beadwork from women’s cooperatives in Kibera.
“Every bag or bracelet is somebody’s livelihood,” Rosemary explains. “When we sell a Suba bag or a Nyali tote, the artisan behind it benefits directly. The beader in Kibera, the brass worker in Kariokor, the designer in Westlands, they all earn from it.”
For the McClures, sourcing directly from Kenya and selling under their own brand is a way to reclaim that value. “We want people to associate luxury and craftsmanship with Kenya,” Luke says.
Their products attract a mix of customers, African Americans eager to connect with their heritage, Kenyans proud of homegrown craftsmanship, and others who appreciate unique handmade goods.
Sourcing locally, however, comes with its own challenges. The cost of raw materials fluctuates, and delays in production are common when specific dyes or fittings are unavailable. Logistics can also be complex, especially when coordinating shipments from Nairobi to Virginia.
Costs and pricing
By working directly with Kenyan artisans, the McClures keep costs fair while maintaining high quality. Their handbags retail for about Sh25,000 in Virginia and Sh20,000 at their store in Gigiri, Nairobi, far below the Sh100,000 or more charged by European luxury brands for similar items.
The profit margins average between 30 to 40 percent for leather products, and even higher for accessories like earrings and bracelets. The couple reinvests most of their profits into production, marketing, and supporting the artisans’ workshops in Kenya.
“There is a niche for us,” Luke says. “We are priced for middle-class consumers, but the quality appeals to everyone.”
The breakthrough
Their persistence began to pay off as the brand gained attention at major cultural festivals in the US. Their mobile shop became a crowd-puller.
“We see familiar faces every year,” Rosemary says. “People come back wearing our bags from previous festivals. Some even wait to buy directly from us instead of ordering online because they want the personal connection.”
Word-of-mouth has also played a big role in their growth. Luke recalls one surprising moment when a newly elected political official contacted them for a custom handbag order after receiving their business card through a friend. “Suddenly, our product was in a political circle, and everyone wanted to know where it came from,” Luke says. “When we said Kenya, people paid attention.”
Through this storytelling approach, the McClures have also built a network of professionals in Kenya, including designers, real estate agents, and lawyers, who help their customers connect with local experiences.
“If a client buys a Nyali tote and later travels to Kenya, we can link them to people on the ground,” Luke says. “It is about more than selling a product; it is about connecting people.”
For Luke and Rosemary, success means sharing it with others. They channel part of their proceeds through the BC Foundation, named after their mothers, Beldina and Catherine. The foundation supports Kaswanga Primary School on Rusinga Island, providing learning materials and classroom improvements.
“We started giving back even before this business,” Rosemary says. “It is about legacy. Our mothers taught us the importance of community.”
To the McClures, philanthropy is not just charity; it is a continuation of their business values. “We all rely on someone at some point,” Luke says. “Helping others creates a chain reaction of opportunity.”
Challenges
As demand grew, so did the challenges of running operations in two countries. Managing inventory became one of the toughest issues.
“You have to make sure the right products are in the right place at the right time,” Luke explains. “Sometimes an item sells out in Virginia, but the new stock is still in Nairobi. Add custom orders to that, and it becomes even more complicated.”
Maintaining consistent quality is another priority. “When replicating a specific bag, every single one must be perfect,” Luke says. “It takes constant oversight and coordination with our team in Kenya.”
The couple also faced shipping and customs delays, which tested their patience. “This is a marathon, not a sprint,” Rosemary says. “You have to keep pushing even when it feels slow.”
Both Luke and Rosemary continue to hold full-time jobs while running their business. Luke works in government, while Rosemary serves as a revenue integrity auditor for California Health Systems. They dedicate evenings and weekends to managing the business.
“It is not easy, but it is fulfilling,” says Rosemary. “Having stable careers gives us financial discipline and helps us plan long-term.”
Luke agrees. “Entrepreneurship teaches you how much time you waste when you are not pursuing something meaningful,” he says.
Lessons to aspiring entrepreneurs
After several years of learning and growing, the McClures have valuable advice for others hoping to start similar ventures.
“Start small,” Luke advises. “Do not rush into big expenses like storefronts. Focus on quality first and build gradually. “Do not cut corners,” adds Rosemary. “Your product should tell your story before you even open your mouth.”
They also emphasise patience. “Business takes time,” says Luke. “Some months will test you, but you have to keep showing up.”
Their strategy has been simple but effective: consistency, authenticity, and storytelling. “People buy into stories,” Rosemary says. “They want to know who made their bag, where it came from, and what it supports.”
The couple now plans to expand both in Kenya and the US.
“Our dream is to see A Touch of Kenya grow into a global brand like Coach or Dooney & Bourke,” says Luke. “The market is there. The challenge is convincing people to trust African-made luxury.”
Future plans
Eventually, they hope to retire in Kenya but continue running the business across both continents. “We will always have one foot in each world,” says Rosemary.
Luke remembers his first trip to Kenya to marry Rosemary. Her family embraced him fully, teaching him Luo traditions and even how to pay bride price in cows. “They made me feel like family from day one,” he says with a laugh.
Their marriage began in Iowa, blending African and African American cultures. “When we sit down and compare food or traditions, we realise we are not that different,” says Luke. “Cornbread and ugali, collard greens and sukuma wiki, it is the same story told in different words.”
Today, that shared understanding lives on through their business. Each handbag carries more than just craftsmanship; it carries connection.
“If a handbag inspires someone to visit Nyali Beach or Rusinga Island, then we have done more than business,” says Luke. “We have connected lives.”
In every piece they sell, whether a bracelet, a Kilifi clutch, or a Suba tote, there is a story of two people who met in Iowa, found inspiration in Kenya, and built a bridge between cultures, one bag at a time.
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