Local bag manufacturer, Bresheh has launched a new line of bags under the brand ‘Roast by Bresheh’.

Operators of Bresheh, Randy and Davian McLaren officially introduced the bags to the market last Thursday at Opa Greek Restaurant & Lounge,at Devon House in Kingston.

Bresheh, which was established three years ago as a social enterprise, is targeting young professionals in corporate Jamaica with its new line, adding that the Roast by Bresheh line is more functional, has more compartments, and is more detailed in the designs.

“It satisfies their professional needs in terms of holding everything that they need to carry from home to work and travelling, as well,” Randy McLaren, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Bresheh explained. “If you have a conference out of town, you are able to pack an overnight bag with items, and if you are travelling overseas it has compartments for your passport and laptop.”

According to McLaren, the bags are made from vegan leather and are expected to last up to 10 years.The collection also allows for customisation with company logos or individual names..

“The collection is influenced by our culture, in the sense that, we borrowed from what a roast breadfruit looks like,” he said in explaining the brand name. “The inside of the product is cream, mimicking what the inside of a breadfruit looks like, and the external colours are brown, black and grey.”

Bresheh now employs 10 people, moving up from a team of two. The operators also managed to relocate from a small verandah to a more spacious location in Cumberland, Portmore, St Catherine.

“Awareness of the brand has grown,as well as the impact we have been able to make. We are now even more inclusive in the way we employ and plan to employ. We having people [such as] single mothers, rural residents, as well as individuals from the deaf community,” he said.

A participant in the Social Enterprise Boost Initiative (SEBI) accelerator programme, Bresheh has benefited from employee training and development, equipment upgrade, management and production workshops.

“We would not be able to find funds to gain expertise and knowledge. SEBI gave us access to different markets, teaching us to network and build awareness for the brand,” McLaren shared.

SEBI is a project of the JN Foundation and the USAID. Through the Accelerator Programme, entrepreneurs are being targeted to further enhance their social businesses.

Opal Whyte, project manager of SEBI, expressed pride in the growth of Bresheh. She commended the operators of the social enterprise for their achievements in their three years of operation.

“The growth of Bresheh is phenomenal. It is like watching a young child blossom into an adult and contributes to making an impact on our society. We are proud to be associated with this enterprise. We see Bresheh contributing much more, as it continues to grow and become an international brand,” said Whyte.