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HOW AIRBAGS BECOME BAGS

Sustainable bag made from recycled airbag material, a customer project by Halfar

The AirBag made of ... guess what!

Never in my life have I ever come into contact with an AirBag. Fortunately. But that's all about to change and it's going to be completely accident-free. Thanks to HALFAR®. Because the customisation team has turned the airbag into the AirBag - a bag made from the material of the life-saving impact cushions.

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A question of material

The material from which the AirBags are made feels special. Soft, supple, light - and therefore quite different from what I would expect. The seams are particularly striking. They give the bag an individual design. Which part of the airbag is that? None at all, I am told. The material from the airbags was used for the bags, but not the airbags themselves. It came to HALFAR® on a roll. Not so easy to make a bag out of this lightweight nylon, is it?

Designers and tailors have to do a lot of work to develop a cut with the supplied fabrics that is feasible, looks good and also corresponds to the nature of the material. This raises some questions for me about how, what and why. The HALFAR® team kindly outlines the work process for me. And this is how:

Sustainable bag made from recycled airbag material, a customer project by Halfar
A Halfar sturdy bag is sewn on a sewing machine

Step by step to an upcycled bag

  • Material check: Is the material really suitable for the bag? Anything that wants to become a bag must be sewable, mouldable and, of course, clean and sanitised. 
  • Sewing test: Get to the sewing machine. If the thickness and structure are right and the seam holds, that's a first yes. Sometimes the recycled bags from HALFAR® are used for more than just textiles, i.e. fasteners, straps etc.. These ingredients are also tried out. 
  • Idea development: HALFAR® manufactures promotional bags that transport brands - whether as promotional items, as a bonus for customers or as a small token of appreciation and identification for employees. Using your own material makes a brand literally tangible. It is highly emotional. Together with the customer, the first discussion is about who this special bag is being made for and what it should express. 
  • Design draft: So the direction is clear, now it's time to translate these ideas into a design. And one that actually works with the material supplied. With the soft airbag, for example, it would hardly have been possible to sew a convincing messenger bag. But a shopper is possible. The developers make sketches - or go straight to the next step.

  • Sample making: The first handmade sample shows whether the design idea works. This first bag sewn from their own material is an aha-moment for the customer. Now it's time to decide how the project will continue.
  • Final touch: Maybe a zip here? Or would you prefer the strap like this? We try out the pattern a little more. When everyone is happy, it goes into production. 
  • Series production: Done, now a sample becomes a complete, unique bag series. Production usually takes place at HALFAR® in Bielefeld or at partners in Europe. 

Incidentally, the AirBag was so well received by the airbag manufacturer's employees and customers that an entire series has been created. A beach bag, a shopper, a shoulder bag - HALFAR® has even sewn small pencil cases.

Have bags made with choice of material, shape and colour using the example of an airbag

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