The Global Bag Project: Types and Quality
To meet her ever on-going need to help the underprivileged and under-resourced, Karen Mains and several friends with the same burden began the Global Bag Project. More better known simply as Africa Bags, this Ministry/Entrepreneurial effort organized a cooperative bag-making project that began in Nairobi, Kenya. Their goal is link that part of the world with us in a pragmatic way. As a result, micro-industries in Kenya, similar to the ones that once dotted the American landscape and supplemented our own economy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, have sprung up, bringing lifeand hope to hundreds of women in Kenya.
The Africa Bags, while totally unique to us, are made from a material long a part of the Kenyan tradition, KANGA. Originating on the coast of East Africa in the mid-19th century, Kanga is a rectangle of pure cotton cloth with a border all around it, printed in bold designs and bright colors. It is as long as your outstretched arm and wide enough to cover you from neck to knee, or from chest to toe.
Kangas are typically bought in pairs and are most attractive and useful as a pair. Most traditional outfits require a matched or unmatched pair. Men, women and children all have uses for Kangas. Babies are virtually born in them and are usually carried in a soft sling of kanga cloth. Three large Africa Bags can be made from one Kanga. The unused scrap fabric is used to make gift bags, patches for aprons and other items sold locally in Nairobi.
Early this century, Swahili words were added to the Kangas. The sayings or slogans are often African proverbs. When our Africa Bags ‘buyer’ shops for Kanga in the textile district in downtown Nairobi, she reviews the proverbs and ensures they are compatible to our mission.
As an art form as well as a beautiful, convenient garment, the Kanga has become an integral part of East African culture. We’d like to believe that the Africa Bags Kanga reusable tote bags will become an integral part of American culture as well!
Not only are the Africa Bags aesthetically pleasing, they are both safe and durable. The news media has been full of stories about the toxicity of reusable shopping bags! It appears that tests have revealed bacteria at the bottom of reusable bags and traces of lead content showing up in some laboratory examinations. Constructed from cotton, one of the most ‘natural’ products available, these are not worries that our Africa Bags buyers have to concern themselves with.
We are also proud of the fact that our bags are washable, sturdy enough to go through your washing machine with no adverse effects. Take out the removable bottom, wipe both sides with a brush and soap and water, wash on a gentle cycle, and then hang to dry. You can press these bags if you want, but Carla Boelkens, GBP Director, who has tested the washability of the bags, refuses to take the time. The kanga-cloth fabrics do just fine!
While the Africa Bags were envisioned as recyclable grocery bags, the ingenuity of our entrepreneurial ladies in Kenya saw other applications as well. Mary Ogalo, the Africa Bags Kenya Project Coordinator, has come up with a new bag design that we are really excited about: Computer Bags! An ideal gift for any student, or anyone who wants to help their fellow man while combing 19th Century Culture with 21st Century technology, the Kanga Computer Bag is a wonderful, artistic!, innovation.
Visit us if you would like to make a charitable donation to the Africa Bags Program to help them ‘sponsor’ entrepreneuring women in Kenya, or just learn more about Africa Bags and other ways you can promote the project.
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