On FDCI x LFW’s Sustainable Fashion Day, Bandit launches bags made of flex, tarpaulin and more
Would you wear a tarpaulin? Or billboard flex and seat belts? What if we told you that they come in the form of eco-cool sling bags, fanny packs, and backpacks?
At the Sustainable Fashion Day being showcased at FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week, Bandit, a three-year-old Goa based brand, unveiled its Shaurai collection. Shaurai Means ‘future’ in Japanese, explains founder Satyajit Vetoskar. And soon, the futuristic collection will include ponchos, messenger bags, and yoga mat bags—all made from their trademark tarp. “Often what we buy is considered ‘waste’ because their customers have problems with color or warp [Bandit sources its tarp from ISO-9001 certified factories that export the material]. We use colors that we find, and therein lies the beauty because you will never be able to find the same product with us again,” says the designer and architect, who holds a Masters in Industrial Design.
Earrings from Bandit Jewelery Collection
flex for the future
Vitoskar initially wanted to do something with cinema billboards, but the idea never took off. Then, four years ago, they had their eureka moment – as their flight landed in Mumbai. The sea of blue tarpaulins used as roofing for the shanties in the shanties around the airport caught his eye. “Can you create amazing products using ingredients that are ordinary and simple? That was the driving thought,” he recalls.
For the past year, Bandit has been experimenting with flex from billboards to create two lines of products: a commercial line of bags, and a charitable range of sleeping bags and tents for the homeless. “The idea is to create a range of open-source design products that can be replicated. After all, upcycling is about giving back,” he shares. Currently, they are in talks with Goonj, an NPO that Focuses on making linings for tents and sleeping bags, providing clothing used during disasters.Flex, usually a harder material to work with (as it becomes brittle from exposure to the sun), the latter Very good for, because it provides the heat. “We will submit this project to UNEP” [United Nations Environment Programme] next month. Flex is procured from two outside agencies in Mumbai,” he says.
Fountain pen made from recycled materials
plane pen aluminum
Another project features a range of fountain pens made from recycled materials – aircraft aluminum, brass from molten artillery shells (obtained from the Army and Pune’s famous Juna Bazar), and wood from old handloom spindles – of the use and culture of throwing. Plastic ballpoint pen for combat. “It happened by chance, when a friend from design school who likes fountain pens, and I were talking with another friend who repairs aircraft! It was just a matter of joining the dots.”
Meanwhile, the brand Bandit is also working with a variety of partners for its myriad products – from musicians, artists and skateboarders (Bandit is making carry cases for skateboards), to graffiti artists. Latest: A collab with jewelery brand Moksha to create a jewelery line that brings together reclaimed metals like aluminum and copper, along with gold and diamonds. “We are changing the way we make jewelery by using non-precious metals along with gold,” he says. “Yes, I have heard the argument that our jewelery is not pure upcycling. But the touch of gold adds style, and makes it feel like anything that’s recycled or recycled isn’t junk. It’s about sending a message – even to people who won’t touch the tarpaulin bag!”
Bags start at Rs 2,000, pens at Rs 7,000 and jewelery at Rs 20,000 on thalabandit.com.
Designs from A&T’s ‘Assembled, Disassembled and Reassembled’ Collection
PET for your ideas
FDCI x LFW also had a capsule dedicated to the use of new-age clothing R/Elan (a product of Reliance Industries), with several designers showcasing their collections on Sustainable Fashion Day. For example, Abraham and Thakor used its variant Green Gold in their ‘montage’ – a yarn made from 100% recycled post-consumer PET bottles. To separate. Reassemble’ collection. “The designs use traditional recycling techniques of patchwork, appliqué and KanthaA portion of her evening wear, says David Abraham, has also been embroidered using sequins made from a sheet of discarded PET material.
Should we worry about wearing plastic? “This plastic is not wearing out! PET is broken down and completely reconstituted to make a yarn that has special properties that make it pliable and comfortable,” responds Abraham. He says it is an extremely versatile fiber and can be woven into fabrics that can be wrapped and sewn.
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