( CNN ) -- A Kenyan-born designer is taking African art to America 's Deep South -- and finding his way into the pages of U.S. fashion glossies . `` You do n't hear about the incredible art coming out of Africa , stories of people digging themselves out of poverty , '' says jewelry designer Zia Sachedina . He often runs into fellow Africans at trade shows across the U.S. and remains an avid supporter of their `` Africa-inspired , Western-designed '' fashion . Sachedina has applied the same formula to his own business -- selling exotic jewelry with signature African patterns and striking color combinations tweaked for the western market . And trendsetters are taking notice -- with his designs featured in fashion bibles like Vogue and Glamour as well as TV series `` Gossip Girl . '' Glorious colors in the desert : Darfur 's fashionable women . Though most of his clients are middle-aged women who favor conservative jewelry , he mentions `` Big Momma 's House '' actress Nia Long as the ideal `` Zia Woman . '' `` She wore our jewelry in Ebony ( magazine ) and looked amazing , '' he says . `` It 's that kind of sophisticated , confident woman , in touch with her culture and African origin that I 'm trying to exert . '' Based in Savannah , Georgia , for the last decade , Sachedina says his work stands out like a `` sore thumb '' in the traditional southern town . `` A lot of people are scared that it wo n't sell , but that 's something that 's never scared me . '' His store Zia Boutique ships collections to other jewelers around the U.S. and beyond -- including countries such as Canada , Colombia and Costa Rica . The Africa-inspired Kalahari collection is his most popular line . Dedicated followers of fashion : Congo 's designer dandies . To his surprise , it has even sold well in the rural areas of Louisiana , Oklahoma and Texas . This has been encouraging for Sachedina , who relishes the opportunity to try something new . `` We wo n't push something that does n't look good on you , '' he says . `` I want people to walk down the streets and go wow , you look incredible , where did you get that ? '' Sachedina says his work is a celebration of his unique life experience for men and women of all nationalities to enjoy . Struggling to define his cultural identify while growing up , he was born to an East African Asian father and a Japanese American mother . He describes his mother as a `` free spirited hippie '' and his father as a `` traditional Muslim Indian . '' After his parents separated , he relocated to Kansas with his mother , where she was born . Sachedina enjoyed a happy childhood there , but recalls many friends could n't identify with his `` other life '' in Kenya . Why African designers are finally in the fashion spotlight . As a teenager , he developed a deep longing to better understand his Indian side and realized that only spending school breaks in Kenya was n't enough . Sachedina returned to Nairobi and enrolled at the International School of Kenya . He was surrounded by students and faculty from over 70 countries -- which he describes as the best experience of his life . It was also a period that helped shape the `` global citizen '' he views himself as today . At 32 , Sachedina feels he has developed the ability to connect with others regardless of race , culture or religion . But he insists taking on that approach to life did n't happen overnight . Instead , it involved embracing the best parts of his parents ' cultures -- as well as welcoming influences from his many travels around the world . He is currently in the process of scouting locations for more U.S. branches of Zia Boutique -- with the goal to operate five stores before turning 35 .
Kenyan -born designer Zia Sachedina creates jewelry inspired by his heritage . He was born to an Japanese Asian father and a Japanese Japanese mother . the International School of Kenya has a flagship boutique in Glamour , Savannah . His work has been featured in Vogue and Glamour magazines , and TV show Gossip Girl .