Umtha is a South African jewelry design company that has been creating innovative Africa inspired jewellery for over 30 years. Founded in 1992 by Dave and Cheryl Milligan as "Best Beads", the company was renamed to Umtha (meaning "a ray of light" in Xhosa) to reflect their vision of empowering marginalized communities. Based in Cape Town, Umtha is registered as a Close Corporation and import/export business, operating as a member of the Craft and Design Institute.

At the heart of Umtha's mission is providing fair wage job opportunities for previously disadvantaged South Africans and refugee-status foreigners. The company employs a team of jewelry producers, including previously marginalized women from Xhosa and refugee communities, and is committed to employment and skills development. Umtha supports fair trade principles and became a World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) member in 2009.

The company's vision is "To be an excellent business handcrafting quality, innovative jewellery and empowering people from marginalised communities." They design affordable, high-quality jewelry and support disabled employment by purchasing ostrich eggshell beads from a disabled workshop. As they say, "We're creative people! We thrive on the buzz of innovation and design."

Umtha has grown significantly since its founding, establishing a 15-year export trade with Tearcraft in London after selling jewelry at an international conference in the UK in 1998. By 2013, the company had over 200 customers across Southern & East Africa, Europe, North America, and Australia, continuing to grow despite economic challenges while maintaining their commitment to fair trade and community empowerment.