flmdc discarded

discarded to revitalized | umbrellas for water

In NYC, after a heavy windy rain, busted umbrellas, items used for avoiding water, line the streets with nowhere to go but the dump. In many areas of the world, people are desperate for clean water. Through this project, those broken umbrellas will help bring water to those most in need. Using the umbrella fabric, roll up tote bags will be produced and sold with profits aiding the installation of water purification plants.

Simply put, brella bags are roll up tote bags made out of fabric from broken umbrellas. The umbrellas, for the most part, are found on the streets, sidewalks, and even garbage cans of NYC. Early in 2010, I had a two-part realization. One, I seem to always be going into grocery stores unplanned, and without one of my many canvas bags. On the verge of buying a ready made roll up bag, I realized I could make one. Two, New Yorkers litter. A lot. After a heavy windy rain, busted umbrellas line the streets. And then the a-ha moment – use that fabric from the broken umbrellas to create a compact, reusable bag. A portion of the sales of these bags will contribute to the installation of a new water purification plant at a UN sponsored school in Gaza. Check out the bags at: www.carstuffnyc.com

Photo Credits: 1,2: Martina Grilec; 3,4: Caroline Razook; 5: Middle East Children’s Alliance

Collaboration is not only a key element in the success of this project, but also an inherent one. It is comprised of a two-pronged approach – collaboration with local groups as well as national and/or global groups.

Locally, planned collaborators include the NYC Department of Sanitation for assistance in collecting umbrellas, various school groups to aid in collecting and “deboning” (fabric removal from umbrella frame), and Grameen Bank America to work with local grantee recipients in sewing production. Promotion within The New School University in NYC at various stages of the process will be constantly considered – creation of collection bins to be placed in New School buildings, hosting an exhibition to raise awareness and sell bags, and adding a page to their website are initial ideas for collaboration locally.

On a broader geographic scale, the main collaborator is the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA). Through their “Maia Project” (maia, the Arabic word for water), the Berkley, CA based non profit organization has built approximately 30 water purification plants in Gaza at UN-sponsored schools, providing clean water to about 29,000 residents who would not otherwise be able to afford it. The profits from the sale of the brella bags will be contributed to MECA for building a new plant. Possible other collaborators may include the local Rotary Clubs in Ramallah and / or Jordan for local support and Architecture for Humanity for in kind services.