I created PagaBags, an ethical eco-fashion brand of handbags and accessories, in partnership with women artisan weavers in September 2013. “Paga” means “woman” in Mooré, the local language of Ouagadougou, Burkina’s capital. Our first material was a combination of cotton woven with threads of recycled plastic. In 2015, when Burkina banned plastic bag, we were thrilled despite the direct impact it w
ould have on our label and our system of production. In the wake, we decided to convert to using 100% cotton for our bags. To safeguard employment, we our plastic cutters were taught how to weave and and our plastic collectors were taught how to make traditional bracelets that we call "Smile Bracelets" ! During this conversion, we undertook research and development in the technique of “Bogolan”. Bogolan is a traditional know-how that uses plants to create dyes that are hand-painted onto cloth. With Bogolan, we not only preserve the environment but we also promote an age-old technique that is being threatened in Burkina with the arrival of chemical dyes (quicker and cheaper)! Since this year (2020), we have also been working with Batik Bio Deco in creating Batik prints on our cloth Faso Danfani and also on light-weight cotton Bazin cloth from Mali. Thanks to funding from the Veolia Foundation I offered a training program to my artisan partners in the use of organic dyes. It was the condition sine quoi non of our collaboration ! I love the amazing Batik prints created with both sponges and wooden stamps plunged into melted wax creating the design. All our materials are carefully designed to create beautiful, sturdy and fun to wear bags and accessories that are sustainably made with respect for people and for the planet. I very much hope you love our collection as we do ! Wear your values !
