Sankofa bird emblemSankofa TradeTake the Survey
A wall of handmade Moroccan leather babouche slippers in every color

Launching 2027

Rooted in Heritage.
Built for Tomorrow.

Sankofa Trade is a diasporic trade hub bringing the artistry of Moroccan makers and Kenyan artisans to the world. Tell us what you want to see before we open our doors.

Take the SurveyOur Story

Our Story

The Sankofa bird flies forward, looking back.

Sankofa is a symbol from the Akan people of Ghana: a bird reaching back to retrieve an egg even as it moves ahead. It teaches that honoring where we come from is how we build what comes next.

Sankofa Trade carries that idea across the ocean. We partner directly with Moroccan leatherworkers and Kenyan artisans to bring handmade goods — crafted for generations, worn and used with pride — to a new diaspora of customers who care where things come from and who made them.

2027

Doors Open

2

Craft Traditions

1

Shared Future

Sankofa Trade — Rooted in Heritage. Built for Tomorrow.
A Diasporic Trade Hub

The Collection

Two traditions, one marketplace.

When we launch in 2027, you'll find goods sourced with intention — handmade by artisans whose crafts have outlasted empires.

Beadwork, woven baskets, and carved wood from Kenyan artisans

From Kenya

Kenyan Artisanal Pieces

Beadwork, woven sisal baskets, and hand-carved wood — each piece carrying the hand and story of its maker.

Hand-stitched Moroccan leather slippers resting on a leather pouf

From Morocco

Moroccan Goods

Hand-stitched leather slippers, poufs, and goods from the souks — tanned, dyed, and sewn the way they have been for centuries.

Hair-on-hide loafers in zebra and leopard patternsHand-embossed leather oxford shoes in vibrant colors
Portrait of Belle A. Espinal

Belle A. Espinal

Founder, Sankofa Trade

PhD CandidateExecutive MBACommunity Builder

Our Founder

A scholar of community wealth, building one exchange at a time.

"I'm an Afro-Latina scholar, entrepreneur, and community leader, and I've spent my career building — businesses, programs, and pathways for women of color in leadership and economic empowerment. Sankofa Trade is the venture I've been working toward my whole life, and I couldn't be more excited to launch it."

"As a serial entrepreneur — and currently a Geography PhD candidate studying women of color leadership and community development — I've led initiatives supporting minority-owned businesses, cultivated community wealth, and opened doors for early-career professionals. My work as a Commercial Corridor Manager, Minority Business Specialist, and Business Outreach Manager shaped the vision behind this Diasporic Trade Hub."

"I hold an Executive MBA from Cleveland State University, an M.A. in TESOL from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a B.A. in Comparative American Studies from Oberlin College. Every exchange through Sankofa Trade is rooted in that journey — and in the belief that heritage and tomorrow belong together."

Be First in Line

Help us choose what we bring to market.

Our doors open in 2027 — but the collection starts with you. Take a short survey and tell us what you'd love to see from Sankofa Trade.

Take the Survey