Aussie brand Sass and Bide is the latest company to join the likes of Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney as part of the International Trade Centre's (ITC) Ethical Fashion Initiative.

The Ethical Fashion Initiative aims to empower women in Africa and Haiti through partnership with the fashion world in countries as far flung as Italy and Japan.

Sass and Bide begin their collaboration with the launch of two limited edition bags made by women in Kenya available for purchase through their boutiques.  

Having lived in Australia for ten years Sass and Bide have been one of my favourite designers for almost as long. I am so pleased to hear they are taking part in this and that we can support the Ethical Fashion Initiative through purchasing their designs.

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD is a pioneer when speaking of the bridging between fashion and an ethical lifestyle perspective. She can safely be called a revolutionary, whether it be through her Africa Project or her support of the charity COOL EARTH where she actively advocates the protection of indigenous people from the rise in effects of climate change. 
In her interview with British Vogue, Westwood stated prior to the presentation of her Red Label Spring/Summer 2013 show “I don’t really care about fashion...My job now gives me an excuse to talk about what I really care about - and that is the climate revolution.” When asked what she does to ensure that her collections are ecologically sound, she responded “My motto is ‘buy less, choose well, make it last.' You should wait until you really need something before you buy it. In fact, don't buy this collection.”

The Conscience Collective is obsessed with Vivienne Westwood's Ethical Africa Collection, as it is an exemplification of what embodies the ethos of our blog. All bags are handmade by local women from communities in Kenya from recycled materials. With the support of the International Trade Centre's Ethical Fashion Program of the United Nations, all women involved in Vivienne Westwood's Ethical Fashion Africa collection have not only been empowered financially, but socially as well.

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Watch this video to gain further insight into Vivienne Westwood's and Yoox.com's Ethical Fashion Africa Project. What resonates with us is that Charity does not help people, but empowerment does through capacity building and transfer of skills. It is even more important that we are doing this through fashion and our shared values. It is inspiring to see the inclusion of people, who have been previously excluded from the international world market, and "why not do it through fashion."

You can find Vivienne's bags on YOOX.COM and on her ONLINE SHOP