Banana Panel Pop Up Bag

Artisans use upcycled banana fibers to create woven panels, then add kitenge market fabric to create this bag.  Your bag will arrive to you flat, but when you place the bottom banana panel, POP- the bag comes to life.  The Banana Panel Pop-Up bag is very lightweight but sturdy.  The combination of the natural banana leaf and colorful market fabric is fun and beautiful. 

Fabric patterns are limited edition. Pop-Up Bags have a removable banana panel in the bottom which gives structure to the bag.  When removed, the bags fold flat! This tote does not have pockets or a top closure.

Dimensions: 11.5 x 11.5 x 5"

Care: Wipe with a damp cloth.

Ethically crafted by a person in rural Rwanda.

Azizi Life is a member of the Fair Trade Federation and committed to fair trade principles.

Azizi Life | Fair Trade | Handmade in Rwanda

Azizi Life’s vision is to participate in local initiatives for the development of Rwandan communities, working towards physical and spiritual wholeness for all.

Across the hills of Rwanda, groups of rural artisans are working to bring hope to their families through skillfully handcrafted goods. Azizi Life partners with over 60 independent groups- a total of over 760 artisan partners. Rising from the horrors of genocide, artisans from all backgrounds have joined together once again through their craft. Each artisan cooperative specializes in hand crafting products using specific techniques and raw materials. Azizi Life is honored to partner with these women and men, collaborating to connect makers, designers, and customers around the world.

Azizi Life is committed to paying an agreed-upon fair wage to the artisans as soon as we receive their products. The additional income from the sale of their art allows the craftspeople & their families to afford many things that they struggled to get before:

Medical insurance – improving health

School materials for their children – improving education

Soap and other cleaning products – improving hygiene

A more balanced diet – improving nutrition

Farm animals that multiply for income and provide manure – improving resources, soil quality and crop yield

Financial independence- improving relationships with spouses and neighbors

Having the money available to invest in these kinds of things provides a real sense of security and hope for the future for the artisan and her whole family.

Many of the women with whom we are working have told us how isolated they felt before they joined an art cooperative. Now as they meet with others regularly, they have the opportunity to discuss their problems and provide support for each other. As the ladies sit together to weave or do some other artistic endeavor, they use the time to talk about all manner of things, from best farming practices to child rearing. It is a time when they are able to find mutual support and friendship which previously they did not have time for, as they worked full time in the fields and in their homes.

In one community, this level of closeness is used to even bring reconciliation between the victims and perpetrators of the tragic events of 1994 (the Rwandan Genocide).