The Blog

Senegals Beautiful Pink Lake

With its colonial architecture, bustling markets and secluded beaches, Senegal is a stunningly beautiful country. One popular tourist attraction is Lake Retba. Known a...

The Magic Is In the Cowrie Shell

If you’ve ever been to a country in Africa, you’ve probably seen women wearing jewelry made of cowrie shells. The small white shell looks porcelain. It’s strong and du...

Empowering Senegalese Girls Through Education

Hi, I’m Sofi Seck, a former photographer based in St. Louis, MO but originally from Senegal, West Africa. A long time ago, my parents divorced. My mom had nothing — n...

New Flat Woven Platters

Autumn is finally in the air in St. Louis! We love this season — from the leaves turning crisp and falling from the trees, to cooling temperatures and cooking/baking t...

Let Girls Rule The World

Expedition Subsahara has grown and changed significantly since it launched two years ago. From our business plan, to partners and products, we’ve continuously worked ...

A Brief History of African Textiles: Wax Print

Two years into running Expedition Subsahara, I have learned an incredible amount about African textiles, sourcing and origins. One thing I was surprised — or actually...

Is Confidence Cultural?

A few months ago, I was invited to be a part of Lark Skin Co.’s Campaign for Confidence. It was a really cool experience that allowed me to connect with women from al...

Authentic African Beadwork

Africa is a continent known for its beautiful, elaborate beadwork, particularly in jewelry, but the intricate practice also is put to use in creating home decor and t...

Where She Creates: Shell Enste

To Shell Enste, who has built a newborn and family photography business bearing her name, there’s nothing more satisfying than creating the perfect image of a newbor...

Where She Creates: Raquita Henderson

Walking into Pinxit, the South City St. Louis lifestyle, wedding and portrait photography studio of Raquita Henderson, one might first be enveloped by the scent. Wheth...

Tribal Markings, a Dying African Art Form

“Scarification.” If I’m being honest, I’ve always hated that word. To me, it’s a bad and almost disrespectful way to describe the beautiful and ancient ritual of trib...

A Brief History of African Mud Cloth Fabric

We get a lot of questions about the African textiles that are used for our goods. In Africa, the cloths and woven fabrics used for living are as traditional as basket...