Bangladesh Journal

November 23, 2018

Event: Apolis Black Friday Improve Lives 2018

Event: Apolis Black Friday Improve Lives 2018

On Black Friday, November 23rd, 2018, Apolis advocates help raise $10,000 USD to buy a new generator for the Bangladeshi co-op which makes the market bag. This doesn’t just help the actual female artisans being employed — it also benefits their families and the surrounding community.

October 27, 2017

Watch: How the Market Bag is Breaking a Poverty Cycle

Watch: How the Market Bag is Breaking a Poverty Cycle

In August 2017, Apolis Co-Founder Shea Parton traveled to Bangladesh to document the artisans of Saidpur Enterprises, makers of our market bag. Apolis is excited to now share the resulting short film, shot by award-winning photojournalist Atish Saha.

September 9, 2017

Film: Bangladesh Project Preview

Film: Bangladesh Project Preview

We're excited to share a preview of our upcoming short film showing the story behind Apolis' best-selling Market Bag.

August 5, 2017

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Ten

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Ten

On the final day of his Bangladesh adventure, Shea Parton shares the story of award-winning photojournalist that documented the trip, Atish Saha.

August 4, 2017

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Nine

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Nine

On Day Nine of his Bangladesh journey, Shea meets one of his favorite authors, drives through five feet of rain in one of the most densely populated cities on Earth, and visits some Bangladeshi recording studios.

August 3, 2017

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Eight

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Eight

On Day Eight of his Bangladesh travels, Shea Parton sees crowdsourced sewing machines in action, learns about the Fort Knox levels of quality control for market bags, and says goodbye to some newfound friends.

August 2, 2017

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Seven

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Seven

On Day Seven of his Bangladesh journey, Shea Parton takes a motorcycle ride with a Bangladeshi college student, learns how the Apolis market bag contributes to local education, and realizes he needs to dial back his signature bear hug. 

August 1, 2017

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Six

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Six

On Day Six of his trip to Bangladesh, Shea Parton shares the story of one of the moms who craft Apolis' market bags, as well as why the Bangladeshi jute needs to be on your top ten list of plants.

August 1, 2017

Behind the Scenes: Customizable Vegan Market Bag

Behind the Scenes: Customizable Vegan Market Bag, Available November 17

Go behind the scenes and see how the new Customizable Vegan Market bag launching Sunday, November 17 was made. Co-founder,  Shea Parton shares the story of one of the moms who craft Apolis' market bags, as well as why the Bangladeshi jute needs to be on your top ten list of plants.

July 31, 2017

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Five

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Five

On Day Five of his trip to Bangladesh, Shea Parton receives a warm welcome from the mothers who make Apolis bags, hears the uplifting backstory of Saidpur Enterprises' manager, and accidentally makes the world's worst market bag.

July 30, 2017

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Four

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Four

On Day Four of his trip to Bangladesh, Shea Parton rushes to make a flight in time, visits the factory which produces Apolis' market bags, and sees firsthand how business can transform a community for the better.

July 29, 2017

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Three

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Three

On Day Three of his Bangladesh journey, Apolis Co-Founder Shea Parton surfs the world's longest beach, meets some enthusiastic local surf kids, and discovers a reason to throw shakas less frequently.

July 28, 2017

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Two

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day Two

Apolis co-founder Shea Parton shares Day Two from his trip to Bangladesh, in which he learned more about Fair Trade certification, Bangladeshi mice, and local manufacturing.

July 27, 2017

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day One

Travel: Bangladesh Expedition - Day One

For the next ten days, Apolis co-founder Shea Parton will be documenting the stories behind our Market Bag in Bangladesh.