Nguyen Thi Hong Tham, born in 1992 in HCM City, was once an accountant with a steady income. In July 2020, she decided to quit her job she had held for seven years to follow her passion to craft handmade bags.

“I’ve always loved bags; no matter what job I did, I couldn’t let go of this passion. After years of accounting, I realized my life was too dull, lacking color. I decided to quit to focus on making bags and told myself I had to do it well,” Tham said.

At first, Tham focused on producing bags from brocade and silk, materials suited for party bags. However, the market wasn’t favorable, prompting her to search for a new direction. One day, she stumbled upon an old pair of jeans she no longer wore and decided to try sewing a fanny pack.

The finished product was quite appealing, so Tham posted it on social media. To her surprise, it garnered significant attention. Many people wanted to buy it that very day, which made Tham overjoyed.

That first order and the very first bag made from old jeans opened a new chapter in her new journey.

“An old pair of pants can become something new; an old shirt can turn into a beautiful product. It helps practice thrift and creates something fresh and useful—so why not do it,” she said.

“From that first jean bag, I realized I could pursue a path of making recycled bags. Instead of using new fabric, I saw that old clothes could be transformed into unique items with their own value. I decided to do it and to do it well,” Tham said.

Turning old items into art

Though she had no formal training in sewing or embroidery, Tham honed her skills through patience and passion. She not only learned to sew bags but also taught herself embroidery to add decorative touches to each product.

Tham explained that making a bag from old jeans requires selecting suitable material, identifying reusable parts of the fabric, treating the material, cutting and piecing together patterns, and finally assembling the finished product.

Tham always preserves the original jean color, avoiding redyeing to maintain the initial shade and prevent fading during washing.

Though the job requires creativity and a labor-intensive nature, Tham never feels bored.

“Each bag is a unique product, which doesn’t resemble any other because the materials from old jeans are different. That allows me to unleash my creativity, turning things that seem discarded into valuable products,” she said.

This work not only provides income but also brings joy and lets her live fully with her passion.

One of the most memorable moments in her five years of doing this was when an acquaintance voluntarily collected old jeans from various places to give to her.

“She brings me stuff every month. Everything was donated from people in her neighborhood. She likes how I work and appreciates that I recycle ‘throwaway’ items, so she wanted to help. It made me feel that this work is truly meaningful,” Tham said.

Initially, her family didn’t support her decision to abandon a stable accounting job for bag-making. But seeing her dedication, they gradually changed their minds and encouraged her, giving Tham more motivation.

Tham can complete one to two small bags each day, while it takes 1-2 days to make a large product. Though it’s labor-intensive, she takes pride in every item she creates. She also organizes workshops to share her skills, letting others experience the creative recycling process.

In her spare time, she uses old clothes to craft items like rugs and pillows, impressing visitors with their uniqueness.

Looking back on her five-year journey, despite numerous challenges, failures, and moments of discouragement, Tham has never regretted her decision. At first, the income from this work wasn’t stable, but with her husband’s and family’s support, she stayed committed.

Her products have been welcomed, and she frequently posts her creative designs on social media. The trust she has earned fuels her belief that her choice was the right one. In the future, she hopes to further refine her skills to create products with even greater creativity and value.

Tu Linh