Monthly Statement:
May 2006
Total Bag Count: 2,226
Monthly total: 257
153 black – 92 white – 12 color

This month I did some hands-on research into the feasibility of March's proposal to create one reusable canvass bag for each plastic bag I accumulate. I took a trip to the Save-a-Thon, the best discount fabric store in Downtown Brooklyn and purchased what was left of their 72", medium-weight canvas; about 5 yards. For retail it was a steal at $2.99 a yard. From there I did a little reverse engineering of an existing bag to determine proper size and to see if there are any unexpected tricks to making a good bag. Good bags, it turns out, have little butts sewn into them making them sturdier. Ill-considered bags are butt-less. I am all about making a quality product, so butts it will have to be.

I assembled the bags in stages, doing all of the cutting, sewing of the sides, seam finishing, and handle assembling in stages. From the 5 yards I was able to produce 26 bags (minus a few handles). Yeah 26 bags! Only 2,200 more to go! I averaged that each bag took about 25 minutes to produce from start to finish. Of course processes are always slower in the beginning and as I re-organize my apartment/sweatshop under Fordist principals I'm sure I will be able to shave that time down.

As it stands it will take me, all by my lonesome, 916 hours or 38.19 non-stop days of sewing to complete enough for what I have already accumulated. On the finances-front prospects are cheerier. The fabric for each bag cost only 58 cents. Adding in the cost of thread, machine needles, unexpected do-dads and ultimately, silkscreen paint (yes they will be decorated), I estimate my cost will be around $1.25 per bag. That comes to a layout of $2,782.50 for Sept.-May. No small sum, but if my plastic accumulates can fetch a price of $5 each and I sell only half of them, I will bring in $5,565 dollars which will more than enable me to make back expenses and give most of the bags away for FREE!

The race against time and my pocketbook has begun.

Process: I am accumulating all plastic shopping bags left on the street that I encounter each time I go outside. A record is being kept of how many bags are accumulated each day for the course of the project year. For each plastic bag I accumulate I will create one reusable canvas bag.