From his ties to her bags

March 11, 2018

Tied up:

The "sewing mums" of social enterprise Les Beatitudes make purses, bags and colourful collages from old ties.

Bouncing back:

Working for Les Beatitudes has helped Ling Poon regain confidence.

Voyage of discovery:

Susan Chi (right) says the social enterprise has helped her learn more about Hong Kong.

Material world:

Les Beatitudes was set up by bank executive Margaret Leung (left) in 2014 to support the underprivileged.

Art atelier:

Volunteer designer Henry Lee helps with designs and the organisation of exhibitions.

Download Video| Transcript

Voiceover:
Old neckties are being transformed into ornate purses and bags by these mothers from low-income families.

Sewing mum Ling Poon (Translation):
We wash the ties that have been collected, iron them and use them to make purses. We use the odd bits to make collages.

Voiceover:
Ling Poon, 47, has worked for social enterprise Les Beatitudes since 2015. She said the work has helped her bounce back after going through hard times.

Ling Poon:
I didn't have many friends and my Cantonese was not good when I came to Hong Kong. I was fired three years ago and had no income. I am so glad I found Les Beatitudes. Now I can work and take care of my family.

Ling Poon:
At the beginning, my husband did not support me in making these bags because there are so many bags at home. But after he saw that even our Chief Executive Carrie Lam used the bag I made, he was proud and supported my work.

Voiceover:
Les Beatitudes was set up by bank executive Margaret Leung in 2014 to merge different groups to support the underprivileged. She also wanted to provide mothers the opportunity to work at home to make it easier for them to care for their children.

Les Beatitudes Founder Margaret Leung:
At that time many people said "how can we rebuild the ties for Hong Kong?" And this word "ties" keeps popping up in every media newspaper. (Afterwards) I thought I should engage the men too. Let's bring the ties in. So I used the neckties to build ties as our first slogan. 

Voiceover:
Ms Leung asked her designer friends to include Hong Kong history and everyday scenes into the design of the bags and purses. The mothers, many of whom are Mainland migrants, are also known as sewing mums. They make the bag according to the designs. The social enterprise collects neckties from offices and provides materials and training for the sewing mums who can earn several-hundred dollars for each bag they make.

Margaret Leung:
We asked the women to sign the card, like artists who have their signatures. So when they come and look at the products, they kind of seek out which is mine. They take photos with their kids. And then they (will) be empowered and we can see the product's quality also improve. 

Voiceover:
Working with Les Beatitudes also allows the sewing mums to get to know Hong Kong better.

Sewing mum Susan Chi (Translation):
We use ties to make a collage of trams on the bags. One time I told Ms Leung that I never rode on the tram. She was surprised and organised a tram tour for us afterwards. She also took us to the airport and to parks. We felt very happy. I was shy and not outgoing before. I've changed a lot and made a lot of friends through these activities.

Voiceover:
Les Beatitudes has held exhibitions featuring the sewing mums' works. Their colourful creations will be showcased again at upcoming shows in Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin and Tin Shui Wai.

Old neckties are getting a second life after being transformed into bags with colourful depictions of the Star Ferry, trams and other Hong Kong icons by mothers from low-income families.

Ling Poon, who is working with social enterprise Les Beatitudes, is one of these "sewing mums" who upcycle used ties into bags.

"We wash the ties that have been collected, iron them and use them to make purses. We use the odd bits to make collages."

She has been with Les Beatitudes since 2015 and said the job has helped her bounce back from hard times.

"I was fired three years ago and had no income. I am so glad I found Les Beatitudes. Now I can work and take care of my family."

She said her husband did not support her work at the beginning but changed his mind after a purse she made was used by Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

Building ties

Les Beatitudes collects neckties from offices and provides materials and training for the sewing mums who can earn several hundred dollars for each bag they make.

It was founded in 2014 by bank executive Margaret Leung, who wanted to connect different groups to address social issues and to support the underprivileged.

She also wanted to provide mothers an opportunity to work at home, making it easier to care for their children.

"At that time many people said 'how can we rebuild the ties for Hong Kong?' And this word 'ties' keeps popping up in every media newspaper.

"I thought I should engage the men too. Let's bring the ties in. So I used the neckties to build ties as our first slogan."

Local flavor

Ms Leung's designer friends incorporated elements of Hong Kong's history and everyday scenes in the design of the bags and purses. The mothers, many of whom are Mainland migrants, make the bags according to the designs.

She also asked the sewing mums to sign their creations the way artists would with their works and said the practice was empowering for them.

Some sewing mums have also gotten to know Hong Kong better by working at Les Beatitudes.

"We use ties to make a collage of trams on the bags. One time I told Ms Leung that I never rode on the tram," said Susan Chi, another sewing mum.

"She was surprised and organised a tram tour for us afterwards. She also took us to the airport and to parks. We felt very happy. I was shy and not outgoing before. I've changed a lot and made a lot of friends through these activities."

The sewing mums' unique creations will be showcased at upcoming shows in Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin and Tin Shui Wai.