"The Africa bag collection evolves each season, introducing new styles and in turn skill development of the artisans in Africa.The collections are brought to life through the use of distinctive Westwood archive prints, shapes and finally stamped with Vivienne’s latest political or environmental Climate Revolution message. For Autumn- Winter 2015/16 the Vivienne Westwood EFI collection takes on the brands iconic Squiggle, Scribble Tartan and Argyle prints and introduces the new Snakes and Ladders, and the Democracy Fracking prints. The new season prints echo Vivienne’s environmental and political message -in particular her antifracking and anti-capitalism campaigns. A new style for the season is the Snake Board Game Shopper, complete with a hand painted Snakes and Ladders board print with accompanying limited edition dice and game counters, which have been cast in brass using recycled car parts and taps by the artisans in Nairobi – transforming the playful bag into a board game."
Vivienne Westwood and
the International Trade Centre’s Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI) celebrate
their 10th season in collaboration. The Vivienne Westwood EFI bags are handmade
in Kenya by a social enterprise set up by EFI. Over the past 5 years the work
has supported thousands of micro-producers from marginalised communities,
developing their artisan skills and improving their financial prospects, promoting
growth of sustainable business in place of aid dependency. ‘Sustainability is
about having projects and products that last.
Vivienne Westwood has
provided sustainability to the work of the Ethical Fashion Initiative by
engaging for ten consecutive seasons with a significant number of African
artisans, mostly women, who have struggled their way out of poverty through
this work. The products are beautiful and last: the exact opposite of fast
fashion. This is responsible fashion. This is working for a better world’
-Simone Cipriani, Founder and Head of the EFI.
The impact
assessments regularly carried out on all Vivienne Westwood orders with the
Ethical Fashion Initiative in Kenya demonstrates measurable and concrete change
in the lives of those involved in production: · So far 1558 artisans have worked on these orders, from 21
different communities. 76% of which are women. · 86% of the artisans involved received training during the
production, offering them internationalstandard skills. · 72% of artisans were able to save from
the income received from the order, enabling them to plan for their future. · More than 950 children were enabled to
go to school as a result of Vivienne Westwood orders. ‘What a wonderful
experience it’s been.
I really want to thank the International Trade
Centre and the team in Africa. It’s been, and still is, such a gratifying
experience to know the opportunities we are able to give to people. And the
bags we make in Africa are still my favourite!’ Vivienne Westwood.
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