The three shopper bags Vivienne Westwood released through her Ethical Fashion Africa Project in January sold out quickly, so I’m thrilled to see she’s expanding the line. The new purses are also created in conjunction with the International Trade Center, made in Nairobi, and crafted entirely from recycled materials.
This time around there really is something for everybody. The collection now features weekender bags, clutches, printed laptop and iPod cases, and even shoppers designed especially for the lads.
As with the original collection, the creation of these bags pushed Westwood and her creative team to the limit. All bags are made using recycled, end of the line materials from Kenya, so the pickings were a little slim. The team wanted to buy as little as possible, instead relying heavily on found items like tent cottons, plastic bags, and electrical wiring. Westwood’s design team also continued to work with African artisans on the project, helping them develop new skills which they can use in further employment opportunities.
The new Vivienne Westwood Ethical Fashion Africa Project bags will be available soon exclusively through the green shopping e-tailer yoox.com. Given how quickly the original batch sold out, I wouldn’t wait too long if you want to get your hands on the new breed!
