Vivienne Westwood's 'Ethical Fashion Africa' collection.

Renowned British, pink haired diva, dame Vivienne Westwood (70) is not heading for retirement quietly. The radical designer and activist has released her Ethical Fashion Africa Collection in an effort to campaign for a better world. Her collection is comprised of handbags and totes created from all sorts of refuse, from flip flops to old tent fabric, and transformed by impoverished people in Kenya. "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 dependant," 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." She has designed three limited-edition styles: Gaia Heart, Get a Life and the Orb. They are all handmade in Nairobi, Kenya by a women’s co-operative. Much like the Carmina Campus range by Fendi that we recently featured, Vivienne Westwood’s collection is also part of the International Trade Centre, the joint body of the United Nations (UN) and World Trade Organisation (WTO). They work with marginalised communities of women such as single mothers, widows, HIV/AIDS victims and those living in extreme poverty. Their slogan is ‘This is not charity, this is work.’ The programme links up international distributors and fashion businesses with poor communities. It was set up to "allow international fashion companies to develop product lines that incorporate skills and materials from Africa, its communities and its designers." Through orders from companies such as Vivienne Westwood, some of the poorest people in the world have access to a job and an income that subsequently benefits the entire community.