Retro cleaning! Vintage photograph highlights Maltese detergent ‘Rawa’ from the 60s

Culture

The brand name ‘Rawa’ is interestingly similar to the Maltese word for foam, ‘raghwa’

Francesca Vella

The National Archives of Malta have unearthed a photo remembering the washing powder ‘Rawa’, placed on the market 61 years ago, in May 1964. The photo shows employees at a production line of the laundry detergent, produced locally by the company Sun Chemicals Ltd.

This serves as a reminder of how times have changed, the globalisation over the past decades bringing several more brands into the country that now fill supermarket shelves, in comparison to the 60s when ‘Rawa’ was sometimes the only option.

Interestingly, the Maltese word for foam is ‘raghwa’, suggesting a possible etymological link to this detergent brand!

Do you remember Rawa washing powder?

Written by

Francesca Vella

Francesca has always felt most at home in a cinema or theatre, particularly if musicals are involved. She loves to read, write, and share about her experiences of both the fictional and the real world.