Brightly colored Masai beading is a potent symbol of tribal culture which helps keep old traditions alive in Kenya. Although beads are worn throughout Africa, the Masai tribes are known to produce and wear huge numbers of beads to delineate their position within the tribe and their status in society.

In traditional Masai culture, beads have become a symbol of their traditions, although the small, colorful beads themselves are a rather late addition. The small colorful glass bead jewelry distinguishes where a person comes from and which age group they belong to.

The colors and patterns used are ultimately decided by the women who sit down together to bead. Together they will decide the style of the new jewelry which is often made for their sons, husbands and boyfriends.

Masai jewelry is distinguished by contrasting colors, they hardly ever put similar colors next to each other. Contrast is seen as beautiful and as a natural state.

Kenyan designer Anna Trzebinski said, "I work with women who would have been beading all their lives anyway. They would have started as children for themselves for their friends, watching their mothers do it. And then also what I do try and do is, I do try and stick to, sometimes what I do is change colors of things but I do stick to the authentic design of whatever the traditional tribal design was, I stick to that and then translate it and move it around and maybe tweak it."

Masai beading is part and parcel of the look of every piece in her collection. But beads are not only an important part of fashion which helps the Masai women to support themselves. They are just as much a part of a Masai man's accessories as his spear. Just as the number of his cattle indicates his wealth, the number of necklaces, breast plates and earrings he wears can say much about his position and status in society.

Apart from showing off talent and patience, the beads also have a greater social significance which helps sustain the Masai tribe's culture and traditions.