In Brazil, fashion items are created out of recycled cars

Looking at the handbags and fashion accessories created by Brazilian cooperative Comunidade do Jardim Teresopolis in Betim, it's hard to believe that they're made out of materials recycled from the demolition of old Fiat cars. Yet that's exactly what they are.

The artisans working on the 'sustainable fashion' programme, belonging to the 'slow fashion' movement', use a car's interior and seat upholstery and its safety belts to produce fascinating hand-painted objects.

Their 2016 collection is labelled 'Vista-se de Flores' and is inspired by the beauty of nature. Among the stand-out items from the new collection, available also online on www.cooperarvore.com.br, there is a handbag 'assembled' using safety belt parts, a brightly-coloured floral wallet and a cup-holder/cushion for the lounge or the cinema.

The cooperative started on the 'Arvore da Vida' programme in 2006, and since then it has already re-used 24.7 tons of materials, manufacturing and selling 233,000 fashion and furniture items.