Fashion is increasingly aware of the need to support the world socially and environmentally. Recent years have seen fashion brands reconsidering their choice of materials (such as rescinding the use of fur or cashmere) or engaging in charity causes through their collections. However, it is not every day you get to see a fashion brand commit a hundred per cent of its sales to the cause, which is exactly what Spanish luxury fashion house Loewe’s latest collaboration with social media campaign Knot On My Planet is about.
In support of the Elephant Crisis Fund, Loewe has partnered with Knot On My Planet to launch a limited-edition run of its tan Elephant bags with beadwork by Samburu women from northern Kenya.
Loewe’s creative director Jonathan Anderson’s interest in elephant conservation was piqued after seeing the work of KOMP, a campaign powered by fashion influencers including Dutch supermodel Doutzen Kroes to stop poaching, prevent trafficking and end the demand for ivory. Through KOMP, Jonathan Anderson learnt the negative impact the ivory crisis has on the ecosystems of Africa and Asia, and was introduced to the Samburu community.
Originally an innovative collection made out of leather offcuts, the cult animal-shaped leather creation is now a signature of Loewe brand offerings. Taking the company’s empathy for animals to the next level, Loewe launched a new variation of the elephant shape bag (a crowd favourite among the other animal shapes in the series) into a limited edition collection to benefit The Elephant Crisis Fund in preventing elephant trafficking and poaching, and hopefully in turn, minimise the demand of ivory.
Loewe travelled to Kenya to work with the women from the Samburu workshop to better understand the unique beadwork they produce. The project was born 15 years ago during a drought that saw the men in the community forced to lead the cattle to new pastures to graze and leave the women to fend for themselves and their children. The craft has given the female elders a viable workflow to sustain their families, and the strength as a community towart traffickers harming their home.
The Spanish luxury fashion house understood that money is always steered towards many outlets of our daily lives, but arguably less for philanthropic purposes (as compared to necessary spendings such as bills etc.) And hence, Loewe has helped navigate our style splurges towards a worthy charity.
The new elephant mini bag design is adorned with unique beadwork designs handmade by women artisans from the Samburu Workshop which is part of an initiative by Samburu trust, a Kenya-based organisation that has been working closely with Save the Elephants.
Owing to the nature of the beadwork, each colourful cascade of beads on the Loewe bags is unique. See a selection of exclusive imagery showing the origins of the embellishment from Ol Malo in the heart of Samburu, below, and shop the bags at Loewe.com.
All proceeds from the sale of this limited edition series will go to go to The Elephant Crisis Fund, where the most effective projects in elephant conservation will be funded and executed.
The Elephant Crisis Fund is a joint initiative between Save The Elephants and the Wildlife Conservation Network, in partnership with the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, and aided by KOMP. In support of the fund’s 100 percent donation model, each pound from the £1,100 bags will be deployed to conservation initiatives.
The Loewe Elephant Bag collection is now available on the loewe.com
Yakymour 