A MADE-IN-TONDO BAG BRAND NAMED FINALIST AT PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
This stylish, sturdy, and functional beach bag features beautiful handwoven fabric from Ilocos, with a matching colored inner that is water repellent, plus inner zip pockets, keeping your valuables dry and safe.
Notadaydream, a local bag brand handmade in Tondo by a women’s livelihood initiative, was a finalist in the “Most Socially Responsible Handbag” category of The Independent Handbag Designer Awards 2020.
One of the most prestigious international awards for the handbag industry, The Independent Handbag Designer Awards honors independent designers, and has turned many unknown designers into well-known brands overnight. Its team actively scours the globe to find the next “It Bag” designer.
Notadaydream may just be that next overnight sensation. The awards committee named the iconic beach bag “The Boracay” as a finalist among a field of 1,000 contenders from 28 countries for “The Most Socially Responsible Handbag.”
While Notadaydream’s entry did not win in that category at a virtual awards ceremony held last night in New York City, being selected a finalist was recognition enough.
“We’re so excited and extremely honored to be selected as a finalist in this important category,” says cofounder Martine de Leeuw.
“For us this confirms that we are ready to take our brand to the next level. We truly believe that you can make socially responsible bags that people really want at the same time. We hope to inspire that being socially responsible can be part of any brand.”
‘THE BORACAY’ BAG
The Boracay is the signature bag of Notadaydream, inspired by the iconic island of fine white sandy beaches, Boracay. This stylish, sturdy, and functional beach bag features beautiful handwoven fabric from Ilocos, with a matching colored inner that is water repellent, plus inner zip pockets, keeping your valuables dry and safe. Notadaydream was founded by two expat women, Martine de Leeuw and Sheri Scott-De Leon, as a non-profit initiative to provide employment to women in Tondo, Manila, one of the Philippines’ poorest neighborhoods. “Our bags are all handmade by the women of Tondo,” says Martine. “The fabrics are handwoven from Ilocos, from the northern part of the Philippines. The bag designs are inspired by the colors of the beautiful Philippine islands. Combining these unique fabrics with modern colors and design makes a beautiful, sustainable one-of-a-kind bag. “We are living here in Manila and we chose to give back by applying our expertise of market needs and commercial skills,” adds Sheri. “We create sustainable economic opportunities for our team because we believe we can support each other in realizing dreams. Empowered women empower women.”