Garbage dump to designer chic

ECO MART

What do you do with mineral water bottles and tetra packs after using them? The most obvious answer is throw them away, well its trash after all right? Well, wrong! And if you want to find out exactly why, head to Reflea. The popular flea night is back in a whole new, recycled avatar at the Olive Beach boutique in Bangalore.

This time around, well-known designers Anshu Arora Sen, Julie Kagti, Devika Krishnan, Jenny Pinto along with self-help groups, NGOs and upcoming designers are all set to showcase a range of products made from recycling plastic, tetra packs, glass, cloth, tins and waste paper, all of which is usually considered trash.

Incidentally, this event is part of the very first Bengaluru Recycling Habba 2011. According to Manu Chandra, Executive Chef, Olive Beach, “Personally, I am a big supporter of recycling endeavours and the fact that I knew practically everyone on board helped. The perception that recycling is a daunting and annoying task can be changed with something like this which is going to be great fun in an aesthetically pleasing backdrop.”

Choices galore

The products at the event include an eclectic mix of recycled products like woven baskets, tea coasters, tablemats, jewellery, accessories, lampshades, clothes and wall hangings. You can also do your bit to assist NGO’s like Auroville’s Wellpaper, initiated as a tsunami relief effort that has handicrafts made of newspaper and recycled material. Kirana Self Help Group’s women will showcase their paper jewellery, notepads, greeting cards, and gift envelopes and Desai’s products include toys made from waste material.

Also check out recycled products made from plastic straws and tin cans, bags, beads from Small Shop and waste fabric jewellery, recycled paper products, patchwork fabric bags from Jugaad and bags and accessories from discarded juice, milk cartons and cement sacks from Anu Women’s Unit. Says Anshu Arora Sen of Small Shop, “It’s fun to make products out of things people throw away even though it’s more challenging. We have made lights from cutting out tetra packs and I have cut several shapes and have made interesting butterfly lights among others.”

Also on display are indigenous in-house handcrafted bags, footwear, belts, neck wear and furnishing, all hand-sewn using traditional techniques from Creative Merchandise Innovation.

Roni from Glasshoppers who started the venture as a hobby seven months ago is floored by the response. “We recycle bottles by flattening them and turn them into ash trays, lanterns and hanging lights among others. This is our business today.” From shiny sun catchers and massive door panels to corporate gifts in all sizes and shapes to stunning Tiffany-styled glass lampshades, check out Glasshoppers’ intricate lead work that fuses the glass pieces together in over 200 shaded, coloured and textured stained glass pieces. Jenny Pinto’s lights/lampshades from paper made with waste agricultural fibres and Julie Kagti’s gorgeous paper tapestries for the wall and lampshades — are all going on display.

If you are wondering how to ensure  garbage from home can be used, check with Daily Dump — they can help you understand how to make compost at home. Shop till you drop while enjoying some great gastronomical delicacies coupled with the DJ’s enchanting music. And all this is happening at Olive Beach on November 9, 2011 at Wood Street, Ashok Nagar, Bangalore.