Profession / role:

UK Distributor

Company / organisation:

Smateria UK

Website (if you have one):

www.smateria.com

My primary role in relation to fashion is:

Supplier

I am looking to discover or buy

buyers / retailers

About me / About business or organisation:

Handmade bags using sustainable materials. Smateria offers an impressive range of quality and beautifully designed bags, accessories and decorative items that are made from re-purposed materials such as construction/fishing nets and recycled materials such as plastic and motorbike seat covers.

They are colourful, practical but also fashionable and on trend. They are manufactured to an extremely high standard, ensuring durability and practicality. The combination of European design and traditional Asian weaving techniques ensure that products are a perfect combination of East and West.

Career history / Company history:

The Smateria brand is the brainchild of 2 Italian ladies, who took their inspiration from the streets and markets of Cambodia. These creative designers decided to turn apparently 'useless' materials into desirable objects. Smateria are now able to offer a range of beautifully designed bags.

All of the Smateria's products are handmade by Cambodian craftsmen and women, who are employed in line with fair-trade principles. Smateria have also setup a pre-school and day care centre for their employees' children so that workers are not restricted by domestic pressures. It also allows the children to learn basic english, an essential step in their development. The company are committed to contributing to their local community in Phnom Penh.

Smateria products are now available in 10 different countries.