‘s Ethical Fashion Africa collection
After the success of the first capsule collection, Ethical Fashion Africa Project, Vivienne Westwood renews her commitment with a new and larger collection of handbags and accessories also dedicated to men.
The new models for him and for her were realized using recycled materials- electric cables, discarded aluminum and plastic bags, otherwise destined to disposal – always aiming at using already existing materials, to keep the impact on the environment to the minimum.
The collection was produced in Nairobi, “handmade with love” in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC), that supports the work of over 7,000 socially outcast women within African communities.
A concrete way to support the activity of local artisans, helping them to develop a sustainable business, without depending from international financial aid. This is not charity, but a way to help the growth inside such communities.
“What I do, making bags, can make a difference. This project gives people control over their lives – charity doesn’t give control, it does the opposite, it makes them dependent,” she says. “These people have more control over their lives and can therefore choose not to exploit the environment because they have an alternative way of making money.”
The Ethical Fashion Approach, enables international fashion companies and distributors to source from African communities, without bias in price or quality, thus allowing groups of marginalized artisans to become part of the larger value chain.
This business dynamic is paralleled with a social dimension including a rigorous code of ethics and gender equality. All stages of production are designed to empower women; this by raising their daily income long-term and ensuring sustainability through capacity-building, skills training and technical assistance.
The size and reach of the fashion industry: every single person on Earth — all 7 billion-plus — have to get dressed ever day.
Dressing ourselves is one of human beings’ oldest forms of expression, and one of the original arts in many cultures. You don’t get woven Mohawk tribal patterns, Peruvian embroidery, Irish donegals or African kente prints without thousands of years of human creativity.
What we can do is buy less clothing, shop vintage and ethical fashion, recycle and upcycle where we can, and swap clothes, instead of participating in the fast fashion junkfest. Clothing sold for cheap is generally made by people who aren’t paid well (or treated well) from fabrics that pollute the environment. And they don’t last, meaning they make their way to the landfill that much faster.
The project is sustained by yoox.com that for some time now has been giving visibility to eco-friendly initiatives and products in the YOOXYGEN section, that will feature, starting from mid-June, also the new collection with the models created exclusively for yoox.com.
Besides, YOOXYGEN will celebrate the project with exclusive content and videos to raise public awareness and promote the Ethical Fashion Africa Project.
The collection will be available at Vivienne Westwood’s stores and online on www.vivivennewestwood.com and http://www.yoox.com.
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