OUR STORY

Kulu = “The Great One.” In isiZulu, khulu means great, grand or important — a title of respect. For us, it’s also a family name. John Gordon “Kulu” Norton was our grandfather — steady, fair, gentle, and the person who taught us to love nature, pay attention to detail, and do things properly the first time. Naming our brand after him just felt right: a nod to the man of immense presence, courage,  and the beauty of doing things properly. It is a story of legacy, land and light — and of one man whose greatness continues to illuminate ours.

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But Kulu isn’t a story about the past. It’s about our family now — Brian,  Lesley, Ross, Chelsea and Kelly — turning a shared passion for gemstones, design, and meaning into something real. What started as late-night brainstorming and sanding prototypes in the garage has grown into a family-run business built on curiosity, creativity and a whole lot of trial-and-error.

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And that’s where the Precious Lights come in.

They’re the product we could all agree on — the idea that finally clicked. Handcrafted from recycled African hardwood, illuminated by Girasol Quartz, and finished with the Acacia silhouette… they carry the calm, grounding energy we wanted to share, in a way that feels simple, beautiful and proudly African.

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Kulu is the name that holds our roots. The Precious Lights are the way we carry them forward.