Financial Times

Unique businesses
An environmentally-friendly entrepreneur
Rinzi Rafai Deen, a resident of Moratuwa, has been making jute bags for almost 18 months. She makes an average of five bags a day. The jute is bought from Pettah and with the help of an employee she makes the bags by hand. The products vary from lunch bags, bread bags, gift bags to bags for everyday use. They are either embroidered or appliquéd or hand painted. The price for a medium sized bag is Rs 100.

Deen is currently working on some new designs to supply to some tourist shops in Negombo. The designs are mostly for beach bags and gift bags. She says that it is mostly foreigners more than locals who buy these bags. These bags are eco-friendly and reusable and people should use them instead of opting for plastic bags, said Deen.

She began making bags from jute as they are eco friendly and are even used abroad for fashion. She currently supplies to Hameeds, a shop in Pettah. She initially made these bags at the request of friends and family but is now looking to expand to more shops.

She has supplied her handmade items to various trade fairs and stalls previously. She also makes notebooks and stationary items made out of recycled paper.

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