Mariam Sherif founded Reform Studio to tackle one of Egypt’s most pressing environmental challenges with a creative design solution. Having recognized the alarming number of plastic bags used and discarded every day in Egypt, Mariam created Plastex. Plastex is a 100% eco-friendly handmade fabric, made by collecting, sterilizing, and cutting plastic bags into thin strips that are interwoven on a manual handloom. The resulting material is made from 67% reused bags and 33% recycled cotton threads, creating a strong durable fabric that is both water-resistant and able to withstand sun, sand, and dust.
Around the world, every minute around one million single-use plastic bags are given out for free, and they take up to a thousand years to degrade into more harmful substances that poison both soil and water. Thus it is not surprising that Plastex has been well received internationally, with press appearances in Italy, China, Brazil, and Egypt. Through their innovative designs, Reform Studio aims to raise awareness about the use of plastic bags and support sustainable behavior change, while at the same time reviving the craft of weaving, encouraging Egyptian craftsmanship, and creating new job opportunities.