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PRODUCTION CAPABI

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ARTISAN CREATIVITY

studio@artisan.fashion www.artisan.fashionwww.artisan.fashion

ABOUT US

Artisan.Fashion is a social enterprise connecting Africa’s artisans to esteemed luxury brands all over the world. We create and produce beautiful accessories with clients such as; Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney, sass & bide, Chan Luu and Karen Walker.

We are the first African production company to successfully combine artisan creativity and production capability with a careful consideration for social impact. With Artisan.Fashion, our clients have the opportunity to improve, trace and report on the fortunes of those involved in their production.

2016 marks our ninth year of production in Kenya. Today, we engage over 1,000 African artisans to create, produce and deliver over 100,000 bags and accessories per year.

Our Story

• In2007,theEthicalFashionInitiative,aprogrammeoftheInternationalTradeCentre(ajointagencyoftheUnitedNationsandtheWorldTradeOrganisation)launcheditsfirstprojectinKenya.TheInitiativefacilitatedthesetupofEthicalFashionAfrica,asocialenterprisebasedinNairobi, which coordinated production with marginalised communities throughout the region. This was the first significant platform for local artisans to exchange their unique skills for greater economic freedom.

• In2015,theInternationalTradeCentreformalisedthecollaborationoftheEthicalFashionAfricawithlocalprivateinvestors,AmalgamatedChamaLimited(ACL).ACLinvestsforsocialimpactandthewiderdevelopmentoftheAfricancontinent.Itsmembersincludesocially-consciousandbusiness-mindedindividualsseekingtoinvestinandsupportnewKenyancompanies.

• Today,werebrandasArtisan.Fashiontopositionourselvesforfurthersuccessandwiderimpact.

SOCIAL IMPACT

Weworkwith17communitiesacrossKenyatoproducebeautifullyhandcraftedartefacts.In2015,weengagedover1,000artisansin50,000daysofworktoimprovefortunesandenrichlives.

TheEthicalFashionInitiative’sR.I.S.E.schemeprovidesclearandobjectivemonitoringofartisansduring the production period of every order. These assessments deliver tangible information on the products, the manufacturing process and the impact on the lives of those involved.

AllourworkpracticesandoperationsareguidedbytheFairLabourAssociation(FLA)CodeofConduct.ThroughcollaborationwiththeInternationalTradeCentreEthicalFashionInitiativeandtheR.I.S.E.frameworkmonitoring,weensureourbusinessissociallyandenvironmentallyresponsible.

AtArtisan.Fashion,wealsocontribute2%ofourannualrevenuetotheEthicalFashionforEmpowermentofCommunitiesTrust,whichsupportsskillsdevelopmentforartisansinpoorcommunities.

ARTISAN CREATIVITY

Africa is a continent bursting with local skills and materials.

We engage over 1,000 artisans who inspire truly creative design by using techniques such a beading, brass casting, horn moulding and tailoring.

We have over 400 artisans with all the traditional skills and materials to inspire creative design:

SKILLSBrass workMetal workLeather craftEmbroideryBeadingHand paintingCrochetScreen printingKnitting Horn craft

MATERIALSLeatherCanvasBrassAluminumHornBoneBeadsGlassKikoyShukaKitengeDhow sailInnertubeFlip flops

ARTEFACTSZip pullersLogosPom pomsJinglesClosuresTasselsBucklesAppliqué

PRODUCTION CAPABILITY

We combine artisan creativity with a first class production hub for finishing, packing and delivery.

Whilst the hand crafted nature of our work attracts international brands, it is our production capability and reliable delivery that retains them as clients.

Over the last nine years, we have successfully produced and delivered hundreds of collections for some of the world’s leading fashion houses.

studio@artisan.fashion www.artisan.fashionwww.artisan.fashion