FASHION Magazine

See the Far and Wide Collective collection »

If this month’s catastrophic factory collapse in Bangladesh were any indication, the fashion industry is in need of a major shift. As demand for our favourite retailers only seems to keep growing worldwide, where and how their items are made is sure to change. And while this kind of change may take ages to take place on such a large scale, one thing that may help it along is increasing the demand for authentic handmade goods from craftspeople around the globe.

Answering that call is Far and Wide Collective, a newly launched online retailer that gives access to a unique products crafted by some of the most talented artisans from post-conflict and developing countries around the world. Sourcing workshops in rural villages of these developing countries, Far and Wide Collective discovers talented artisans, including one of the last authentic ikat designers in Uzbekistan, Rasuljon Mirzaahmedov, who collaborated with Oscar de la Renta, using his handmade ikat fabrics in the designer’s Fall 2008 collection.

With the help of the Collective, artisans from countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan now have the opportunity to turn their works of art into a viable economic future and get the necessary assistance to help sustain small businesses. Exposing their craftsmanship to Western consumers, the Collective hopes to provide these gifted artisans the marketing opportunity they unfortunately lack in their country.