From Gutter to Gown With ‘The Umbrella Project'
Elsa Blaine — August 14, 2008 — Eco
References: theeel & greenupgrader
Yes, this beautiful boned bodice topped black dress has been made of umbrellas, about 20 to be exact. Design students Feyeel and Anadamayi from Berkeley, California say they collected the discarded brelies themselves, in the gutters of New York and Berkley to created this gown.
The designers say, “The goal behind the Umbrella Project is, as you might guess, to reuse the umbrellas that people casually toss aside when they (the umbrellas) fail structurally.” Their next project is an ‘umbrella skin’ raincoat.
I love the way they integrated the snap straps as a fringy sort of detail. Can you image what they could do with patterned umbrella skins? I’ll be waiting.
The designers say, “The goal behind the Umbrella Project is, as you might guess, to reuse the umbrellas that people casually toss aside when they (the umbrellas) fail structurally.” Their next project is an ‘umbrella skin’ raincoat.
I love the way they integrated the snap straps as a fringy sort of detail. Can you image what they could do with patterned umbrella skins? I’ll be waiting.
Trend Themes
1. Upcycled Fashion - Creating clothing and accessories from discarded materials, such as umbrellas, presents an opportunity for a disruptive innovation in the fashion industry.
2. Sustainable Design - Designers finding ways to repurpose and reuse materials, like umbrellas, can drive disruptive innovation towards more environmentally-friendly practices in the fashion industry.
3. Circular Economy - The Umbrella Project demonstrates the potential of circular economy models, where discarded umbrellas are transformed into fashionable garments, presenting a disruptive opportunity in the waste management industry.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - The fashion industry can embrace the concept of upcycling and sustainable design in order to tap into a disruptive innovation opportunity and address growing environmental concerns.
2. Waste Management - Finding innovative solutions to repurpose discarded umbrellas and other materials could revolutionize the waste management industry by reducing landfill waste and promoting a circular economy.
3. Accessories - The accessory industry can explore the use of upcycled materials, like umbrella skins, to create unique, eco-friendly products and stay ahead of sustainable design trends.
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