Bundu Bags
I do like messenger bags for their practical functionality, given they are usually roomy enough to store a laptop or iPad, and South African based Bundu Bags have a trendy range oozing a retro cool vibe, one that calls to mind Graphic Art, specifically the '60s trends of Op Art and Mod style. Bundu Bags' collections also include beach bags, totes and cute bags for kids. Employing traditional basket weaving techniques, Bundu Bags are made from commercial recycled cargo strapping, upcycling a product that would most likely end up in landfills. The strapping is first cleaned and then woven into the designs and shapes required using colour combinations that include blue, black, red and white. The bags are waterproof and feature an adjustable shoulder strap, magnetic closing and three zippered pockets on the inside. In keeping things local, traditionally printed Shwe Shwe fabric is used to line the interior of the bags, giving a contrasting burst of colour and pattern when opened.

Founded by Colleen Thompson, Bundu Bags was created around the belief that lives can be changed with design, and following this ethos Bundu Bag is a fair trade business, and located just outside Johannesburg, South Africa, works with forty women, who are invested in the success of the business.