Femke Halsema (Green Party) will open the Bag Museum’s new exhibition, Green bags: brand new and used materials on Sunday May 25, 2008.

Bag designers are taking environmental concerns ever more seriously. The Green Bags exhibition puts this growing interest in context. A number of designers are now making the environment central in their designs, choice of material and method of manufacture.

Re-using materials is not something new, and the exhibition demonstrates that the practice of re-using materials was also applied in the past. Periods
of scarcity, for instance during wars, are a challenge to be creative in the use of materials. But the re-use of materials in fashion can also be a response to our present consumerist behaviour in a disposable society.

Many unique bags made from existing, recycled and sustainable materials are available today. They are calculated to appeal to consumers who are fashion-conscious, but also concerned about the environment, and who want to make a statement. Existing materials bags can be made from many  different existing materials: an endless variety of these ‘readymade’ bags are available. The following examples are included in the collection: brush and pan by Henk Stallinga, the shirt bag by Uli Rapp, the fur coat bag by Georgette Koning and the cap bags by Frieda Badoux.

Recyclable materials
Recycling is a response to waste and overproduction. The brothers Freitag are pioneers in the use of recycable materials to make bags. The Swiss brothers set a trend in 1993 through their use of a colourful used truck canvas.

Paula Pontes is another bag designer who has resisted waste in fashion and the fashion industry through her use of recycled materials. Her bags are
made of such recycled materials as bicycle and car tyres, billboards and old cloth, among others.

Some designers go a step further and use materials taken from garbage, such as empty chip packets and sweet wrappers. Labour intensive techniques such as crochet, weaving and screen printing give the bags a contemporary appearance. Throw-away materials become design.

Sustainable materials
The exhibition includes bags that are made of sustainable materials, out of respect for people and the environment. These bags are made of recycled, natural materials, or they are made in a way that takes responsibility for the environment seriously. The design of the bags is combined with traditional materials and hand-work. The social and economic aspects of sustainability are also supported through the manufacture of bags in developing countries or through fair trade agreements.

Address and opening hours
Museum of Bags and Purses
Herengracht 573
1017 CD Amsterdam
Tel: 020-5246452
E-mail: info@tassenmuseum.nll
www.tassenmuseum.nll

The museum is open daily from 10.00-17.00.
The museum is closed on 1/1, 30/4 and 25/12.