Finding new life for old jeans
While many brands are struggling to find new sources of materials, there are still many designers who have
The handbags Nguyen Thi Hong Tham makes and sells aren’t typical handbags – they each have their own history.
Tham, a 30-year-old former accountant, upcycles old denim and transforms them into wonderful bags for all occasions – a process she learned from the internet.
“Women love bags and so do I,” Tham said.
“I also have interest in recycling, so I decided to stop leave my [accounting] job and follow my heart.”
It took Tham eight months to learn how to upcycle old denim into bags, but now her products are a hit on the local market.
Before trying her hand with denim, Tham tried making bags using materials like brocade fabric, silk, and canvas.
It wasn’t until she stumbled across an old denim item in her closet that she decided to see if it would work for upcycling.
“Denim can be found in every household. Everybody has old denim items,” she said.
“That’s why I decided to start making bags out of denim.”
Many of Tham’s first bags were made from old jeans ‘donated’ by her friends and family.
According to Tham, the thickness of denim makes it an easy material to upcycle, while its unique colors and patterns ensure that each bag is distinct.
In each of her designs, Tham tried to make the most out of the old denim she works with. Each of products is handmade and one bag typically requires two pairs of jeans.
Bags at Tham’s shop range from 10 to 28 centimeters in size and fetch from VND300,000 – 1 million (US$13.13 to 43.78) depending on size and design.
She also offers discounts for those who bring their own discarded jeans to her shop for upcycling.
The steps required to make a bag out of an old pair of jeans include collecting the old denim, washing it, classifying the material, cutting the fabric, and sewing the bags.
Upcycling helps solve concerns over what to do with old items, as well as increase the life cycle of products and reduces environmental waste, Tham said.
“I wish to run courses where I can share my experience for those who share the same passion as me.”
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Ngoc Phuong - Dong Nguyen/Tuoi Tre News