The renowned French fashion house Chloé contacted Mifuko’s design duo last summer to collaborate on a responsibility project Chloé had kicked off. The fruitful collaboration resulted in stunning new basket collections for spring (SS21) and autumn 2021 (AW21).

The new baskets are cool high fashion accessories with the iconic Woody cotton canvas ribbon straps and a stitched leather base. Each basket features a special “Chloé x Mifuko” collaborative label and bears the signature of the Kenyan artisan who weaved it.

Founded in 2009 by Finnish designers Mari Martikainen and Minna Impiö, Mifuko combines Nordic design with Kenyan craftsmanship to create beautiful, eco-friendly handwoven baskets. A certified member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), Mifuko adheres to radical sustainability and aims to show how a Fair Trade company can be successful ethically, socially and financially.

Working together with teams of artisans, Mifuko guarantees regular income and flexible employment for more than 700 women in rural Kenya. Each high-quality basket is unique and supports Fair Trade practices, bringing joy to customers while improving the welfare of communities in rural Africa. The cooperation between Chloé and Mifuko made it possible for artisans to secure income amid the uncertainties brought by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Since it was founded in 1952 by Egyptian-born Gaby Aghion, the Paris-based Chloé has become synonymous with prêt-à-porter fashion. Their ready-to-wear apparel and accessories are instantly recognizable. The collaboration with Mifuko is part of their ambitious plan to become B Corp certified, a fashion industry first, driven by fair and equal opportunity principles with a singular goal: creating beautiful products with meaningful impact.

Chloé is currently filming a video about the collaboration with Mifuko’s Kenyan team under director Velma Rosai. The highly anticipated video captures the thoughts and lives of Kenyan artisans for the whole world to see.