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| Ahn Ji-hae |
Ahn Ji-hae, 46, is no ordinary bag maker.
She uses recycled leather for her products and the designs are inspired by children's drawings.
"It started off quite simple," the CEO of OWNU told The Korea Times during a recent interview at Seoul Upcycling Plaza.
"I designed bags for several companies for almost 15 years. Just like everyone, I always wanted to have my own business. While I was off taking care of my children, I saw my seven-year-old daughter's drawings ― and a thought came that I wanted to make a bag out of them."
That's how her first product was born in 2014. Then, she invited other children, mostly children of her acquaintances, to draw.
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| Choi Min-joon's drawing and the brooch inspired by the drawing/ Courtesy of Ahn Ji-hae |
Later, she organized drawing contests to find talented young artists. That's how she found 13-year-old Choi Min-joon in 2017. His lizard and fox drawings, among many others, were turned into a brooch and a purse charm and they were given to then IMF managing director Christine Lagarde in 2017 as gifts during her visit to Korea.
In total, Ahn turned 13 children's drawings into products ― bags and accessories.
She gets leather supplied from factories and donated from apparel companies.
"I know there is always so much leather in designer rooms and factories that goes to waste. I want to use it."
She said the waste from the clothing industry is enormous. "Companies have many new clothes that aren't sold. But they can't recycle them because of their brand image. They end up incinerating the new clothes."
Her products are sold on the company's website ownu.co.kr and other online and offline outlets in and outside Korea.
In Korea, the Louis Quatorze Museum shop in Seoul carries her products, as well as a Hanaro Mart shop in Chang-dong, northwestern Seoul. Outside Korea, her products are sold at Select Seoul Paris, a shop in Paris run by Louis Quatorze. Her products are also found in Naver mall.
OWNU is the name of one of her daughters who did the drawing for her first bag.
"She is very proud of it," the mother said, adding the same feeling is found among other children who have drawn for her.
Asked about her vision, she said: "I hope to pass down a clean planet to children. Also, I hope more children will know the importance of upcycling, even small pieces of leather, and hope their lives will become enriched with the unique experience."
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