Over the last 1-2 years, we’ve talked to plenty of people about what we do. Not a lot, but plenty. I personally find it difficult to explain to people what EXACTLY we are doing. At one point when we mentioned that we make ‘recycled bags’, people got stuck with the assumption that we make those mass produced non-woven advertising-purpose bags that, well, are not really ‘recycled’. They are ‘recycling’ ‘reusable’ bags. Not ‘recycled’ bags. As far as I understand, most, if not all of them, are not made of used materials – oh and in fact, a lot of the suppliers that I’ve met can’t even explain to me what is ‘non-woven’.
And then there were also times when we told people that we make and sell handmade, they gave us the look of oh you make key chains and small little souvenirs? Well I guess my point is, it’s very difficult to continue the conversation if the other party’s perception is, well, far away from what you really do. Or maybe it’s just me. Me, being lazy to explain and all.
Lately I’ve settled myself into telling people that I’m a designer. And since a designer can be ‘designing’ anything, I stand a chance to tell people what I really do.
I design and make cool bags and accessories using that billboard banners that you see along the roadside.
Urm, what? You mean those things hanging out there with advertisement on them?
Yes. That’s what I was saying. I make cool bags and accessories using that.
You must be kidding me!
And now we can continue with the conversation.
Most people are keen to learn about what we do in details. We often share our stories and our beliefs – you know, things like why we do what we do. Every now and then, when we share about how some banners are not up to our standard to be made into a product, or how some retailers or printers would rather have the banners going to the landfill instead of letting us giving them new lives, or how dirty used banners are (every one of them must have either dust or bird s**t on them, or both, or more!), some will ask:
Why don’t you print your own banners? That way you can design the pattern as you like, and since they are new, they are not dirty!
I really appreciate that you have asked. If I didn’t reply you in a clear manner before, I hope this time around I can explain better. Yes, of course we can do that. In fact, we can buy and use new vinyls or tarps in many fun and stunning colours for our creations. Not only it’s easier to work with, we can basically decide the design we want. But the beauty of each and every one of our creation is its uniqueness. About 99% of the time, there is no second one alike, because we strive to do the dirty job finding the treasures otherwise buried in underworld. And when the dirty job is done, not only you are getting a cool handmade, you have also contributed to reducing the wastes that will affect the earth your children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren will be living on.
Maybe one day, we can also say that we put our tiny little effort into preserving the earth for the next generations.
Hmmpphh… that’s kinda shameless. :P
