Amman Design Week is collaborating in 2019 with Shantet Sabaya to source and recycle single-use plastic from the Jordanian landscape, as well as work with craftswomen to upcycle it into durable tote bags.
Shantet Sabaya was formed in response to the ever-growing issue of plastic waste in Jordan, with the aim to upcycle it ethically and in a manner that inspires people to reflect on how they too can bring about change in their community. For Amman Design Week 2019, 700 exclusive tote bags were produced, offering further proof that sustainable fashion really is possible.
Through their collaboration with BE Environmental Services, Shantet Sabaya diverts plastic waste from landfills to create unique bags. BE support the project by not only collecting large volumes of plastic suitable for reuse but also picking out colors and patterns they find interesting. Local retailers such as Dadoush and Zahran also gather plastic for the project that is currently an unavoidable by-product of the fashion industry.
Whether at the checkout in the supermarket, sitting in a restaurant or even trying to take a photo of Wadi Rum, you can’t escape single-use plastic. Due to its prevalence and our current reliance on it, Shantet Sabaya tries to raise awareness about the issues surrounding plastic waste. Teaming up with Amal Madanat, the founder of Towards zero waste NGO, Shantet Sabaya held a viewing in Talbieh refugee camp of her environmental and humanitarian documentary “With Myself I Started”, which was featured during Amman Design Week 2017.
The film highlights the issues Jordan is facing and the need to start small, reflecting on how we can all make changes to our lifestyles to reduce single-use plastic consumption. The hope is that as waste is upcycled, these communities can not only benefit economically but also help bring about a societal change where this plastic is slowly phased out in favor of reusable alternatives.
For the partnership with Amman Design Week alone, Shantet Sabaya has upcycled enough plastic bags to cover the entire Temple of Hercules on Amman’s Citadel. While this is still something to be proud of, this is a drop in the ocean compared to Jordan’s current consumption of single-use plastic. As Shantet Sabaya expands, the hope is that their bags are not seen as just another fleeting product for the consumer, but that their aesthetics move people to live a sustainable lifestyle and inspire society to shop in ways that make a difference to our environment and communities.
Shantet Sabaya is supported by the local NGO New Future Association and was sponsored by Bank Al Etihad for the production of bags for Amman Design Week 2019. To learn more about what they do, head over to @shantet_sabaya on Instagram and Facebook.