Brazilian media: From fertilizer bags to fashion bags, woven bags are creating a craze in China

In China, Woven Bags have long been standard equipment for hikers and campers. They are durable and inexpensive and are often used to carry pots, stoves and other gear on alpine expeditions. When they break, they become makeshift trash cans at camp.

Over time, what started as a rustic solution for outdoor living ended up making its way into large urban centers. Nowadays, in big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, these agricultural bags have been given a new meaning: they have become handmade backpacks, cross-body bags, shopping bags, and even sports accessories, such as magnesium powder bags for indoor rock climbing. This transformation illustrates how an object of rural origin can become a dual symbol - on the one hand, it represents a culture of adventure and contact with nature; on the other hand, it embodies a modern urban aesthetic with irony and authenticity.

With its popularity, Woven Bags are no longer just a practical item in rural areas. Today, it has taken on new niches: appearing on the catwalk at fashion shows, at music festivals, in popular videos on Little Red Book, and even in popular TV series. Internet bloggers have turned this item into creative content, showing people how to cut, sew and transform Woven Bags into dresses, crop tops, stylish backpacks and other handmade accessories. This “do-it-yourself” (DIY) quality further enhances its appeal among urban young people.

The phenomenon of plastic Woven Bags becoming fashionable in China is more than just a global meme. It opens up space for a wider discussion about the circular economy in fashion, showing how even the most mundane objects can gain new meaning and added value when repurposed through creativity. (Author Yara Vidal, translated by Xiao Pan)