What for many is just dirt for the vacuum cleaner, for Rahat Rai is raw material. The 21 -year -old designer created a felt -like fabric from domestic dust. In the start of the ecological design project, a pair of slippers was made, but idea is not to be out there.
Can dust be the next trend of ecological design? This is the bet of newly graduated in Design from in London, who developed slippers made with dust collected in vacuum cleaners.
O reuses the trash from everyday life, Turning it into a resistant and malleable material, similar to felt. The process begins with the separation of dust to eliminate larger and undesirable debris such as twigs, nails or hair. The remaining powder is flat and heated, eliminating bacteria and other contaminants.
The final fabric, stubborn with seams and latex, was used by Rai to create durable slippers. Although not yet practical for daily use, prototypes They show the potential to rethink waste as a creative resource.
Inspired by the growing interest in sustainable materials in fashion – such as recycled wool and vegetable fibers – Rai believes that your powder fabric may have applications beyond shoes, including packaging and furniture. The young designer is already studying partnerships with cleaning companies to ensure the supply of raw materials.
“It was a risky decision, a shot in the dark”admits the young designer to the agency Reuters, but If it depends on rai, dust that accumulates in the corners may have a bright future in sustainable design.