Retired ferry life rafts become bags in Athens
3QUARTERS began working with balcony awning fabrics and later moved into ferry life rafts. A raft brings a different set of parts to the workshop. Ropes, zips and other fittings have to come off before the makers can assess the fabric underneath.
GR GreeceIn practice. An Athens workshop takes apart decommissioned ferry life rafts and cuts usable panels for bags.
What to keep in view
Recovered fabric varies. Check the material and care instructions for the individual bag.
Taking a raft apart before cutting a bag
Seams and bonded areas constrain the shapes that can be cut. The studio treats those constraints as part of making a bag from an existing object. It also offers repair, which matters when every piece of source fabric has a different history.
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