FUN, FASHION, FUNCTIONALITY IN A BAG

A tote bag to be carried on the shoulder, or a messenger bag to be slung across the body.

Why not have both, thought the design team behind this year's 44th National Day Parade (NDP) funpacks.

In conceptualising the NDP 09 funpacks, "we wanted to produce a bag that can be embraced by both genders and by all ages, from young kids to teenagers, to young adults and even senior citizens," shared Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Chow Wai Yein, Chairman, Logistics and Finance for NDP 09.

"We hope to achieve the element of fun, fashion and functionality in the bag," he added.

Being highly versatile, the funpack can be carried both as a tote bag, and as a messenger bag. Some of the uses of the bag include being a school bag and a shopping bag. With eight different colours, the bag covers can even be interchanged to create sixty-four colour combinations.

In line with this year's theme Come together - Reaching out, reaching up, the funpacks are a tool to reach out to the less fortunate. To raise funds for the under-privileged, a special edition bag will be given to every donor who contributes $15 to Community Chest.

In addition, volunteers under Community Chest, the Institute of Mental Health and the Yellow Ribbon Project will participate in packing the funpacks, and personalising greetings on the funpacks.

"For the volunteers, it's a very meaningful and constructive activity...because they know they are contributing to the nation's birthday. It also helps them in the process of re-integrating into society," said LTC Chow.

Other than caring for the less fortunate, care for the environment is also emphasised as funpacks continue to go green with a reduction in plastic packaging and use of recycled materials in the funpack. Effort was also made to make the bag attractive and durable enough to entice users to reuse it even after NDP 09.

The funpacks include items such as biscuits, sweets, drinks, napkins, ponchos and litter bags, and publications such as programme booklets, NDP DVDs and discount coupons.

To evoke audience participation during the parade, interactive items such as a heart-shaped lantern, a hand-shaped drum, face tattoos and a miniature Singapore flag have been included in the funpack. These can be returned to NDP partners after the parade for recycling.