Plastic waste & beautiful bags.

DIFFERENCE PLASTIC WASTE &

Beautiful

Bags

By Anthea Campbell

There are many wonderful stories behind brands and companies. Tessa O'Halloran's journey to creating creating beautiful bags from upcycled plastic waste is fascinating and inspirational.

EBL: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.

TESSA: I am Tessa O'Halloran, and currently live in Graaff-Reinet. I was born in Pietermaritzburg in KZN and have lived in Gaborone, Botswana as well as in Cape Town. I'm 23 years old, a small business and sustainability enthusiast, and the founder of plasticity.

EBL: What made you start your business, was it a light bulb moment or did you see a gap in the market place?

TESSA: I was curious to see if I could create useful things from the abundance of plastic waste I saw polluting the environment around me. It was an experiment to begin with, which led to simple handstitched products, and the intrigue around working with waste materials only grew. It was a lightbulb moment from our first pencil case sewn from the plastic material I had created which sparked the journey, to where we are today. I also saw a gap in the market for handmade and unique products made from plastic waste. Our products are different because the material is completely fused and designed by hand.

EBL: There's a story behind the material you use to make your beautiful bags?

TESSA: Yes! There is a story behind our material. The upcycled plastic we use for each product is fused and created completely by hand, which gives them all unique variations and ensures a handmade touch. We manipulate the colour and texture of a variety of plastics to create a wide range of designs. We fuse layers of plastic together to create a stronger, upcycled material which becomes the final product. I collaborate with my mom to navigate the sewing technicalities of our products, and we're always finding new tips and tricks to improve the way we assemble our products.

EBL: Did you research your 'idea / concept' extensively?

TESSA: I have been working with plastic waste for over three years now, but I still learn something new daily! Each type of plastic has different fusing points resulting in different thicknesses and textures. It was more of an experimental process which led to knowing more about the concept than extensive research.

EBL: I am sure you have found this to be an interesting journey, with learning curves and triumphs. What have you learnt?

TESSA: I am learning new things every day about running a business, managing logistics, designing products, and reviewing and improving our processes, learning how to market and drive sales. I have learnt that there are natural ebbs and flows in business, and patience is one of the keys to managing expectations. I have learnt that it is important for me to stay true to my values with regards to sustainability and doing business better, creating products in a responsible way. This year has been particularly interesting, with the most amount of curve balls thrown at small businesses, which has made for interesting decision making, adjusting expectations overall and newfound gratitude for my creative space.

EBL: What is your number one triumph?

TESSA: My number one triumph so far has been to create a small business where I can bring my creativity to work! I also love that I am transforming plastic waste into products that have unique value, are handmade, and are contributing to the South African circular economy. Waste materials are a resource I hope more designers will explore.

EBL: Did you go on a specialised course to learn a new skill?

TESSA: No, I've learnt all that I know through trial and error. You can learn a lot through spending hours making and experimenting!

EBL: Do you use local people to make your bags?

TESSA: Yes. I work with my mom and our small team, which consists of people who live locally in Graaff-Reinet.

EBL: Is everything locally sourced?

TESSA: Most of the discarded plastic we use is locally sourced, although we do receive donations of plastic from people all over South Africa.

The hemp we use is sourced from Hemporium, which is a Cape Town based outlet for hemp fabrics and although the fabrics are imported from China, choosing to buy hemp supports the overall industry. We have chosen hemp for its environmentally beneficial properties. It's cultivated without pesticides, uses a lot less water than the cultivation of cotton, and is one of the strongest natural fibres available to us, supporting the hemp industry will strengthen it and by creating a larger market and highlighting the demand for hemp related products. I hope that by creating with hemp will encourage the growth of a local hemp movement.

EBL:What does your range consist of?

TESSA: From small hybrid drawstring bags, to unique cross-body bags and a new range of upcycled shopper/ beach bags, our product range consists of durable and ethically made home décor and lifestyle accessories. Coin pouches, make-up pouches, pencil cases, organizers, planters…

EBL: What is your biggest seller?

TESSA: Our biggest seller overall to date has been our hybrid drawstring bag which was launched during lockdown. We have also created and sold many pouches of all sizes. Another popular product is our planter.

EBL: Can customers place a bespoke order?

TESSA: Absolutely – we are happy to customise our products to suit a client's request. Clients can also send us specific plastic if they would like to have upcycled into a bespoke product.

EBL: Where can customer's buy your products?

TESSA: We have an online store www.plasticity.co.za and clients are welcome to email me directly or send me a message on Instagram for more info.