For three days during New York Fashion Week, consumers on midtown 8th Avenue can "buy" a limited edition designer T-shirt made with recycled plastic fabric from a new vending machine by Plastics Make it Possible —using a plastic bottle as currency. Anyone passing by can simply deposit a plastic bottle into the machine and a beautiful new garment made with recycled plastics will be dispensed, underscoring how everyday plastics can live on as "eco-chic" fashion.
The new vending machine is designed to celebrate the growing role of recycled plastics in fashion during New York Fashion Week.
Plastics Make it Possible has partnered with New York fashion designer Allison Parris for the debut of the vending machine, which will be located south of Columbus Circle on 8th Avenue between 57th and 58th streets in New York City from Sept. 9 through 11.
The T-shirts feature an original design by Parris, whose collection is "built around the idea that retaining moral values and being able to wear beautiful, well made clothing are not mutually exclusive actions." Parris is one of a growing number of designers who have embraced recycled plastics as one of the new go-to materials for creating stylish clothing and accessories.
"I'm thrilled to partner with Plastics Make it Possible and help raise awareness that our everyday plastics can become beautiful, stylish clothing and accessories," Parris said. "When consumers recycle plastics, it gives designers like me the ability to create clothing that's both fashion-conscious and eco-conscious. Recycled plastics make a real contribution to sustainability in fashion—both in my own line and in the industry as a whole."
To help create the T-shirt material, plastic bottles are cleaned, melted, and stretched into a fine thread, which then is woven into soft, comfortable fabrics. Thanks to the versatility of recycled plastics, these fabrics can be manufactured with a variety of weights and textures for a wide range of uses. Both high-end designers and mainstream brands today use recycled plastics to make everything from stylish party dresses to trendy shoes to rugged outdoor jackets.
"By demonstrating that high-quality, stylish clothing can be made with recycled plastics, we hope that Allison Parris's design and this unique vending machine will inspire people to recycle more plastics," said Steve Russell, vice president of plastics for the American Chemistry Council, which sponsors the Plastics Make it Possible initiative. "The simple act of recycling a plastic bottle or container or wrap not only helps reduce waste but also helps create the raw materials for making new, useful products, such as clothing."
About Plastics Make it Possible
Plastics Make it Possible highlights the many ways plastics inspire innovations that improve our lives, solve big problems, and help us design a safer, more promising future. This initiative is sponsored by America's Plastics Makers of the American Chemistry Council.
