That’s right; it’s a cotton-based fabric
that’s rubberized with natural latex extracted from wild rubber
trees in the Amazon Rainforest. TreeTap products are truly stunning,
and feature mainly assorted bags and purses, though also available is
a limited selection of accessories such as a sleek but handy wallet
($33), coin, pencil, and cosmetic cases ($9-$32), and a stylin’
“coconut hat” ($17.50). With bags that range from simple-yet-cool
briefcases ($41-$44) and a duffel-style travel bag ($84) to the ultra-chic
purse collection ($28-$75) and some urban-style backpacks, they’ve
got something for everyone. Among the Satya favorites: the Para Purse
($38)—in navy, light or dark brown with contrasting straps—is
that perfect size, just big enough to carry all you need for an evening,
but isn’t cumbersome; the practical Gabiroba Purse—black
with red straps—is an ideal, fashionable way to lug around a large
or heavy load; and the smaller, more petite Pequi Purse and Hummingbird
Handbag ($45.10) are sure to entice compliments anywhere you go.
TreeTap is a smooth and durable material and feels somewhat like leather—not
enough to be mistaken for the real thing, but it sure puts the big Italian
designers in their place: unlike the top-name designers, these prices
are quite reasonable, perhaps unexpectedly so, considering the high
level of both quality and style, and that everyone involved in production
is guaranteed a decent wage by the company’s fair trade policy.
Amazon Life is the Brazilian company that turns TreeTap into fashionable
products and sells them internationally. Since its inception in 1991,
the Amazon Life project has been working to improve the rubber tapper’s
traditional handicraft and render it competitive in the international
market, creating real and sustainable economic opportunities for the
people of the Amazon. With some 200 families—an approximate 1,000
persons—involved so far, the product’s economic success
has allowed for people to purchase the durable goods they need, make
significant improvements to their homes as well as to public infrastructure
(i.e. transportation), and other advancements that enable people to
live a better life in the jungle in a manner that respects both the
environment and their traditional cultures. The project has also improved
access to citizenship and credit—a notorious obstacle faced by
the poor in Brazil, where many people have no identification documents
and receive no money for their work.
At last year’s World Conference on Sustainable Development in
Johannesburg, the United Nations Development Program—when picking
finalists for the Equator Initiative Awards, which recognize “accomplishments
in poverty reduction through the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity in the equatorial belt”—had this to say about
the Amazon Life Project: “In addition to securing major fashion
houses as clients, the project also ensures that production processes
meet the international certification standards of the Forest Stewardship
Council. By involving rubber tappers in sustainable production of TreeTap,
the project is reversing a cycle of unsustainable forest use and poverty
and helping to directly protect over 900,000 hectares of wild forest
from unsustainable exploitation.”
Here in the U.S., the one major drawback to these wonderful bags is
the difficulty in finding them. MooShoes (207 E. 26 St., NYC; 212-481-5792)
has a limited selection of TreeTap bags, and is currently the only U.S.
location for retail sales. You can purchase them all at Amazon Life’s
website, which has plenty of resources to offer besides the store, and
though it tends to be slightly confusing and temperamental, is certainly
worth a visit. Learn more about the various aspects of the project—its
history, the peoples involved, the step-by-step production process of
the TreeTap wonder-material and more—or view the complete collection
and place an order: www.amazonlife.com,
or contact stephen@amazonlife.com
for more information. —R.C.
