Juice couture

Sisters Kelly Boquer-Wintjen and Rica Velasco were attending a family reunion in Manila in January when they discovered a women's cooperative, Kababaihan Iisa Ang Layunin Umunlad Ang Sambayanan Foundation, whose 500 members make a living by fashioning bags and accessories out of discarded juice pouches.

With experience gleaned from having run a successful school uniform company, Campus Creations, for 12 years, Boquer-Wintjen, Velasco and a third sister, Cherie Fikani, didn't think twice about bringing the colorful recycled bags back to Hawaii. Working quickly, they opened an Encore Bags kiosk at Waikele Premium Outlets (next to Geoffrey Beene) in August, and a cart at Ala Moana Center earlier this month, between The Slipper House and Splash! Hawaii.

Eco-conscious sorts will appreciate the fun line of handbags and accessories like belts, coin purses, pencil bags, and more. Prices range from $2.99 for a luggage tag, to $89.99 for a large woven bag. A tote bag measuring about 12-by-10 inches sells for $13.99.

"Most of the styles are multi-functional," said Boquer-Wintjen, adding that because the juice pouches are water-resistant and easy to keep clean, they make the best gifts for friends with kids.

Although empty juice pouches have provided crafty and conservation-minded individuals with plenty of free working materials for years, Fikani said, "We had never seen them before, but after we opened at Waikele, people would say, 'My niece makes that,' or 'I remember making that when I was younger.' "

She said she and her sisters like the idea of being able to help the women's cooperative, which is using money earned from sales to set up an educational fund for its members.

They also like the idea of recycling goods to help preserve the environment by reducing the amount of trash going into landfills.

"We're more aware of doing our part," Fikani said. "Every little bit helps."

Although juice brands featured on the bags and accessories include some recognizable names such as Nestea and Sunkist, one aspect of importing them from the Philippines is that many of the brands are unfamiliar to Hawaii shoppers. The sisters are working on providing the cooperative with juice pouches of American brands. That doesn't mean they plan to drink all the juice themselves.

"We want to start a campaign with local schools to recycle," Fikani said. "We'll probably start next week, with St. Joseph School in Waipahu kicking it off for us."

Call Encore Bags, 941-4196 at Ala Moana Center; 678-8175 at Waikele Premium Outlets.