NORTHERN LAOS — High in the isolated mountains of northern Laos lives an ancient tribe called the Khmu. Their culture is being preserved through Khmu women artisans who handcraft what could be considered the Earth’s Greenest Bag. (Photo courtesy of NatureBay.org)
[nggallery id=92 template=carousel images=4][imagebrowser id=92] By Debra Atlas
NORTHERN LAOS — High in the isolated mountains of northern Laos lives an ancient tribe called the Khmu. Their culture is being preserved through Khmu women artisans who handcraft what could be considered the Earth’s Greenest Bag.The Nature Bag is made of fiber of the tropical Kudzu tree. Grown sustainably and prolifically without aid of any farming or tree agriculture, this vine stores carbon dioxide from the air until it’s released into the soil to biodegrade.
The Khmu depend on the surrounding forests for food, medicines and materials to make what they need to survive. Because of their remote location, they have until recently been cut off from much of the technological advancements enjoyed in the rest of the country.
Creating sturdy reusable bags through the Nature Bag Khmu/Lao Poverty Reduction Project helps support the women who make them and the Khmu culture.
The tree fiber for these handsome bags is gathered by hand, the traditional way. The stretchable, multipurpose, unisex totes are compact, lightweight and durable. Beautifully made, their elastic construction allows them to expand or fold up into almost nothing for easy storage. Nature Bags hold all your important items while letting them breathe with its open styled weave.
Sales from these beautiful bags help to improve the quality of life for the villagers, allowing the otherwise impoverished families to more readily afford food, medical and school supplies, and better quality health care.
Reasonably priced, Nature Bags are available at a limited number of retailers and online.
© 2012 SCGH, LLC.
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