BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND TWITTER BACKGROUNDS »

Monday, October 19, 2009

PROJECT 3 - UPCYCLING: Rock the Casbag (Cassette Bag)


For this project, I chose to make something that is different, that celebrates the use of recyled materials. I chose tape ( the total of 30 ; 24 gold and transparent and 6 black tapes). Making the project for me is really exciting, since I get to experiments with materials that isn't usually used to make a bag.

I chose to make a bag using tapes, because the tapes I found in reverse garbage has a very lux color-- the base part is transparent and the circle-y thing in the middle colored gold. When you line them together you can really see that it makes an interesting and unusual patterns.


I experienced several difficulties making these cause the tapes are very wobbly and it falls apart when I touch it. I like the use of the black, medium size lace as it gives more edge to it. The thing that I could work on is the construction of the prototype since it's kinda rough, although I have to say decent effort is put into the construction-- maybe other materials should be chosen instead of the ones I chose to use. And also, I had a problem between deciding how to make it so that it doesn't look like a briefcase-- and it kinda shows by the construction of the sides.


Oh, and about the poster, I actually changed the name of the product to Rock The Casbag (Cassette Bag), just for fun since XOX Handbag sounds dull haha.

My target market for this is girls who are artsy --dare to be different and into fashion -- That's why for the colors, I chose mainly gold transparent and magenta for the sides.

6 comments:

kate barclay said...

I think this bag is a good idea. I like the retro feel it creates by using cassette tapes.
I think it could be improved by making the bag a little sturdier and perhaps adding a lining.
Good work!

Stanley Wong said...

I think that this is an awesome idea. It brings back the retro look in two ways. Firstly reuing old obsolete tapes, and secondly making them into a fashionable bag. And the unison between the two make this design interesting and cool.

The only thing that i thought could have been improved was the construction, like you have pointed out youself, the final product did feel a tad bit flimsy, perhaps a different joinery method could have been used.

Other than that, great design!

guidaarezzi said...

I like the way you put the cassette together by just tied them up..hmm..my only concern is the side part of the bag that easily break...try to make sure that everything well-glued......good effort dude

dani said...

This bag is very interesting. It will certainly stand out in a crowd. Like others have said, I think the joinery method used could be improved to make the bag more sturdy.

Xiao Ruyu said...

It is a clever idea to use the shape of cassettes and how you combine them together.
I just wonder cassettes can make the bag heavy and can be easily damaged when it drops on the floor.

Anonymous said...

Great idea Stan, I think you've upcycled these tapes into a completely functional product for everyday use - I imagine the harder structure of the bag would be able to protect fragile items that you otherwise would be wary to carry around in a bag made out of fabric. Only criticism is that maybe you could have used a more appealing means to join the cassettes? the black binding seems a bit bland and out of place but perhaps if more outrageously coloured tapes were used it would be a nice contrast. I guess the experimentation of colours in the aesthetic could have been furthered in that respect. But your bag definitely has that retro appeal because of your choice in item, which would be popular with your target market considering the renewed interest in 80s pop culture. Well done!