Dono has made a series of handbags, rucksacks, bike paniers and lampshades from the tarpaulin that covered Pont Adolphe Dono

Dono has made a series of handbags, rucksacks, bike paniers and lampshades from the tarpaulin that covered Pont Adolphe Dono

A socio-cultural project has found a novel use for the 10,000 m2 of hardy plastic sheeting--by transforming it into handbags, rucksacks, saddle bags and lampshades.

The items, which feature in the “E Stéck vun der Bréck” collection (Luxembourgish for a piece of the bridge), form part of the Dono project, to promote upcycling, circular economy principles and raise awareness about waste.

Within the first few days of going on sale, Dono designer Julie Conrad told Delano that much of the initial stock had already been sold.

“I didn’t think it would be so big. We’ve been working on it since the beginning of the year. Now we see how people are reacting and it’s wonderful. I’m very happy.”

The designer worked with a team of six people with disabilities from the Cooperations Wiltz to make the range from the curious tarpaulin.

“We received 50 orders from people who wanted to choose a specific part of the tarpaulin,” she said, adding that new items in the collection are planned. “We really like when people give feedback. A lot of people have asked for wallets and I think that’s going to be top of the list along with bigger bags.”

Dono's mission is to make companies and consumers take responsibility for the goods they buy and  encourage them to adopt habits which prioritise biodegradable materials, favour recycling or reuse of items. To remain true to circular economy principles, Dono products are not delivered to clients but can be picked up from fixed locations chosen by the buyer.

Conrad told Delano that since launching, the group had been contacted by businesses wishing to donate their tarpaulins to be upcycled so new styles and colours could be expected in future.

The current collection is sold at a pop up store in Luxembourg’s Casino museum until Sunday. They can also be found at the Luxembourg House, the marché des créateurs on 9 and 10 December and via the Dono online shop.

Photo: Maison Moderne archive, The 10,000m2 tarpaulin covered Pont Adolphe in Luxembourg until spring 2017