Recycled Latex and Rubber Fashion Chic!
March 8, 2003 4:11 PM Subscribe
Look who's wearing your old tires! If you thought recycled fashion was all about clunky rubber sandals, think again - recycled fashion has turned chic. It can be elegant, fun and funky or just plain kinky. Oh, and don't worry guys - there are some fashions designed for you, too! (some links may not be sfw)
Interesting. Cycle-recycling.
On another note...I have loved these guys since the early 90's when I lived in an apartment half a block from a Used Rubber USA shop in the Upper Haight.
They made the best backpack I ever had.
(Actually, still have...I don't think I could wear it out unless I started driving it at speeds of over 80 MPH on rough roads for a couple of years.)
posted by Dunvegan at 6:01 PM on March 8, 2003
On another note...I have loved these guys since the early 90's when I lived in an apartment half a block from a Used Rubber USA shop in the Upper Haight.
They made the best backpack I ever had.
(Actually, still have...I don't think I could wear it out unless I started driving it at speeds of over 80 MPH on rough roads for a couple of years.)
posted by Dunvegan at 6:01 PM on March 8, 2003
Fascinating, juju! I sort of guessed this sort of thing was going to happen about 1997 when genuine dayglo third world flip-flops started costing more than the surfer versions. I went looking for a little link and was quite surprised by their, er, rich pageantry!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 6:03 PM on March 8, 2003
posted by MiguelCardoso at 6:03 PM on March 8, 2003
$425 for a pair of recycled rubber pants? I agree the smell would be obnoxious. Not a trend I think i would follow.
posted by SweetIceT at 6:29 PM on March 8, 2003
posted by SweetIceT at 6:29 PM on March 8, 2003
I'm with you Dunvegan, after years of making my own duct-tape wallets, I graduated to a recycled innertube wallet from usedrubber. They say they'll buy it back for a fixed percentage if you ever get tired of it since they just don't wear out.
posted by daver at 6:37 PM on March 8, 2003
posted by daver at 6:37 PM on March 8, 2003
omidius> it actually doesn't smell if made well, but that doesn't mean smelly people can't wear it
posted by fiz at 8:30 PM on March 8, 2003
posted by fiz at 8:30 PM on March 8, 2003
I don't think the clothes in this slide show look like they would be particularly malodorous...that being said, they aren't exactly my style - a little too edgy for me!
Nevertheless, I really like the idea of using recycled materials. Plus, although I don't object to leather, many people do, and these fabrics provide alternatives. Here is what one of the sites has to say about the fabrics:
For each collection the design team selects a fabric they can merge with latex and rubber. For Fall 2002 they choose wine-red chiffon, the Spring 2003 collection they sourced a sheer parachute fabric that flows much like a silk.
Latex and rubber both have their source in the sap of the Rubber Tree. As natural materials, latex and rubber have been used since 1600 B.C. While latex and rubber have roots in the natural worlds, in their present form they are a result of modern, industrial processes. They speak to our desire to live in a world where the natural and the industrial exist in harmony.
Gaelyn and Cianfarani use recycled bicycle inner tubes to create a unique rubber fabric. The process of transforming bicycle rubber into useable fabric is arduous. This fabric made from bicycle rubber is often mistaken for leather; however, the rubber maintains its shape unlike leather. This process of creating fabric from what most would consider garbage, speaks of Gaelyn and Cianfarani¹s commitment to preserve while creating.
posted by madamjujujive at 9:17 PM on March 8, 2003
Nevertheless, I really like the idea of using recycled materials. Plus, although I don't object to leather, many people do, and these fabrics provide alternatives. Here is what one of the sites has to say about the fabrics:
For each collection the design team selects a fabric they can merge with latex and rubber. For Fall 2002 they choose wine-red chiffon, the Spring 2003 collection they sourced a sheer parachute fabric that flows much like a silk.
Latex and rubber both have their source in the sap of the Rubber Tree. As natural materials, latex and rubber have been used since 1600 B.C. While latex and rubber have roots in the natural worlds, in their present form they are a result of modern, industrial processes. They speak to our desire to live in a world where the natural and the industrial exist in harmony.
Gaelyn and Cianfarani use recycled bicycle inner tubes to create a unique rubber fabric. The process of transforming bicycle rubber into useable fabric is arduous. This fabric made from bicycle rubber is often mistaken for leather; however, the rubber maintains its shape unlike leather. This process of creating fabric from what most would consider garbage, speaks of Gaelyn and Cianfarani¹s commitment to preserve while creating.
posted by madamjujujive at 9:17 PM on March 8, 2003
Now that's a cocktail dress!. On the other hand, the Red Latex Cosmonaut Dress looks great, but a turtle neck in latex for dance wear sounds a little hot. Fetish, for sure, but more appropriate for shuffling not dancing. Now if you added more zippers...
Thanks for the xnxdesigns site, I liked some of her creations. Quite inventive.
posted by alicesshoe at 9:47 PM on March 8, 2003
Thanks for the xnxdesigns site, I liked some of her creations. Quite inventive.
posted by alicesshoe at 9:47 PM on March 8, 2003
fiz --> I highly doubt that. Your link to the XYX site did not give me any information on their manufacturing process that eliminates smell. As a matter of fact, only 2 solid state chemical processes have ever been found to reduce the odor of recycled (resubmitted) rubber products. Both of them render the material too weak for personal consumer uses.
I'm willing to shell out the cost of one of their items to prove that they DO smell.
posted by omidius at 7:54 AM on March 10, 2003
I'm willing to shell out the cost of one of their items to prove that they DO smell.
posted by omidius at 7:54 AM on March 10, 2003
Not to mention the smells I would be making after keeping the equipment in rubber pants for a few hours.
posted by monkeyman at 3:17 PM on March 10, 2003
posted by monkeyman at 3:17 PM on March 10, 2003
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posted by omidius at 4:19 PM on March 8, 2003