By Jasmin Malik Chua, Source: Ecouterre

Photo © Karen Walker

Rason, Maasai beader. Photo © Karen Walker

For many of us, sunglasses aren’t just a way to deflect glare; they can often serve as a form of camouflage, a way to stay incognito, even invisible. New Zealand designer Karen Walker decided to counter that canard, however, by using her shades to draw, rather than, divert attention. For “Visible,” the campaign lensman Derek Henderson shot for her Spring 2013 collection, Walker didn’t just employ the talents of artisans in Kenya, she had them model the looks, too. Partnering with the United Nations–endorsed Ethical Fashion Initiative, whose motto “Not Charity, Just Work” seeks to promote sustainable development over aid, Walker tasked the African nation’s finest micro-producers, designers, and craftspeople to produce the screen-printed pouches that will accompany every Karen Walker eyewear purchase from the collection.

Florence, artist. Photo © Karen Walker

Florence, artist. Photo © Karen Walker

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But Walker kicked it up a notch, turning the camera on the machinists, cutters, tailors, production managers, and metal workers involved in the collection, as well as the Maasai crafters behind some of the more intricate beadwork seen on the pouches.

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