Plastic bags recycling
Commissioned by Doctor Fatiha’s organization, this project aims at offering a second life to plastic bags through the creation of useful and daily objects. Mixed with alfa vegetal fiber according to a specific traditional weaving technique, the craftswomen of Berkane region try to develop an economic activity from this collected material, and take this project as an example to raise people and children’s awareness of the problematic of abandoned plastic bags in Morocco.
Site
Berkane, Morocco
date
March - July 2014
TEAM
Amandine Chhor (designer)
Aïssa Logerot (designer)
Ifassen (craftwomen’s cooperative)
collaborators
Doctor Fatiha’s Organization
(local collaborator)
Hermès Foundation
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During a few days’ immersion in Berkane, we went to visit the different cooperatives around the city to discover the craftswomen’s stories and skills regarding plastic bags weaving. With a growing concern and sensitivity to the recycling of plastic, some women try to reuse this material to create products such as fashion accessories.
Taking into account the local oppotunities and expertise, we worked on new tools such as molds and templates to help the craftswomen create new curved shapes and homogenizz their production. We conducted a short training to explain design methodologies, and the finalization of details to improve the perceived quality and help the sale.
What we’ve done:
1.
Experimentations with plastic bags weaving techniques. Analysis of the context, opportunities and limits of the alfa and plastic bags mixed materials.
2.
We conceived molds and designed specific methodologies according to the possibilities of the context and the know-how of the craftswomen. The idea was to develop long lasting new tools in order to generate new curved shapes.
3.
We designed some examples of objects that the craftswomen could adopt easily, colorful baskets, big storage baskets, and a collection of lampshades and wall decoration.
