About Edun

Founded by Ali Hewson & Bono in 2005, EDUN is a global fashion brand bringing about positive change through its trading relationship with Africa and it’s positioning as a creative force in contemporary fashion.

In 2007 EDUN launched its sister line EDUN LIVE, a tee shirt company 100% made in Africa.

In 2009, LVMH bought a significant stake in EDUN. LVMH provides essential support, investment and infrastructure to help the business grow into a global fashion brand and support its vision to grow trade in Africa.

EDUN actively works to increase trade with Africa and is aiming to produce 40% of its seasonal fashion collection in Africa by 2013. EDUN is building long term, sustainable opportunities by supporting manufacturers, infrastructure and community building initiatives.

EDUN is currently working in Kenya, Morocco, Madagascar, Uganda and Tunisia.

DIESEL AND EDUN

In January 2012, EDUN founders Ali Hewson and Bono and Diesel founder Renzo Rosso travelled to East and West Africa to share their love of Africa and tour each other’s programs: Diesel’s Only The Brave Foundation project in Dioro, Mali and EDUN’s Conservation Cotton Initiative (CCI) in Uganda. The experience encouraged them to join forces to further apparel trade and development in Africa and thus Diesel+EDUN was born.

Spring 2013 will see the launch of the 25-piece denim collection inspired by African creativity and co-designed by Diesel+EDUN. Using raw, untreated denim, it is entirely sourced and manufactured in Africa with the finest CCI cotton from Uganda. Special features include Malian textile prints in the lining and embroidery details that reference traditional Zulu weaving patterns.

At its heart, the Diesel+EDUN collaboration is about trade not aid. By sourcing CCI cotton from Uganda and entirely manufacturing the collection in Africa, Diesel+EDUN are bringing business to the continent and highlighting to the fashion world the possibility for sustainable trade and creative opportunity in Africa.

EDUN LIVE

EDUN LIVE has partnered with Hard Rock International on a U2 Signature Series: Edition 30 T-shirt in support of human rights around the globe. Through a partnership between EDUN LIVE and Hard Rock, the limited-edition shirt will be available in stores and online, with 15% of the retail price benefiting Amnesty International in support of the organization’s human rights campaigning efforts worldwide. The “grew to sew” African cotton T-shirts feature an image of an electric guitar with angel wings, emblazoned with the words “JUSTICE,” “HUMANITY” and “EQUALITY.”

The conservation cotton initiative

The Conservation Cotton Initiative Uganda (CCIU) was established in 2009 by EDUN in collaboration with Invisible Children, a non-profit organization that develops social programs principally in North West Uganda. CCIU provides funding, training and enterprise support to cotton farmers to help build sustainable businesses in Northern Uganda, one of the poorest areas of Uganda which is recovering from 25 years of civil war.

Invisible Children’s role is to implement the CCIU social programs, which are savings and loan schemes, adult literacy programs, and building water holes.

TechnoServe, a non-profit specializing in enterprising people in the developing world to build competitive farms, businesses and industries, is overseeing the program.

The program is successfully training local farmers cotton and rotational crop growing, and training business service providers including seed merchants, ox ploughers and spraying entrepreneurs.

Over 5,000 farmers participated in the 2011/2012 program, and over 8,000 farmers have already enrolled in the 2012/2013 season.

Mikono Knits was founded by 2005 in Nairobi, Kenya by Froydis Dybahl Archer. Her vision is to take the traditional African skill of knitwear versed by underprivileged women and create an opportunity for them to earn a sustainable income. As EDUN grows its business with Mikono Knits, they’re able to grow and provide more opportunities for local women in Kenya.

Mikono, which is Swahili for “hands,” currently consists of ten women, all of whom hand-knit and are gradually being trained in machine knitting. Every piece they create is beautifully crafted to high quality standards. Mikono also ensures minimum harm to the environment, using locally sourced organic cotton and wool, which also creates economic opportunity for local farmers and spinners.

You can learn more about each woman who made your individual garment and see their progress evolve on Mikonoknits.com

Browse all garments Made In Africa

EDUN is currently working in Kenya, Morocco, Madagascar, Uganda and Tunisia.