“Thinking of getting a new bag? Make it eco-ethical and stylish at the same time!”

Written by Bettina Francisco
March 23, 2023

Retaso’s Peñablaca Collection. Photo grabbed from Retaso’s Instagram account.

Nothing is more fast-paced than fashion. New and existing clothing brands are slowly making the shift to entering a more sustainable atmosphere. But aside from clothing, considering the use of sustainable accessories is just as important. We suggest starting with bags because they have the power to convert you to wiser fashion choices. Once you’ve found yourself an eco-friendly bag that you’d love to carry around, the rest of your closet may gladly follow.

When choosing sustainable pieces, doesn’t mean that your style will have to suffer. Look closely because many local fashion brands have been stepping up their game in producing pieces that are worth the attention and praise while still being eco-conscious.

Before we hop on to the rest of the article, remember that a sustainable brand should not only help the environment but also provide their workers fair labor practices. As consumers, we should be responsible for making smart purchases by getting to know the brand and its initiatives. To get you started with your next bag, below is a list of 7 local and sustainable bag brands that have our stamp of approval.

Halohalo

First on the list is the coveted, Halohalo. Known for their own take of weaving by championing recycled plastic and turning them into riveting designs. They’re composed of geometrical patterns and floral motifs with colors that are easy on the eyes. Its founder, Cara Sumabat-Limjap first started Halohalo as an experiment. She was fascinated with the raw materials, and she wanted to see the capabilities of turning plastic into handbags and lifestyle pieces. Since then, Halohalo has become a continuing buzz that everyone had their eyes on.

If their bags have always been on your radar, then you’ll understand how incredibly difficult it is to score their pieces. Halohalo bags are carefully made and only a meaningful number of products are released. Their bag section is constantly sold out on their website, which has resulted in individuals reselling them on a buy & sell platform. Their prices would sometimes lead to an additional 80% of the original price no matter if it’s brand new or not. Well, who can blame them? Halohalo has become the “it” bag for ladies especially the ones who adore linen fits and those who frequent the beach. But don’t let this hinder you from scoring a bag. Make sure to be updated on their messaging platforms such as Telegram and Viber because that’s when they announce their drops and pop-up shops.

O’el Designs

If you are on the hunt for statement bags that will look refreshing in your bag collection, look no further because O’el Designs carry handbags that will get you never-ending compliments. Mixing pastel colors with unconventional linear shapes and patterns, this artisanal brand recycles old car leather seats into pieces that could easily give approval to a simple outfit.

Spearheaded by its founder, Paula Noelle Llave admitted during an interview that she was once a frustrated architect. When she was given the opportunity to learn Fashion Design and Merchandising back in 2009, she knew she wanted to mend both fashion and architecture into her pieces which is very evident in O’el Designs. The playful arrangement of shapes and hues turns it into a whole art piece that you’ll always mesmerize upon.

Retaso

Just by its name, Retaso prides itself in being a social enterprise whose initiative is to reduce the existence of plastic and textile waste in the country. Their mode of action is by upcycling fabric scraps into cheery totes which is evident through their fun patchwork layout.

Founded by a sister duo Tasha and Bella Tanjutco, and later handled by Hannah Garcia and Natasha Soriano. They envisioned Retaso to be an “everyday” bag– spacious, durable, yet still an eye candy. But first, they needed to prioritize making their handbags into a sustainable carry-on. Through their design concept, they were able to merge 72 pieces of plastic and 1.78 yards of textile waste in creating a single tote which is such an impressive move! Not only do they please customers, but they also empower their local seamstresses.

Circulation is also highly recommended by the brand. If you no longer feel like bringing your Retaso bag around (whether they’re broken or not), clients can always return their totes to them for another upcycling session instead of throwing it away.

Inné Studios

Solihiya has a charm that can make one feel at home because of its native display. Seen as a main design in most of their pieces (with some others made with abaca or raffia), Inné Studios is known to blend it with modern touches that will make you feel at ease and confident when carrying their handbags.

The brand claims that no two items are exactly alike because their purpose is to re-introduce traditional techniques which are meticulously handmade by small communities to allow continuous appreciation for Filipino craftsmanship. Along with this, they are committed to sourcing natural and sustainable materials from production all the way to packaging. Inné Studios may have loyal customers, but they make sure to only produce in small yet favorable quantities to avoid overstocking. If there is a piece you wish to cop, you can always request a restock on their website.

Zarah Juan

Filipina designer and brand, Zarah Juan is best known for her quirky brand identity which consists of inanimate objects, Filipino culture, and sprinkles of festive pom poms. Her designs are the kind that will always initiate a conversation and attract fascinated glances from strangers. Flaunting a Zarah Juan Bag is effortless because it creates an instant focal point to every outfit.

Aside from being an environmentally sustainable brand, Zarah also wanted to maintain a sustainable livelihood for her artisans. She is supporting a large number of communities across the country. In turn, they deliver bags of excellent craftsmanship which are made out of rattan, carved wood, or wicker, and woven straps.

Before establishing her brand, Zarah first started by creating her own versions of eco-bags to help the environment, which slowly but successfully garnered traction locally and internationally. To get an idea of how eye-catching her eco bags were, we advise you to keep an eye out for future collaborations. Zarah has worked with Rockwell and SM in the past by designing them the most beautiful and colorful eco-tote bags. We are certain that she’ll have more to come!

Rags 2 Riches

From fabric scraps to a medley of colorful hand-woven handbags, Rags 2 Riches work like magic in seeing the beauty of what could’ve just been lowly rags. After collecting deadstock fabric from big businesses, they put their own twist by creating their own version of a checkered weave as its signature pattern for most of their pieces. Aside from their signature weave, they’ve also branched out in incorporating various indigenous textiles into their designs, such as T’nalak and Binakol to name a few.

The vision of Rags 2 Riches started when its co-founder, Reese Fernandez-Ruiz would visit the slums of Payatas to teach. Exposed to their hardship, she found potential in the women who would scour for cloth to weave rags for income. After learning that middlemen are always involved in haggling their rags, these women were left with only 20 cents a day for their work. Reese knew that she had to do something, and this birthed Rags 2 Riches. It was one of the first social enterprises in the country, and we’re glad that it’s still as sincere as it was before.

Rags 2 Riches have not only helped the Payatas community, but they are always willing to provide opportunities to those who need it. Since then, the brand has reached out to eight urban communities that are now part of this empowering brand.

Krpa

Another native brand on the list is sustainable brand, Krpa which utilizes woven dried pandan leaves or what we call “banig'' into handbags with accent colors and balanced proportions. These are the type of bags that are perfect for women who find comfort in resort wear. They’re lightweight, breathable, and easy to pair with anything!

Always fond of bags, its founder Karen Maximo-Fernando is an interior designer who also wanted to venture in bag construction which she did by studying a short course in SoFA Design Institute. Soon after, she realized that aside from flooring, the banig is commonly used as home accessories for an ambiance that would give off a tropical vibe. She saw this as an opportunity and wondered, “why not use it as a modern, versatile, and everyday bag?” Karen said during an interview. With her knowledge in interior design, she was able to properly assemble proportions, and easily mix and match colors and textures because of the simplicity of the main material.

7 Sustainable Bag Brands That Are Proudly Local