T131: Trashion

The thing is, I am not a consumer and I may only be guessing, but I believe there are many millions of people who don’t realize the limitless potential of re-purposing trash. So for those who are compelled to buy – during this time of transition – there is at least this refreshing alternative to using any more natural resources.

Re-purposing, local artists and millions upon millions of ideas, trash items and stuff. I snagged many of these images from Inhabitat a website rich in sustainable design ideas. I have referenced this website before and I am especially excited about their participation in international designs that function for the many, rather than simply for the wealthy few. The Hippo Bottle and Glasses for Global Poor were an examples of this.

I still believe that eliminating the consumer addiction is the ultimate direction. But it took a century to get us this brainwashed as a nation into this mess. It will need some real re-education to manipulate the sheeple away from destructive consumerism; euphemistically labeled progress. Speaking of labels, this designer jacket is exclusively labels.

For me, there is the delicious irony of glossy design magazine pages used to create three different products from three different designers. And an additional irony is trash basket made from trash.

Computer or typewriter keys have always captivated me as objects. And using phone card punch outs – or even credit cards could be a great protest jewelry in this transition time – revolutionary time.

And what about honoring books in our lives by using them as the designer has done here?

Not one of these ideas couldn’t be ‘borrowed’ for a Do It Yourself project for gift giving or barter or simply for oneself. Maybe the label jacket is a stretch for most of us, but the concept is a good one.
So, before you give away those clothes, check the label – it might be useful.

Mana Collections necklaces

Update:I want to bring a brilliant comment into the body of this post, because it shouldn't be overlooked. Commenter Rosa writes,

I have this half-thought-out theory that about 50 years of modern art and craft-as-art (say starting with Pop Art) have been about dealing with the overwhelming plenty of industrial consumerism, and we are starting to see the beginning of post-plenty art.

Just like cooking by looking at what is available and making something delicious out of it, this art of looking at what is there and transforming it through skill, instead of thinking of something and finding the resources to make it, isn't so much a technique as a world view.

But it's a really important shift.

If Rosa would develop this I would guest post it. This is indeed a shift in perspective.