As our minds drift to lazy days at the beach, so too, we ponder the need for a roomy carry-all to fit towels, sunscreen and a drink bottle.
The perfect solution arrives in a timely manner thanks to Karen Walker’s latest collaboration with Fiji non-profit organisation Rise Beyond The Reef.
This year there are five handwoven bags and three fan designs, all handcrafted by artisans from two Fijian communities: Cakaudrove Province and Kioa Island.
The woven pieces are finished with Walker’s signature ‘Runaway’ logo trims in a desirable blend of tradition and modern design.
The work is created in partnership with Fiji’s Rise Beyond the Reef, founded in 2014 to establish sustainable pathways for rural Indigenous women and their families. The idea is to support their traditional skills and provide opportunities to bring their talents to the modern market. This is the third year the Kiwi designer has worked with Rise Beyond the Reef’s creators.
“Fiji holds a deep connection for me and my family, and it’s a privilege to continue working with the artisans of Rise Beyond the Reef,” says Walker. “This collaboration celebrates their skill, creativity and resilience while sharing their work with a global audience.”
Janet Lotawa, Co-Founder and Director of Rise Beyond the Reef, says working with Karen Walker continues to be a meaningful partnership. “Together, we’re creating opportunity, empowering women and keeping traditional craft alive.””
Wamere Wild Vine Baskets
In Cakaudrove Province on Fiji’s second-largest island, more than 50 women weave baskets and fans from the wild wamere vine, a technique first introduced to their village generations ago.
The vine is harvested deep in the forest, one strand at a time, then peeled and split entirely by hand. As demand for woven goods grows, men now join in the harvesting, a shift that supports the weavers and creates a more balanced share of work at home.
Round Basket Totes (Small and Large)
On Kioa Island, part of Fiji’s northern region, artisans work with sasa (coconut palm spine) and pandanus, harvesting, preparing and weaving each piece by hand. The island’s isolation makes access limited and costly, yet it preserves a way of life where knowledge and technique are passed from one generation to the next.
The finished weavings are sent to Sabeto Valley, where the Rise Beyond the Reef Studio Collection team completes the leather finishing and assembly. This final stage provides job training and employment for youth from partner communities before the completed designs are sent to New Zealand.
The new collection will be available from 18 November 2025 in Karen Walker stores and online.