Buganbag Transforms Bougainvillea Waste Into Biobased Leather
Buganbag is a handbag made with an experimental biobased leather from bougainvillea flowers. Industrial design students Daniel Enrique Terán Quintero and Cristian Enrique Julio Rojas from Institución Universitaria Bellas Artes y Ciencias de Bolívar (UNIBAC) in Colombia created the project. Their design shows how local organic waste can become a useful material for fashion accessories.
The designers describe the floral material as durable, flexible and biodegradable. Its leather-like look and feel make it suitable for handbags, wallets and other small accessories. Therefore, it could offer a plant-based alternative to conventional leather. The project also encourages fashion and product designers to explore waste as a source of new materials.
Combining Circular Design With Local Craft
Buganbag gives discarded bougainvillea flowers a second use. Instead of treating the flowers as waste, the designers turn them into a higher-value product. In this way, the project supports a more circular approach to material use.
The team also focuses on local production and works with regional artisans. As a result, the project connects new material research with existing craft skills. This approach could support local makers and shorten supply chains. At the same time, the finished bag tells a clear story about its origin.
From Floral Waste To Fashion Accessory
The Green Concept Award named Buganbag an Editor’s Choice Winner. Its jury praised the practical and poetic use of bougainvillea waste. In particular, the jury valued the project’s local production and its work with artisans.
Buganbag offers an example of waste-led design. It shows how designers can use regional plant matter to rethink familiar products. In addition, it highlights the potential of bio-based materials for lower-impact fashion accessories.
Source & photos: Green Concept Award / Green Product Award