Karen Walker has announced its latest collaboration with Fiji’s Rise Beyond the Reef, marking the third year of partnership.

The project has brought together Karen Walker’s chic-meets-utility sensibility with the craftsmanship of women from remote Fijian communities.

Founded in 2014, Rise Beyond the Reef created sustainable pathways for rural Indigenous women and their families, helping bridge the divide between remote communities and the modern market.

Each handmade piece reflects ecological, cultural and social values while supporting climate-smart initiatives and preserving traditional skills.

“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. This collaboration celebrates their skill, creativity and resilience while sharing their work with a global audience,” said Karen Walker.

This year’s collaboration features five handwoven bags and three fan designs, all handcrafted by artisans from two Fijian communities: Cakaudrove Province and Kioa Island.

Each bag is finished with signature Karen Walker Runaway straps, a contemporary detail that carries these traditional pieces from the shores of Fiji to city life. The fans, woven in coordinating natural fibres, highlight the same artistry in its most refined form.

Wamere Wild Vine Baskets (Small and Large), Bucket Bag and Fans 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 are now joining in the harvesting, a shift that supports 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 limits access and makes it costly, yet it preserves a way of life in which 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.

Janet Lotawa, Co-Founder and Director of Rise Beyond the Reef, said that working with Karen Walker has been a meaningful partnership.

“Together, we’re creating opportunity, empowering women and keeping traditional craft alive while connecting it to a global market.”

The new collection will be available from the 18th of November 2025.

https://apparelmagazine.co.nz/blog/rise-beyond-the-reef-fiji-x-kw-celebrate-three-years-of-partnership/