Crown Princess Mette-Marit often chooses handcrafted bags with sustainable design

Crown Princess Mette-Marit (50 years old) is known for her careful selection of accessories, especially in recent years, and she often chooses bags from suppliers other than exclusive fashion houses.

The bags you see with these days are either reused many years ago, or bags from lesser-known manufacturers. What they have in common is that they are often local crafts and preferably of sustainable design.

For example, the Crown Princess wore a pink Me & Wilma handbag to the Nordic Council Awards last fall. A Norwegian company that wants to sell and promote fine craftsmanship and fair trade mainly from the third world.

It was the website UFO no more Who first wrote about where the bag came from.

The castle made contact

It's only natural that the founders behind Me & Wilma are honored by their generous customers.

-The bag was purchased directly from Me & Wilma after Castle contacted us. It was the interest in sustainability and the story behind our products that led Slottet to us, says Elin Zenker Aune to Se og Hør.

She does not hide the fact that the Crown Princess's interest in doing right business means a lot.

– It is wonderful that the Crown Princess chooses to be a role model for making good choices when shopping. We are very grateful that there are people who want to contribute to highlighting how important the story behind each product is, and what the right trade can do for individuals and for the future, says the entrepreneur.

The secret guest list has been revealed

She and Anne Norheim founded Me & Wilma.

-We focus on working with women's groups and artisan groups that take pride in their craft and produce good quality goods from natural, sustainable materials. Fair trade is close to our hearts, she says.

Help from well-known profiles

The bag carried by the Crown Princess is a handcrafted product from 4africa, a socially sustainable company in Kampala, Uganda. The paper is purchased locally from the market and is pasted and varnished with organic materials.

It is available in several colors and sizes and costs start at 899 NOK.

I took his girlfriend on a family vacation

– 4africa is our darling baby, founded in 2011 by, among other things, one of the founders behind Me & Wilma, a socially sustainable company that lifts women out of poverty by giving them a stable income through fairly paid work. Uplifting women through work, mentoring and development has significant ripple effects on the local environment, not least on children and the future. The women of 4africa also have kindergarten places for their children through cooperation with Norwegian kindergartens, which in turn provides a better foundation for the children's future as well. Children are our future! says the founder.

They also had help from well-known people who traveled there and contributed directly to the design and training. Among others are designer Nina Jarebrink, artist Björg Thorhalsdottir and photographer Mona Nordoy.

A healthy contrast to designer bags

The Crown Princess's purchases indicate that craftsmanship and sustainability are close to her heart. The bag from 4africa, Me & Wilma is by no means the only bag with meaning in its collection.

In recent years, for example, it has purchased a number of bags from the Italian company Maria La Rosa. Sustainable bags, handcrafted on antique chair looms in Italy. She also has several bags from Mexican brand Paloma van den Akker, which are made by artisans in the Yucatán using traditional techniques and natural fibres.

KK's fashion and beauty director, Ida Elise Edi Einarsdóttir, also noted the Crown Prince's choice of bags:

– I think Mette-Marit is increasingly making well-thought-out style choices. It's a healthy contrast to all the designer bags. Apparently she is also interested in embroidery herself. Yes, as well as women's rights. Like the right to work. Fashion that makes sense, in a way. It sends an important and correct signal, says the fashion expert to Se og Hør.

Read also: Mette Marit declares her love for Haakon