Washable paperbag that feels like leather, possible

MANILA, Philippines - Did you know that the fashion industry is one of the large polluters in the world? 

It produces so much waste and consumes so much raw materials that are deemed valuable to support life. To make a single shirt and a pair of pants, thousands of different chemicals and at least 20,000 liters of water are consumed, and for what? Just so you can throw away that shirt and jeans once it goes off the "trend."

The fashion industry loves to tell you which should be in and which should be out. But what they won't tell is whether it is harmful to the environment. It's time we patronize sustainable fashion or better, a sustainable lifestyle, starting with your accessories and home wares.

Washable paper - sounds like an oxymoron, right? But it does exist and it’s now conveniently available in the Philippines. Thanks to Uashmama.

“Some of the trends that we see, particularly on the paper bags for the past two years are already here…We have a lot of moms and homemakers that would love the lifestyle. And then, for the bags, the Philippines is a promising retail destination, growing middle class, and we have the trendy millenials who are all up to date. Anything that they wear and they do is published online, so that’s a good target market for us,” Fiddy Ganzon-Ofrecio, Uashmama partner, said at the media launch held on June 23 at Single Origin, BGC when asked about how confident they are about shipping the brand to the Philippines.

Imagine having a placemat, lampshade, towels, blankets and handbags that is 100 percent made from materials that do not pose harm to the environment - the world would be a better place for us and the future generations to come.

Conventional cotton that most brands use to create their products leave big environmental footprints - from the pesticides used in growing cotton and the toxic dyes to get the perfect color.

On the other hand, Uashmama products are made using a virgin cellulose fiber from the plants of Italy. Cellulose is a carbohydrate and the chief component in the walls of plants.

Ecofriendly plant pot

Now, you might think getting the cellulose fiber out of the plants may cause decline, but it does not. The washable paper is made using cellulose fiber propagated from cultivation and not deforestation.

Moreover, instead of using chemicals to dye the washable paper, the brand uses vegetable dye to color the fiber and mimosa vegetable extract for tanning the leather components as opposed to chrome tanning. Equally admirable is their support to their community as they also wholeheartedly promote local artisans and provide decent employment in the town of Montecatini.

Ecofriendly kitcheware

Aside from being eco-friendly, the bag is durable meaning it is meant to support a greater amount of weight. Although it is not waterproof, the quality materials are meant to last from summer to the rainy season. To keep it clean and maintain its quality, it is advisable to unroll and handwash it using a mild soap or detergent and warm water.

Lastly, the items are fashionable and they all feel like leather. They can be used for anything and everything” and “looks great anywhere."

Eco-friendly bags

Uashmama products are available online through www.uash-it.com.