The Weekly Want: sass & bide

Sassandbib_madeinAfricawithLove

sassandbibe_Madeinafrica With it’s bold art-deco pattern, sass & bide’s purse is the perfect accessory to step out into a spring outfit — and it’s beaded details match with any clean look. Made in Africa as part of the Ethical Fashion Initiative, this purse is all in the details.

Created by women from the Kikuyu, Masai, Samburu & other East African tribes, sass & bibe mixes their tribal aesthetic with true artisan skills. Three styles total – a clutch, a purse and a tote – each beaded bag is hand sewn and Made with Love, Made in Africa.

“It is inspiring to be working directly with the East African Artisans, & to be influenced by their tradition, culture & daily lives,” says sass & bide co-founder, Sarah-Jane Clarke. “By partnering with these talented craftswomen, it allows them to support their immediate families and greater communities. It is rewarding to see that their wages are used to educate their children.”

The collaboration is part of a larger project — the Ethical Fashion Initiative, which partners top designers and women artisans in Haiti and Africa to support ‘trade not aid.’ In respecting a women-centric workforce, the initiative is providing economic freedom, preservation of traditional craft and a priceless boost of confidence. “While our production is 100% ethical and with a strong focus on environmental protection, this is not a niche “eco-fashion” project,” says the EFI. “Instead a vast initiative reaching out to 7,000 artisans and across the world to fashion partners from Rome to Rio to Tokyo. We are truly local and global.”

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