# Umbrella Apparel From Gutter to Gown With ‘The Umbrella Project' By Elsa Blaine | Published 2008-08-14 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/waterproof-fashions-from-gutter-to-gown-the-umbrella-project References: [greenupgrader](http://greenupgrader.com/3132/umbrella-project-recycled-umbrellas-turned-dress/#more-3132) & [theeel](http://www.theeel.com/~feyeel/personal/umbrella.html) Yes, this beautiful boned bodice topped black dress has been made of umbrellas, about 20 to be exact. Design students Feyeel and Anadamayi from Berkeley, California say they collected the [discarded brelies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/remake-by-burberry) themselves, in the gutters of New York and Berkley to created this gown. The designers say, “The goal behind the Umbrella Project is, as you might guess, to [reuse the umbrellas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/umbrella-crate-stall) that people casually toss aside when they (the umbrellas) fail structurally.” Their next project is an ‘[umbrella skin’ raincoat](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/original-duckhead). I love the way they integrated the snap straps as a fringy sort of detail. Can you image what they could do with patterned umbrella skins? I’ll be waiting. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.7/10 - Popularity: 55% | Activity: 18% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Upcycled Fashion:** Creating clothing and accessories from discarded materials, such as umbrellas, presents an opportunity for a disruptive innovation in the fashion industry. - **Sustainable Design:** Designers finding ways to repurpose and reuse materials, like umbrellas, can drive disruptive innovation towards more environmentally-friendly practices in the fashion industry. - **Circular Economy:** The Umbrella Project demonstrates the potential of circular economy models, where discarded umbrellas are transformed into fashionable garments, presenting a disruptive opportunity in the waste management industry. ### Who This Affects Most - **Fashion:** The fashion industry can embrace the concept of upcycling and sustainable design in order to tap into a disruptive innovation opportunity and address growing environmental concerns. - **Waste Management:** Finding innovative solutions to repurpose discarded umbrellas and other materials could revolutionize the waste management industry by reducing landfill waste and promoting a circular economy. - **Accessories:** The accessory industry can explore the use of upcycled materials, like umbrella skins, to create unique, eco-friendly products and stay ahead of sustainable design trends. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Space-Inspired Folding Umbrellas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bloombrella.md) - [Upcycled Tent Garments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/music-festival-waste.md) - [Croatian Crocheted Umbrellas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fashion-umbrella-design-lifestyle.md) - [Eco-Conscious Rain-Harvesting Headwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/daughters-of-rain.md) - [Artist-Designed Umbrella Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shed-rain-artist-series.md) - [Designer-Approved Vibrant Weather Accessories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vibrant-weather-accessories.md) - [Flying Umbrella Prototypes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flying-umbrella.md) - [Rainwater Multifunctional Planters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/raindrop-1.md) - [Duck Down-Filled Umbrellas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/original-duckhead.md)