asili (ah-see-lee) is named after the Swahili word for “origin” or “original.”

Each garment is carefully enhanced by hand using specialist techniques into a unique, one-of-one piece.

ASILI is an artist-led clothing brand founded in London by Shamsa who transforms familiar garments into wearable art through hand-dyeing and embellishment.

Inspired by heritage, colour and process, each piece is made by hand — meaning no two are ever exactly the same.

EVERY PIECE HAS AN ORIGIN.

asili started in London with one hoodie.

During lockdown in 2021, I came across a hand-dyed hoodie on Instagram and became completely fascinated by how a simple garment could be transformed into something so unique. I wanted to understand how it was done, so I started researching, experimenting and teaching myself different hand-dyeing techniques.

What started as a creative experiment quickly became an obsession. I explored
traditional African dyeing techniques, drawing inspiration from my Kenyan
heritage, alongside Japanese methods and contemporary approaches. Through a lot of trial and error, I began developing my own way of working — and that became the foundation of asili.

Every piece is hand-dyed or hand-embellished by me in London, which means no two pieces are ever exactly the same. I actually love the unpredictability of the process — the colours, textures and patterns don’t always turn out exactly as
planned, and that’s what makes each piece special.

At the heart of asili is my commitment to quality, creativity, and individuality.