RIYADH: In today’s world of fast fashion, there is a growing concern about the amount of waste generated by the industry. However, Saudi-based 23-year-olds Kendah Jambi and Zainab Abumansour took it on themselves to upcycle excess fabrics into eco-friendly handbags. By embracing the concept of upcycling, the duo breathe new life into discarded fabrics, allowing them to tell a different story. Saudi fashion designers upcycle excess fabric into unique tote handbags with a personalized touch. (Supplied) Jambi told Arab News that during college, they noticed the huge amount of unused excess fabric left behind at the end of the day. “That is when we decided to upcycle those pieces and create something new, a Saudi-based brand that sets the standards for sustainable fashion.” Jambi and Abumansour called their brand Triad, which offers unisex handmade tote bags with customizable chains and accessories. They named it Triad to describe the three-way color scheme they choose for every collection, and because they release their fashion products in threes. FAST FACT Kendah Jambi and Zainab Abumansour say they were inspired by the Saudi Fashion Commission’s efforts to promote sustainability in the industry. Abumansour said: “As we are both people who carry handbags, we always needed a go-to bag that was sustainable and could handle heavy and everyday use while still keeping its shape and remaining elegant.” “We came up with these totes because we wanted an eye-catching statement piece that is personalized to each individual. We couldn’t find that in the market, especially not by local Saudi brands,” Jambi said. Saudi fashion designers upcycle excess fabric into unique tote handbags with a personalized touch. (Supplied) Jambi and Abumansour are close friends who are both pursuing a fashion design degree at the University of Jeddah, and knew that they wanted to become business partners in the future. They have used their expertise gained from working in local fashion manufacturing and haute couture houses to eliminate the wastefulness of the industry while still producing beautiful and fashionable products. Each handbag is a work of art. The intricate details and blend of colors make them stand out from the mass-produced accessories often found in stores. Jambi and Abumansour’s commitment to quality is evident in every stitch. Abumansour said: “As any fashion designer would, we started sketching the design and cut-type of the bag, the straps and the charms. We then selected multiple possible fabrics that would be suitable for such daily use and that could hold the shape the design demanded.” Jambi said: “We like to think of our creations as re-enhanced versions of your everyday tote bag; they share the same concept and size but differ in execution. Our Triad bags remain sleek in design but mainly hold a personal touch for each client.” Jambi and Abumansour said that in light of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, they were inspired by the Saudi Fashion Commission’s efforts to promote sustainability in the industry. Their tote handbags are currently sold at MC.CMTY pop-up events in Jeddah and through their Instagram page Triad.sa. Abumansour said: “Twenty percent of water pollution is caused by fabrics, and we believe it’s our duty toward our beautiful planet to promote such concepts, and we definitely find it to be a fun challenge that will rekindle creativity within our local designers.” Jambi said that there were no limits to creativity as the concept of sustainability motivates designers to think outside of the box. “Creativity knows no bounds, even when it comes to using leftover fabrics. Instead of letting these fabrics go to waste, we carefully select each piece and transform it into a one-of-a-kind handbag.” What sets Jambi and Abumansour apart from other designers is their determination to minimize waste throughout the production process. “Our advice is to be fearless and bold, to try new things, and seize every opportunity to keep our home, our planet, from withering away because of the human ecological footprint.”