Himane designer Catherine Edouard-Charlot doing a fitting with Ford model Leah

I came across this press release regarding recycling umbrellas at a Local Labels kiosk in the Graybar Passageway at Grand Central Terminal in New York City.

Apparently, the designer sees far too many broken umbrellas littering the city,  so she makes stylish bags out of them.

After a quick read of the release I Googled the design label Himane (mentioned as the designer of the umbrella bags), a fashion and design company founded by Brooklyn resident, Catherine Edouard-Charlot. I was truly impressed at what she’s doing.

Not only is she recycling umbrellas, she’s upcycling all kinds of fabrics into fantastic dresses and jackets as well as bags.

I know it’s hard to wrap your brain around this particular piece now, with summer’s sweltering heat, but I think this jacket is amazing!

As is this ruffled collared dress…

and this open back dress.

Check out her bags at Local Labels or go to her website and inquire within.

Maybe we should all ask her why she forced an altogether beautiful model to wear mostly summer clothes for the shoot in the winter with snow?

Catherine!