AsiaLIFE

Buying the perfect accessory does not have to damage the envisronment. Nora Lindstrom takes a look at three shops that use either recycled or reused material.

Bloom
Stall 808, Russian Market,
Old Market area, Siem Reap
www.bloomcambodia.com Social enterprise Bloom makes a wide range of hip bags and purses using used rice and fish feed bags. A new range, soon available in both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, are bags made from used banners. The banners are bought from men and women collecting and selling recyclable goods in the streets. Unlike many other shops selling products made out of fish feed and rice bags, Bloom also stocks bags with Khmer writing on them.

Banner student bag, US$20
Messenger bag, US$16
Doctor’s bag, US$19
Toiletries bag, US$11


Friends ‘N’ Stuff
Friends ‘N’ Stuff 215 Street 13, Tel: 023 426 748
http://mithsamlanh.org/CONTENT/BUSINESS/stuff.html

Trendy bags made using recycled materials at Friends ‘N’ Stuff shop come in a large variety of sizes and styles. Produced at home by individuals supported by Friends International from materials readily available to them in their home, such as food packaging, some materials are also provided by the organisation, which receives donations of used paper and newspaper.

Comics bag, US$13
Khmer shopping bag, US$7.50
Handbag made from recycled packaging, US$8.50
Friends ‘N’ Stuff bag, US$14.50

 

Smateria
Smateria, 8 Street 57, Tel: 012 647 061
www.smateria.com

Smateria’s bags are made using plastic bags, tetrapaks and animals’ mosquito netting. Drop off used plastic bags and tetrapaks at the company’s shop on Street 57. From there, the materials are taken to the workshop to be washed, dried and eventually made into fabulous bags and purses. Bought from local markets, the mosquito netting is used to make sturdy and funky bags.

Recycled tetrapak school bag for girls, US$23
School bag with happy face, US$25
Black recycled plastic bag bag, US$31
Hook bag, US$18

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