Ethical Fashion Initiative

Overview

Summary

For the Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI), lifestyle choices impact livelihoods. EFI acts as a bridge, connecting marginalized artisan communities in emerging economies with discerning global lifestyle brands, creating meaningful work and fair, decent working conditions.

We develop and sustain social enterprises, designers, artisans and micro-producers in fashion, interiors and fine foods. We build on tradition, heritage and craftsmanship, and inject modern production and business practices to improve quality, consistency and productivity while leaving intact the intrinsic value of the product’s provenance.

View more on the Open Data Portal

Partners

Funder

European Union

Implementer

Artisan Fashion

Implementer

Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana

Implementer

Camper

Implementer

Chan Luu

Implementer

Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode

Implementer

Gold Standard

Implementer

Goodee

Implementer

Gucci

Implementer

Ikat Uz

Implementer

Joor

Implementer

Lai-momo Società Cooperativa Sociale

Implementer

Loewe

Implementer

Montecristo

Implementer

Paris Fashion Week

Implementer

Pitti Uomo

Implementer

Ratti

Implementer

Salone Del Mobile

Implementer

United Arrows

Implementer

Value Change Initiative

Implementer

Vivienne Westwood

Implementer

Zazi Vintage

Implementer

360 Music Factory

Sustainable Development Goals

This project contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals, as defined by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

SDG - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Projects

Culture project: Identity Building and Sharing Business Initiative

EFI has mobilised consumers and creative skills to leverage a new positioning for artisans

Central Asia: Developing entrepreneurial skills and providing access to international market to lifestyle sector artisans, micro-producers (Ethical Fashion Initiative)

The EFI projects in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan will invest in human capital

Context

Ethical Fashion: Reshaping the Industry to Benefit the World

A weaver at work on a Faso Danfani textile, with CABES, EFI’s social enterprise partners in Burkina Faso.

The Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI) is reshaping the fashion industry with its support for sustainable production, human rights and the reduction of poverty.

Working at the nexus of international development, fashion and lifestyle sectors, EFI is contributing to decent work for thousands of artisans, most of them women, and connecting their products to luxury brands across the world.

EFI supports low carbon processes, working with artisans producing handcrafted, climate-neutral goods, using natural dyes and age-old techniques.

The fashion industry directly relates to the well-being of millions of workers, the environment and the climate. Ethical fashion promotes all the needs and rights of those involved in the industry to ensure respect for both society and the environment.

A sustainable path for the fashion industry

Sustainability Services

EFI is partnered with the National Chamber of Italian Fashion (Camera della Moda), a leading influence with the largest luxury brands in the world, to create a framework to assess the industry on its environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices. Find out more

Sustainability Products

EFI is partnered with Artisan Fashion, connecting Africa’s artisans of traditional skills and creative talents to luxury brands. Find out more

Decarbonized Supply Chains

EFI and Artisan Fashion manage an international decarbonized supply chain, a network of social enterprises coordinating the work of artisans from the Global South in order to produce for luxury clients worldwide. Find out more

Business development projects

EFI’s Designer Accelerator, Opportunities are Here and Business Lab projects aim to develop sustainable business to its full potential and harness the power of creative industries to be a force for good. Find out more

Do it yourself! Female workers organize beaded panels that have arrived at the Artisan Fashion Factory from local beading communities. Artisan Fashion coordinates the work of talented artisan groups throughout Kenya to enable them to become suppliers of international luxury brands.

Louis Nderi

Photo gallery

EFI partners produce for luxury partners across the globe, including Australian brand Mimco.

MIMCO

Fashion designers participate in training as part of the EFI Designer Accelerator in Nairobi, Kenya.

Louis Nderi

A close up of a person's hands, holding small balls of cotton

EFI social enterprises low carbon and environmentally friendly production, such as natural dyeing, organic cotton, handwork and solar powered machinery.

Anne Mimault

Celebrity Judges deliberate on the set of Opportunities are Here, a nationwide talent show for young creatives in Uganda.

Ethical Fashion Initiative

EFI supports and mentors African fashion designers and provides platforms on the world stage, such as this event at Tokyo Fashion where Kenneth Ize, Anyango Mpinga and Thebe Magugu presented as part of “FACE A-J”, a cultural exchange between continents.

Face A J

Artisans from the Ozara social enterprise in Khujand, Tajikistan, work on a piece of Suzani embroidery, traditionally used in marriage ceremonies in Tajik culture. EFI is supporting Ozara to develop their business model internationally.

Big Style Media House