Carla Bruni needs no introduction. In fact, we all already know that she is superhot and whatever she does is newsworthy, even if it means carrying a handbag. Well, the story goes like this. Recently, Bruni accompanied hubby on his political visit to a South African Towship. Here, she was gifted a cotton and hessian stitched bag in six colors of the South African flag. Bruni took a liking to the bright accessory and started using it.

Soon, the style became a huge rage the world over more so because there are only 421 of them. Hey, we aren’t complaining because this Bruni eco-bag (well, that is how it is referred as to now and please don’t mix it with the scandalous bag that had Bruni in the nude) has been made by a women’s co-operative in South Africa called Sophumelela, which means ‘we will succeed’.

They tell us that the co-op was set up with the aid of Township Patterns, an organisation founded by a French woman in 1998. The group works according to fair-trade principles and even helps three sewing co-ops to sell their bags. So far, nine women have been employed by them on a decent wage. These makers of the Bruni eco-bag can’t believe the fashion success their creation has become. Way to go!

Via treehugger