Victorian College of Pharmacy News

Cut plastic bag use with combo swim product

October 2005

Is it a bag? No, wait a minute! It’s a towel! No, it’s a T-Bag!  The latest dual function product is manufactured and sold by Desiyah. Desiyah is a student company, consisting of 16 students from multiple backgrounds studying at Monash University. The company is part of the Young Achievement Australia (YAA). The tertiary business skills program gives students the opportunity to create an organizational structure and participate in research and development, financing, production, marketing and selling their very own innovation. The program runs for six months, beginning in May and ending with company liquidation in October. Desiyah has set its goals high and aims to achieve them. Desiyah is proudly sponsored by Sigma Company, who is supporting this program for the third consecutive year.  Sigma Company have supported two other companies in 2003 and 2004, state champion Oceanya and national champion Idiyada.  Students from the Victorian College of Pharmacy have been involved in both Oceanya and Idiayda

The T-Bag is a towel that turns into a waterproof bag, an easy to use product targeted at kids for aquatic activities, whether it’s going to the pool or the beach. Sales of the T-bag will also contribute to a clean up initiative being organised by the company.

 “Desiyah’s foundation is in its namesake: Desire,” says Marketing Director, Julianne Heng. “It’s an ambition, a yearning. It’s a strong feeling of wanting something to happen. That’s why we’re all in this program. Because we want to learn more than what textbooks and university have to offer.”

The product came about from brainstorming different ideas. “It was really difficult at first, but then we all started talking about our past experiences and how it was really frustrating to keep bringing plastic bags to store our wet towels. So, we came up with this idea.”

The T-Bag also allows kids to be responsible for their own swim gear.  The bag is easy to use and the child only needs to remember to bring home one item: there’s little chance of them forgetting their towel. The T-bag also has a clear vinyl pocket in the middle, for kids to personalize their own bags by inserting name cards.

Desiyah is also organising a clean up day, where with each bag sold, the company will dedicate 10 minutes to picking up rubbish at a designated public area.
“Although 10 minutes doesn’t sound like much, it could equal to as much as 1 litre of rubbish. This means that with 20 bags, it would be 20 litres! That’s a lot of rubbish, and a much cleaner environment!”

The T-Bag will be available in a store in Victoria Market, thanks to sponsorship by the Italian House of Leather. It can also be bought online, through the company’s website at www.desiyah.com.au. Further distribution outlets are being negotiated, and will be notified through the website.