We had the good fortune of connecting with Aisha Ndiaye and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aisha, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When we learned of the New York City plastic bag ban taking effect in March of 2020 we were excited that such a large and influential city was taking an important step in becoming more sustainable and environmentally conscious. While we fully supported the plastic bag ban we realized that this would also mean the end of seeing the iconic plastic bag designs that have become synonymous with NYC culture and imagery. We wanted to create a reusable bag that incorporated these iconic designs and would memorialize these plastic bags while transporting them into a more sustainable future. Realizing that what we wished to see in the world had not yet existed we decided to do it ourselves and found ourselves becoming business owners.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Reusable bags are not a new concept, however it was important for us to create a reusable bag that was convenient, stylish, and affordable. Our reusable bags are not only foldable but each of our reusable bags come packaged in a small pouch with a keychain attachment. Our bags are designed to be clipped onto your keys, bags, or clothes so that you always have a reusable bag wherever you go. The wearers of our bags can replace up to 500 single use plastic bags and save countless dollars on bag fees by using just one of our reusable bags. Not only are our bags convenient but they are designed to be stylish and pull inspiration from New York City urban culture and spread a message of inclusivity and gratitude.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people who have provided us with motivation and encouragement throughout our journey. We are so incredibly lucky to have found a community online that has supported us every step of the way. One particular organization we would like to shout out would be EcoBronx LLC. We first became acquainted with the founder of EcoBronx through Instagram and quickly connected over our shared values. The goal of EcoBronx, LLC is to be an eco-space for all Bronx residents that increases knowledge of an access to sustainable and refillable profits. We partnered with EcoBronx to have our products featured in their mobile zero waste shop and was a big step at the beginning of our journey.

Website: bagshopnyc.com

Instagram: instagram.com/bagshopnyc

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