Gather.ltd

ZAZI VINTAGE When designer Jeanne de Kroon was first travelling through Nepal during her philosophy studies, getting to know the country’s people and their craftsmanship, a local woman invited the native Dutch into her home and dressed her in a traditional blouse – saying that the garment will give her superpowers. Boosted and inspired by that experience Jeanne quickly decided it was time to set up her own label Zazi Vintage in 2016 – her goal being the support of women like the one she met in Nepal and the possibilities of collaborating with others in need to provide the fairness and freedom they deserve. To fulfill that quest, every one of Zazi Vintage’s handmade garments is being produced in a healthy work environment by women of non-governmental organisations in India and Uzbekistan, with a pay that guarantees them a life above the local poverty line. Solely using local traditional or vintage materials, the designer also ensures that no entirely new garments have to be made but rather focuses on improving and supporting the unique craftsmanship. With each of Jeanne De Kroon’s collections constructed like a new chapter in her on-going journey towards a more sustainable and ethical fashion cycle, Zazi Vintage now is telling its story in its fifth edition, titled “The Silk Road” and reminiscent of dresses made out of the traditional Ikat weaving technique. While the inspiration is drawn from the craftsmanship of India and Uzbekistan Jeanne’s progressive take on sustainable fashion roots from her free spirited upbringing in Den Haag, with a fashion journalist as a mother and a documentary filmmaker as a father. Later having a career as a model and first hand experiencing the inner workings of the industry, Jeanne for the first time realised her path shouldn’t be the one in front of the camera but rather one travelling to the countries her clothes origin from, speaking to the women making them, and ensuring a just way of working and living for them. Since then, the designer uses her sense for equality as a driving force in bringing the fashion world and its participants closer together garment by garment, with bold designs and an even stronger message.

Enhance the growing conversation around the preservation of handmade textile and the promotion of sustainable design

Asafo flags still hold an important part of communal life in Fante villages among the Asafo groups.

In August 2018, 100% Silk opened a shop and textile gallery in downtown Toronto. 100% Silk Shop is dedicated to showcasing emerging brands from around the world that combine a distinctive vision with thoughtful construction and slow, handmade processes. Our goal is to start a new dialogue around the word "handmade", one that celebrates both the aesthetics and the story behind each piece. Throughout each season we feature a rotating selection of carefully sourced textiles and ceramics from around the world, as well as lectures and discussions about the work.

KO FIE ( koh•fee•ay ) is a design house offering contemporary African homeware and lifestyle products. The name translates to "go home" in the Akan languages (which are among the most widely spoken dialects in Ghana). KO FIE is a family affair run by 3 sisters who were born and raised between North America, West Africa, and the Middle East—but could always call Ghana home. The original designs and carefully curated selections pay homage to the girls’ Ghanaian heritage, cross-cultural upbringing, and modern sensibilities. We collaborate with local artisans to bring our visions to life, our first product being a line of unisex hand-dyed batik robes that can be worn at home or on the go. At KO FIE we take a “slow fashion” approach to design, focusing on small-scale production and workmanship. Our robes are handmade in Ghana by a team of highly skilled artisans, mixing modern style with traditional textiles. 

Originally only worn by royalty, with special meaning woven through the horizontal and vertical patterns, today kente is worn by all, often on special occasions like weddings.

It is a part of Ganga Maki workshop, where yarns are dyed naturally and hand woven, garments are made, and materials are home grown as much as possible under the guidance of Chiaki Maki, the textile designer from Japan.

Proceeds from the sale of fabric and prints go directly to art centres in Indigenous communities, creating a source of sustainable income. The centres use this to support their commissioned artists.

Norlha fibers and hand-spun the finest yak fur into soft wool yarns. The collection’s color palette is appreciated for the subtle and deep colors obtained by the natural pigments made locally by the craftsmen of the workshop.

Nadiia is a brand focused on unlocking the spiritual, artistic and tactile potential of physical objects we encounter in our everyday life. The first chapter is a collection of ceramics handmade in Ukraine using traditional craft techniques in collaboration with Kyiv-based artist Masha Reva. With its signature thick black lines and strokes of bold colours, Reva's art brings out the warmth and beauty of Ukrainian pottery, which has been an integral part of family and community for generations. Nadiia was established in 2018 by Nadiia Shapoval. The ethos of the project is to combine traditional craft techniques and materials, which have a unique history, with the cutting edge talent of contemporary creatives.

By sourcing its production in North Africa, LRNCE captures the essence of craftsmanship and stays close to the creating process of its carefully handmade products.

Sumano aims to revive the traditional women’s crafts of Moroccan tribes, notably rural pottery from the Rif region, the art of weaving and vegetable dyeing. Its goal is to preserve and promote ancestral practices by creating more visibility around these original pieces. The name Sumano is a tribute to the women artisans; the grand-mothers of the project’s founders. Sumano has the mission of introducing and preserving the exceptional savoir-faire of female weavers in the Anti-Atlas region and pottery makers in northern Morocco. These artisans perpetuate the creation of an ancient type of pottery dating back 6,000 years BC, using techniques and patterns that are very similar to those originally used. This knowledge is transmitted from mother to daughter, as guardians of the tradition. Sumano is a laboratory for creative exchange, in which tradition blends with contemporary techniques, sources of new savoir-faire. Clay and natural dyes are seen as an expressive and creative medium, opening up infinite possibilities. By selling unique pieces that are entirely handmade and by donating a part of profits to these communities, Sumano is committed to a vast project for safeguarding a unique cultural heritage.