TOH·FEE || \ˈTÔFĒ

Hello & Welcome to the Toffie Shop

Toffie's mission is to celebrate womanhood and uplift others. We do this by making it easier for women to adorn and love themselves with beautiful African body jewelry.

We're not your average waist bead shop. We don't need your exact measurements. We sell by "line", not by inch. We love beginners + first-time wearers. Get to know us more.

WHAT ARE WAIST BEADS?

MORE THAN BEADS AND STRING

While they may appear to simply be strands of strung up beads worn around the midsection, waist beads are much more than that. They are a form of intentional body jewelry originating in Africa worn by women as part of a longstanding ancient tradition and cultural practice.

At their core, African waist beads were/are used to affirm a woman's sense of being ("I am") as well as manifest her greatest desires ("I will").

Learn more about why women wear them.

WHY wear WAIST BEADS?

CULTURE / PRACTICE

"they ground me in my roots"

Waist beads follow us on our journey through womanhood. Baby girls might have them tied on during naming ceremonies and sometimes as a form of body shaping. Adolescent girls might get them as a gift from their mothers to celebrate their first period or ascribe motherly protection & blessings. Adult women might wear them as a symbol of womanhood or a reminder of her roots.

Why wear waist beads?

WELLNESS / FITNESS

"they help me stay physically and spiritually mindful"

Waist beads wrap intimately on the body promoting self-awareness. They are popularly used today as weight management tools since the beads roll up as you gain, and down as you lose. This same movement of the beads is also used traditionally by expectant mothers to understand their stage of pregnancy  as the belly grows. 

why wear waist beads?

LOVE / SEX

"they drive my partner crazy"

Waist beads are associated with sex and often serve as always-on lingerie. Men find them incredibly seductive to look at and touch in the bedroom, and women traditionally used them to initiate intercourse (larger beads made sounds as she walked). Due to this intimate nature, waist beads are worn out of sight of the public in many African cultures.

Why wear Waist Beads?

BEAUTY / FASHION

"they look really good on me" 

Waist beads ultimately symbolize  femininity and accentuate the female figure. Today, they are often worn as a fun and eye-catching body accessory that represents cultural heritage while making you feeling beautiful from the inside out.

HANDMADE WITH LOVE

GENUINE FROM GHANA

Our waist beads are authentically African and are specifically made in Accra, Ghana. We work hard behind the scenes to source materials from bead makers at a fair price before delivering them to our on-staff beaders who measure, thread, clasp, and quality check every single line. We're open and honest about our production process, and strive to make life better for women we work with. Learn more about our Social Impact efforts.

HANDMADE WITH LOVE GENUINE FROM GHANA

STYLED BY TASTEMAKERS

CUSTOMER-SELECTED COLOR COMBOS