On 25 May, the attractive new home of the Tassenmuseum Hendrikje Museum of Bags and Purses, an old building on Herengracht in Amsterdam’s centre, is crowded. The new Green Bags exhibition is in progress.

So far, Alysia from UK and Janneke from the Netherlands have enjoyed the exhibition. Both women own from three to four handbags and are willing to pay up to five hundred Euros for a good bag. Although neither of them carries bags made from recycled materials, recycling is part of their everyday life in one way or another.

Janneke believes in the growth of recycled products on the market, especially when they are attractive. Looks is not the only issue that has some weight here, global questions such as energy consumption and climate change are all raising the questions about sustainable development. So applying this to handbags, fashion items and desired objects of both young and old makes sense.

The real bag lady

“The collection is from my mother,” says Sigrid A. Ivo, director and curator of the Tassenmuseum Hendrikje.  “She collected bags for 35 years. It all started when she was working as an antique dealer. During a visit in England, she saw a very beautiful bag and that made her  begin to collect them.”

Sigrid has worked in the museum for 12 years. “We stayed ten years on the outskirts of Amsterdam in Amstelveen. My parents’ house was big enough to include the museum.”

The family started looking for new location as her parents neared retirement age.

“We talked to local government but it didn’t work out, so we simply put a sign on the door saying that we are looking for a new location. Thanks to the sign we were approached by a wealthy business man who was willing to help,” Sigrid explains.

She makes the story that sound like a rags-to-riches fairytale.  

Since 2007 the museum has been in an old “herenhuis” dating back to 1664. The house has since been renovated with several rooms being restored to the original luxurious style.

Sigrid admits to owning about 60 handbags herself. “As a museum we like to promote designers. So when I promote the bags, I also have to wear them, otherwise it is not believable,” she says. “I find it really interesting that these ‘green bags’ we have here in the museum are not just cheap fashion that comes and goes, but good design that stays.

Recycled products are hip
“The image of recycling has changed a lot from what it used to be some 20 years ago. Designers are working together with companies to develop sustainable products. That also helps to develop the whole industry, so I think it is a good thing in the long run.”

Sigrid sees the future of the recycled products in a positive light. “I have a feeling we are at the beginning of it. There are more possibilities ahead.  The quality gets better and better and today recycled products are hip and fashionable.”  

Not tireless but hopeful

“I have about 25 bags,” says a girl holding a large and interesting-looking black shoulder bag.

It is made from bicycle inner tubes collected in Amsterdam and is a creation of Doreen Westphal. The bag bears the brandname Krejci, Czech for seamstress; the profession of Westphal’s grandmother. Several Krejci designs, which are sold in designer shops in the Netherlands and via the Krejci website, are on display at Green Bags.

“Inner tubes are collected by bicycle repairers, says Fleur, who is also working at Krejci. “This bag is really adaptable, because you can change the size. By folding it you can turn it into a real ladies handbag.”

Making a difference

Fleur is also a firm believer in recycled materials and products. “The future of recycling will be bright because we need sustainable products that are good for environment. I wish people would realize that they can make a difference by their shopping habits.” 

Krecji’s average client is an environmentally-aware, often well-educated city dweller who likes to have original style. “A lot of cyclists are buying our bags because of the material,” Fleur adds.



It seems that Green Bags can compete with mass production as fashion items.

However, designers face several challenges. “Most of the big brands, like Louis Vuitton, are producing leather bags. As long as they keep using leather in their bags, people will want leather-look bags. If you open your eyes to wider horizons, you can find really nice items made out of recycled material.”

The other challenges are keeping up with the ever-changing fashion and reach the big public. “It is challenging to get promoted, because recycled materials still represent a small subculture in the fashion world,” says Fleur

30 May 2008 

[Copyright Expatica 2008]