How to make an ecobag and unite fashion with sustainability

In some Brazilian cities, a law is in force that prohibits the distribution of plastic bags in supermarkets and other establishments.

In other locations, even without the ban, shopping centers offer a discount for those who take their own bags from home and do not use the plastic bags provided by them.

The reason for this cannot be ignored: plastic is one of the biggest villains for the environment, and bags made from this material take more than 100 years to decompose.

In addition, plastic bags are also one of the main causes of flooding in large cities, as they clog drainage networks and prevent rain from draining.

As a result, the need arose to adopt a new way of taking our purchases home: reusable bags, which were redesigned and became the ecobag fashion icon.

“I am not a plastic bag”: ecobags and celebrities

What makes ecobags different from the good old bags that our mothers and grandmothers took (and still take!) to shop at the fair? Obviously, this difference is in the fashion footprint that this item received, becoming a true fashion accessory.

The arrival of reusable bags to the fashion world took place in 2007 and was the responsibility of the English designer Anya Hindmarch, who was the first to put the expression “I’m not a plastic bag” on a bag. , in English).

Anya Hindmarch’s “green bag” has been adopted by celebrities such as Kate Moss, Keira Knightley, Jessica Biel and Lilly Cole. Soon, new materials, prints and inspirations for the ecobags appeared, which were even seen in the arms of Karl Lagerfield, renowned stylist for the Chanel brand.

In 2009, fashion journalist Lilian Pacce launched the book “Ecobags, Moda e Meio Ambiente”, a compilation of 120 models of ecobags produced with sustainable raw materials, such as cotton, jute, bamboo and recycled plastic. The work includes testimonials from great names in Brazilian fashion, such as Alexandre Herchcovitch, Huis Clos and Juliana Jabour.

Learn how to make your own ecobag

You can find infinite models of ecological bags on the internet or in physical stores, with a huge variety of materials and prints.

However, if you want, it is also possible to make your ecobag at home, guaranteeing an exclusive model of yours. Detail: no need to sew! For this you will need:

• 40 x 60 cm raw cotton (or larger if you prefer)
• 2 nylon straps
• print template
• Scale
• fabric glue
• Scissors
• fabric pen
• Pencil

Follow the step by step to make your own sustainable bag:

1. Measure 2 cm from all edges of the cotton, apply fabric glue, fold and allow to dry to hem

2. With the ruler, mark half of the fabric lengthwise. Apply glue to both edges on one of the halves of the fabric and fold it in half to glue the sides together and form the bag

3. To glue the handles, just apply fabric glue on the ends of the nylon strips and fix them to the bag

4. After the glue is completely dry, turn the bag inside out. This will be the outside of your ecobag

5. Before making the print, put newspaper or cardboard inside the bag to prevent the pen ink from passing to the other side

6. Place the pattern of the print between the newspaper and the fabric of the bag, so that you can see the design through the fabric, and customize your ecobag the way you prefer

If you have any doubts about this process, watch the video with the detailed explanations below:

Ready! Now you have an exclusive ecobag to do your shopping without harming the environment with more and more plastic bags.

Try using different fabrics, prints and sayings and take advantage of this sustainable trend that will remain on the rise for a long time.