Fashion
Jul 17, 2021
by Nav Gill
MR PORTER’s ‘Small World’ Initiative Champions Local Artisans on a Global Scale
by Nav Gill
Jul 17, 2021

Luxury menswear e-tailer MR PORTER is the latest leading e-commerce platform to set its sights on spotlighting responsibly-made fashion brands. Just last month, it unveiled its Small World initiative; a curated edit of independent brands from all over the world that focus on craftsmanship and a conscious approach to design.

Launching with 33 brands, the Small World labels support artisanal crafts and communities from Bali, Tibet, India, Japan, Portugal, and many more. The chosen brands adhere in some way to MR PORTER’s Craftsmanship Code, in that they feature hand-based heritage crafts, innovative designs, the use of recycled or low-impact materials, or are made locally.

mr porter small world craftsmanship code sustainability brands clothing accessories collections fashion responsibly made conscious design store
MR PORTER

“We are delighted to launch Small World and champion its diverse range of brands, all of which have an incredible story to tell and a distinct craft sensibility to imbue within MR PORTER’s greater offering.

The launch, along with the Craftsmanship Code, is very much in line with our 10th anniversary focuses of discovery, inclusivity, craftsmanship and community, and we aimed to seek out and spotlight distinct product stories from some of our more established global brands through to nurturing smaller artisanal partners that are creating world-class product in time-honored ways.

As our customers remain curious and captivated by the narrative of a brand, and how its products are made, we’re thrilled to be delivering 33 nuanced stories within Small World.”
— Sam Kershaw, Buying Director, MR PORTER

mr porter small world craftsmanship code sustainability brands clothing accessories collections fashion responsibly made conscious design store
MR PORTER

While it’s certainly a step in the right direction, the Small World lineup currently only comprises of 338 products; a minute amount when you consider MR PORTER’s overall product offering. At the time of publishing, MR PORTER’s clothing category alone consists of over 8000 items. Offering both a platform to these independent brands and giving consumers the insight and ability to make more conscious decisions when it comes to shopping is commendable, and we can only hope that the curated Small World edit continues to grow.

Find out more about the MR PORTER Small World collection and its commitment to sustainability at mrporter.com. In related news, why not also get up to speed on Farfetch’s “Positively Conscious” program?