OhGio

FOUNDER’S STORY

 

Hi I am Natalie and I'm from Taiwan. 

 

Growing up I came from a mixed culture loving family that triggered me to explore the world and connect with people from diverse cultures.
I have traveled and lived in more than 25 countries. At the age of 30, my father was diagnosed with cancer, and that's when I returned home.

Taking care of my father with leukemia is uneasy for me emotionally to watch him suffer. Animals healed my heart and provided emotional comfort that I didn't expect. 
The essential joy of being with horses has changed the way I approach things. I have become a horse lover. Since then I have started searching for fashion accessories without using animal leathers. It was hard to find! I even realized I was mistaken about vegetable-tanned leather being vegetable leather. Since it was so hard to find in Taiwan, I decided to make one. 

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My journey

 

I began my research, and interviewed with people.  

 

I found out: In Taiwan, we have nearly 630,000 tons of abandoned pineapple leaves every year. They are agricultural waste. Local farmers are older while young people don't want to stay on farms, it takes a lot of energy and costs just to clean pineapple leaf waste. I gathered traditional industry experts to see if we can bring a good idea into reality.

 

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My Commitment

 

My idea is using abandoned pineapple leaves to create wallets that everyone can use in everyday life.

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The benefit is that by extraction of 1 kg fiber, we can recycle 100 kg agricultural waste. And I insist on manufacturing in Taiwan to reduce carbon footprint as well as increase work opportunities on the island. The creation process stimulated my growth tremendously. I studied, tested, and encountered challenges. I stayed up late working until 2:00 a.m. for at least three months while the naysayers didn't believe I could make it happen. 

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In early 2022, the first pineapple leaf wallet was born.

People love this idea, because it's good for the environment to reduce waste, and it's a way to protect animals from harm. 
I wondered if I could do more for society, I am aware that the embroidery industry is having a hard time because young people don't want to learn the skills. So I add embroidery on the wallets raising public awareness of the issue. 

I did my very best. The project invests in the future of our planet as well as a sincere desire to help invest within the community and for a better world.