KARL LAGERFELD x Amber Valletta: African craftsmanship, contemporary vision and luxury with a purpose

The meeting redefines responsible exclusivity and elevates the power of craftsmanship as a form of social empowerment.

Sustainability is once again at the centre of the conversation as KARL LAGERFELD and Amber Valletta present a striking project that fuses modern aesthetics, traditional craftsmanship and ethical commitment. The result is a total of 320 handmade tote bags launched under the umbrella of the Ethical Fashion Initiative.

The proposal stands as a love letter to African savoir-faire, where each piece tells a story hand-woven by artisans from Burkina Faso and Kenya. Far from being a simple accessory, each bag embodies a vision of conscious luxury, designed to celebrate creativity, strengthen communities and protect the cultural heritage of the African continent.

‘Collaborating on this project has been an energising experience, highlighting our interconnectedness and the beauty of honouring traditional heritage alongside contemporary design,’ says Amber Valletta, Sustainability Ambassador for KARL LAGERFELD.

Each of the 320 units is individually numbered, hand-signed by the craftsman who assembled it and comes with a personalised information tag. Everything, from the GOTS dyes to the choice of recyclable materials, has been carefully considered so that the design exudes beauty throughout.

The meeting is part of the Ethical Fashion Initiative, a programme supported by the UN and the WTO through the International Trade Centre, which was invited by KARL LAGERFELD to contribute its local knowledge and network of artisanal talents. Its mission? To create decent employment, promote fair trade and improve the quality of life in local communities, with a special focus on the empowerment of African women.

The KARL LAGERFELD x Amber Valletta collection will be available at selected KARL LAGERFELD shops and on KARL.COM.