We started more than 15 years ago in Province in Cebu.

Sulci is an ethical x fair trade bag brand that debuted in the summer of 2012, after two years of grassroots work in Cebu and Bohol, Philippines. During that time, we taught local women in Carcar city Cebu everything from how to hold a crochet hook to how to read patterns and stitch techniques from the ground up. Through these efforts, along with guidance in bag design and craftsmanship, we built strong relationships based on trust with our artisans

Our Mission

Our mission is to create sustainable production by offering job opportunities and a flexible working environment for women in rural areas who want to work but have limited options. By enabling them to continue working while raising children and managing their homes, we aim to support long-term livelihoods.

We believe in empowering our producers to gain confidence, take pride in their work, and eventually become self-reliant. Sulci also strives to shine a light on the untapped potential and valuable resources found in areas often labeled as "developing countries."

To continuously support our artisans, we stay attuned to the market and strive for excellence in design and quality, so that more and more people come to know and love Sulci bags—and think “raffia bags = Sulci.”

Starting Sulci

After leaving my previous job, I traveled to the Philippines to refresh myself. While there, I noticed handmade table mats and baskets being sold at souvenir shops, and a thought suddenly crossed my mind: “How much are the makers actually being paid?” Judging from the prices, it was clear they couldn’t be earning much. That was when I thought, “If I have artisans make products I design myself and develop the sales channels, perhaps I could build a business that pays the makers properly,” and “I want to try making hand-crocheted bags using natural raffia.”

These ideas became the catalyst for launching the Sulci bag brand.

Without thinking too far ahead, I began crochet training with just over a dozen people in Cebu and Bohol. Starting from scratch, I taught women—most of them beginners—everything from how to hold a crochet hook to how to read patterns. In the early days, however, the bags I envisioned were slow to take shape, and more than once I worried that my energy, stamina, or funds might not last.

Yet I kept going, driven by an unwavering belief: “Once I’ve taken responsibility for the producers, there’s no turning back,” “If we make good products, customers will surely recognize their value,” and “If we keep working hard, the path will open naturally.” With only this conviction, I continued teaching. Supported by the women’s dedication and smiles as they followed me without hesitation, the Sulci bags gradually began to take form, step by step.

As trust grew and they came to understand that “careful craftsmanship leads to higher wages,” their skill development accelerated, reaching a level suitable for sale in Japanese department stores. With quality established and a reliable supply in sight, Sulci was founded in November 2011. I also serve as the bag designer and continue to travel back and forth between Japan and the Philippines.

Awards & Honors

• Encouragement Award, 14th Women Entrepreneurs Award (2015, National Federation of Women’s Associations of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Japan)
  
• Grand Prix, 1st Women Entrepreneurship Challenge Award (2015, Japan Entrepreneurship Idea Realization Project, General Incorporated Association)
  
• Grand Prize, Second Life Business Plan Contest 2016 (2016, Ginza Second Life Co., Ltd.)
  
• Rissho University Faculty of Business Administration Award and Special Award, 5th Women’s Business Grand Prix 2016 in Shinagawa
  
• Selected for the 3rd Tokyo Metropolitan Government Women Venture Growth Promotion Program “APT Women” (2018)
  
• Approved for membership in the United Nations BCtA (Business Call to Action) in March 2019
  
• Best Sustainable Handbags Manufacturer – Japan (Best in Business Awards 2023, THE BUSINESS CONCEPT)