Trashion: Environmentalism done right

Have you ever seen the zany purses, bags and pencil cases made out of Indonesian washing detergent and instant noodle packets and wondered where they came from? Wonder no more. They’re the brainchild of Julia Genatossio and her company, Monsoon Vermont (www.themonsoongroup.com), in 2005. Part of Trashion, trash mixed with fashion, the products provides income for some of the poorest of the poor in Jakarta.

The products are made from non-recyclable plastic collected by scavengers from the streets, landfills, and waterways of Jakarta, Indonesia. The trash is thoroughly washed and patchworked into messenger bags, wallets, umbrellas, computer bags, backpacks, shower curtains, wastebaskets, travel wallets, and more. Today, Monsoon Vermont works with production manager Aswan Aditya in Jakarta, who buys the garbage from the scavengers and employs tailors from the factories of overseas labels which have pulled out of Indonesia to create the amazing products in the Plastic Works workshop.

Mila Shwaiko