Merecedes Semaan and Anika Taylor with their products.
SUVA
W hat started as a school project has now turned into a business for teenagers, Anika Taylor, and Mercedes Semaan.
Rag Bags, is a registered business which makes bags out of recycled clothing, materials started this year. The Multiple Intelligence School students recently participated at the Westpac Microfinance expo at the Fiji National Provident Fund Boulevard Plaza.
Ms Semaan said: “Rag Bags was for a school project before it became a business. Our school said why you don’t do this as project?
“These are terms it needs to be a business and it has to be registered.
“We sew the bags ourselves and one other person helps but it’s made from homemade and recycled clothes and materials.”
The price ranges $25 to $60. It depends on the time invested in the sewing and the materials used.
“When people give orders sometimes they bring materials to us new, used or old materials and they say we want this bag. Normally we leave the designs on our website so they can see the styles.”
Rag Bags currently out sources its products to Alladin’s Cave and Leleuvia Island Resort. But the teens hope to partner with other shops to sell their products as well.
“Also we hope to get an online shop to sell our bags all over Fiji possibly other countries but currently we sell mostly in Suva.”
They said one of the challenges they face was balancing time between their school work and business.
Ms Taylor said: “It took us about a month to make the bags but we had a lot of time to prepare for this. We can make about 10 bags a week.
“We have considered getting it Fijian Made certified because it would really be a good idea being a locally made product.
“We also hope that young people like us any young person in Fiji can do the same thing it doesn’t have to bags.”
Feedback: Maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj