Here’s the latest in socially conscious accessories:
Ragbags are fashionable products made from recycled plastic bags collected by ‘ragpickers’ in the slums of New Delhi. Plastic rags are collected, washed, dried and separated by colour. The plastic bags then go into a machine, which presses them into thicker and more durable sheets. No dyes or inks are required. It takes about 60 plastic bags to make one sheet. The sheets are then cut, lined with cloth and stitched or moulded into the various products. [Link]
The collection includes shoulder bags, backpacks, shopping bags, organizers (large and small) and wallets. The shoulder bags come in a variety of different color schemes including “Pakistan” and “India”, neither of which matches either country’s flag.
Most of the stores carrying these goods are in the Netherlands, but Americans can purchase them in Brooklyn and Mendocino, or they can go online. Check the shop locator for an outlet near you.
The website doesn’t elaborate if the proceeds are used to improve the lives of these “ragpickers”? Or are these people not the ones who live in the slums? I think I’ll send an email asking.
Cue up “Handbags and Gladrags“…
Toronto group says Canadian slums rival New Delhi’s Fri Nov 25, 2005 4:36 PM ET
TORONTO (Reuters) – To coincide with the world premiere of the “Lord of the Rings” musical in Toronto in February, a city tenants’ group will crown a “Lord of the Slums.”
The group also wants slumlords to line up for a chance to win the “Golden Cockroach” award, and is eyeing a “Slums Unlimited” safari for tourists.
The campaign by the Parkdale Tenants Association, which represents residents of a down-at-the-heels west end neighborhood, is taking aim at the city of Toronto and the government of Ontario over what it says are sub-standard living conditions for low-income renters.
“When the city and province brag about spending C$3 million on bringing tourists in, we thought we’d use it as an opportunity to show this dirty little secret,” association representative Bart Poesiat said on Friday.
When the “Lord of the Rings” opens, the association will offer a tour of Toronto’s worst slums, which it hopes will shame governments into taking action to improve conditions.
The group will choose a “Lord of the Slums” from those it deems most responsible for “deplorable rental conditions plaguing hundreds of thousands of Torontonians.”
Ontario’s housing minister and Toronto’s mayor are two of the nominees.
“We already had five or six requests to attend the tour from across the world… as far away as Scotland,” Poesiat said, adding his group is trying to “…speak for the people that can’t be heard.”
If Delhi’s slums looked anything like Parkdale I think the Indian government could consider that a major achievement.
We have something in common, recycling. We sell recycled resin jewelry handmade in Brazil to donate money to local charities there to help abandoned street kids with food, shelter and HIV prevention. We are a new and struggling presence on the Web and we need all the support we can get. The charity was founded by the parents of CAZUZA a famous rock singerfrom Rio who unfortunately died of an HIV related disease. Their site is http://www.vivacazuza.org.br.If you’re interested in helping you can donate directly through this sanctioned NGO or you canpurchase jewelry through http://www.artjewelry.biz and we will donate a portion of each purchase directly to them as well.
Sincerely, Todd Wormser Resination
These guys are fantastic. I know. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting them and what they’re doing is admirable, apart from which they are a throughly charming family.
We also try our bit – See http://www.badlani.com/recycle – and invite comments and suggestions from anyone who has any ideas/thoughts to offer.
http://www.badlani.com/bags http://www.badlani.com/blog
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