Fun Find: Junk Not! Rattan Stroller / Rattan Pushchair

EDIT: The stroller is actually made from rattan and not bamboo! Edits have been made to this post to reflect this 😀

Have you ever seen a native stroller, a rattan stroller or a rattan pushchair? Neither have I until last May 5 during Expo Mom when I saw this little cutie pie being pushed around the tent area by her dad:

First of all, the little girl caught my eye because her curls were WILD!! I love little kids with curly hair! Second, what she was riding in was amazing. It’s a rattan stroller. I have never seen one ever. I think I gasped and stared at the dad and daughter and her stroller for a good 5 minutes (iniwan ko muna yung stall namin sa manilababyshop so that I could take a good look ganun ako ka-amazed haha). BDW and I figured that the stroller was probably being sold then at Expo Mom because we saw the dad and daughter the whole day during the first day of the Expo. So on the last day of Expo Mom, I looked for the booth and found Junk Not! I found the stroller and bought one for a dear friend for her baby shower.

The rattan stroller / rattan pushchair was a hit! Here’s DW and his friend M during the baby shower.

Here’s a closer look at the native stroller

I wanted to learn more about Junk Not and the stroller so I sent an email to the contact info found on the card. A few days later I got an email from Wilhelmina (Willie) Garcia, the Proprietor of Junk Not and who is also an Interior Designer and Green Advocate. I told her how much I loved the stroller and asked a few questions about Junk Not. I sent her a few questions and she kindly obliged!

Here’s my Q & A with Willie:

Manilamommy: What do you call the native stroller that you were selling at Expo Mom? Is this a traditional Filipino baby gear or did you come up with this yourself?

Willie: The native stroller is from Davao, it’s a traditional stroller that is very common here in the Philippines but now I only see them in the Mindanao area. I am trying to bring back the tradition that is slowly being missed by the younger generation. I was surprised to find out at Expo Mom that not everybody knew about the stroller. The only thing I improved to this stroller is the varnishing to make it child friendly. I used water-based polyurethane that is non-toxic and LEED certified.

M: The person I talked to at your shop during Expo Mom told me that your company wants to bring back the lost art of native craftsmanship from Binan, Laguan. Is this the core of Junk Knot’s advocacy? Do you have other goals that you want to reach with your company?

Willie referred me to their company profile. Junk Not supports a small community of women that produces Junk Not’s eco-friendly products. Part of the Company’s proceeds provide livelihood, training and development to the community they are supporting.

Willie also adds: Filipinos are creative. We just have to support each other to preserve our culture and tradition. Tangkilikin ang gawang satin!

M: Aside from the “native stroller” what other products will you be producing and introducing next?

W: We have lots of native and unique products in different provinces. When I travel around the Philippines I bring some of them and resell it, so that yung mga tiga-Manila, ma-educate sila kung ano meron tayo.

M: What do you want your customers and other moms to learn from Junk Not?

W: MANY THINGS!!! hahaha
– sustainability starts at home so start educating kids about waste segregation and importance of nature
– tangkilikin ang gawang pinoy para hindi mamatay ang tradition natin.
– Reuse,reduce, recycle – teach this to your kids

Start collecting plastic wrappers at home, you’ll be surprised how many bags we can make out of your trash. Just contact me to pick up your segregated trash and we’ll give you up to 20% discount from our items.

I really enjoyed learning about Junk Not and knowing Willie and her passion for her Company and the community she serves. I do hope you learned too from this short exchange and support social entrepreneurs like Willie. To know more about Junk Not you may contact Willie and her business partner Fiona:

Wilhelmina “Willie” Garcia – Proprietor/Interior Designer/Green Advocate 09177946401
Fiona Ting – Product Development/Promotions Consultant 09189307460
Email: junknotinc@yahoo.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/junknot
Multiply: http://junknot.multiply.com

More power to Junk Not! If you need a unique gift for a baby shower or a one-of-a kind item for your kid,   I highly recommend the native stroller! It’s built well, sturdy and your little bub will definitely stand out! Anong McLaren? Anong Silver Cross? Junk Not!! 😀

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