Malaysia Airlines materials turned into bespoke handbags

Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) has tied up with Malaysian homegrown brand, THESELINA, to produce five bespoke sustainable handbag collections. The collections underpin MAG's commitment for a net-zero carbon emission future through upcycling efforts. 

Every material used is handpicked and repurposed from Malaysia Airlines’ (MAB) aircraft leather seats; belts and buckles; tablecloths; life vests; the iconic cabin crew kebaya uniforms; and handbags, among others. The bags are named after International Air Transport Association (IATA) codes to destinations within MAB's network: Buckle Bag; the Sierra Yankee Delta (SYD) Personalised Canvas Bag; the November Romeo Tango (NRT) Messenger Bag; the Mike Yankee Yankee (MYY) Penan Bag; and the Mike Echo Lima (MEL) Backpack. 

According to MAG, the luxury handbags' finishing exudes elegance and class, embodying MAB's "exceptional service and hospitality" when flying its passengers. MAG is also selling the limited-edition bespoke bags on its online marketplace, Journify. A+M has reached out to MAG for additional information about the new collection.

Philip See, acting chief sustainability officer of MAG and CEO of Firefly, said sustainability is one of the key drivers in MAG’s Long-Term Business Plan 2.0 of becoming Asia’s lead travel and aviation services group. "As the parent company of MAB, MAG continues to forge ways to promote socio-economic development and achieving our commitment of recording net-zero carbon emissions by 2050," See said.

This includes minimising its environmental impacts; positively enhancing the communities we operate in; ensuring safety excellence; driving profitability for the benefit of its stakeholders, employees; and ensuring compliance within the organisation, he added. 

Overall, the Group has taken viable steps to reduce its carbon footprint within its business operations, guided by the MAG Sustainability Blueprint launched last year. This includes bio-composting food waste from flights, enhancing fuel efficiency measures, repurposing scrapped aircraft parts into new products and most recently, being the first Malaysian-registered commercial aircraft using Sustainable Aviation Fuel.

MAG is not the first aviation group to have created products from upcycled aircraft parts and materials in recent times. Late last year, Singapore Airlines announced that it was working with 15 Singapore-based retail brands to sell products repurposed from recycled aircraft parts.

Tocco Toscano and Supermama were the first to launch products last December, including pouches, wallets, wristlet clutches, and tableware. The other retail brands include ANS.EIN, ipse ipsa ipsum, Photo Phactory, Beyond The Vines, Charles & Keith, and Commune.

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