Since 2006, Waste for Life, an organization of all different types of scientists, artists, designers, engineers, architects, educators and co-operatives, has helped some of Argentina’s poorest populations survive while dually promoting environmental awareness and waste prevention, by employing workers to collect plastic waste for recycle and upcycle. Sounds right up our alley!
These upcycled plastic rain boots by Louie Rigano are not only a clear example of Sexy Upcycling, but helps clean up the planet and help the poor as well!
Their recent partnership with RISD was to was to make a hot press to turn the plastic bags collected by the workers in to a synthetic plastic “textile”, then develop products based on that material which hopefully could be returned to the workers to manufacture and make a profit.
These plastic boots by New Jersey based Industrial Design student, Louie Rigano, was one of the products selected for production primarily due to it’s simple construction, utilitarian and functional nature. The plastic material, when fused with cheesecloth, is waterproof, rugged and requires very little material to produce, making it not only a great product that helps the Earth and the less fortunate people of Argentina, but also is very profitable and, in my opinion, quite stylish.
Sexy Upcycling? Most definitely.
I’m starting to think we will all have a pair of upcycled plastic bag shoes in our closets someday. Would you wear them?
lol some of the remarks bloggers post certainly are a bit spacey, once in awhile i ponder whether they really read through the content articles and threads before giving a comment or whether they simply gloss over the post title and write the very first opinion that jumps into their mind. anyway, it is actually helpful to read clever commentary from time to time in contrast to exactly the same, old opinion which i usually notice on the web.
Aw, this was a really great post. In theory I’d like to write like this too – taking time and real effort to make a good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and never seem to get anything done.
I would definitely wear the blue boots. Watched a short how-to on the Etsy channel on Youtube about pressing plastic bags into sturdy fabric. What you get from the process is suitable for bags and pouches.
Love the great mix of info and products on the site.
Although I would’ve preferred if you went into a little bit more detail, I still got the gist of what you meant. I agree with it. It might not be a popular idea, but it makes sense. Will definitely come back for more of this. Great work