Vivienne Westwood celebrates 10 years of her “Made in Kenya” project
This fall/winter, Vivienne Westwood celebrates 10 years working alongside theEthical Fashion Initiative of the International Trade Centre, a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. Vivienne Westwood’s collaboration with EFI through Artisan.Fashion, the first of its kind and a groundbreaking social organization, has facilitated collaborations with local artisans, first in the slum of Kibera, and now in Kenya, Nepal, Burkina Faso and Mali, with the aim of providing a steady and sustainable flow of work, in addition to charitable works.
Vivienne Westwood meets Artisan.Fashion in 2011
Over the past ten years, Artisan.Fashion in Kenya has engaged 28 artisan groups and employed over 2,600 artisans, offering them interesting work and fair wages, 78% of whom are women. In Kenya, Vivienne Westwood has worked with a variety of skills and materials such as metalwork from scrap metal, screen printing, recycled dhow sails, and many more. Thanks to Artisan.Fashion, artisan communities in Nepal (cashmere weaving), Burkina Faso (cotton weaving) and Mali (natural dyes) have also been able to obtain dignified work with a direct impact on their livelihoods. The project has also enabled many rural populations, engaged by EFI, who previously depended on the sale of charcoal and firewood, with a direct impact on the environment, to support themselves and their families thanks to the program without having to deplete their natural resources.
“We joined the project in 2010, making bags in Africa, training and improving skills through rewarding work. We started in 2010 with a pilot project of 30 people. Today, in 2020, there are 2,600, lifting people out of poverty. The aim is to produce quality handicrafts and establish a global network of highly skilled artisans. Made-to-measure craft products are very much in vogue.
I really want to thank the Ethical Fashion Initiative and the team in Africa. It has been, and still is, such a rewarding experience to know the opportunities we are able to give people. And the bags we make in Africa are still my favorite! “
-Vivienne Westwood
Thanks to the program’s development and education, many artisans are now aware of the importance of their natural environment and are involved in activities aimed at improving, restoring or conserving the environment through tree planting and reforestation. Waste recycling is also a major focus of the project, with bag linings made from recycled used clothing, known as ‘mitumba’, and hard elements and orb logos featured on bags created from melted and recycled metal found in the slums. This decorative element not only contributes to the product’s sustainability, but also raises awareness of the importance of recycling and reusing waste.
“Long before sustainability became a buzzword, Vivienne — a visionary and innovator — realized that exploring new manufacturing methods in fashion was a necessity. Her collaboration with EFI was not a one-off marketing campaign, but a lasting commitment based on mutual learning and experience sharing. According to our field evaluations, Vivienne Westwood’s commissions have provided work for over 2,600 people, and have had a direct positive impact on over 10,000 people in their respective communities. Ten consecutive years of job creation and fair remuneration for artisans, and a solid contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; there’s a lot to celebrate!”
-Simone Cipriani, President and Founder of ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative
Vivienne Westwood and Simone Cipriani
To mark this special milestone, a limited-edition tote bag and bob have been crafted by artisans in Kenya, each piece screen-printed by hand with Westwood’s art and culture manifesto, Mirror the World. The graphic depicts doves and hearts in white, on a bright red 100% East African cotton canvas, and is complemented by a special Westwood 10th anniversary postage stamp.
The “Made in Kenya” accessories collections are now a fundamental part of Westwood’s DNA, having appeared in the brand’s global campaigns and fashion shows over the past decade.
The special edition 10-year tote bag (155€) and bobs (165€ ) will be available exclusively at Vivienne Westwood boutiques in London and regional stores in the UK, New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Milan, as well as flagship stores in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and online at www.viviennewestwood.com.
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