Aauzar
Our idea is developing a weaving machine that is hundred percent green and helps to generate “circular economy” using nature-based solutions by making every marginalized group/people an entrepreneur. During our internship period of Crafting Futures under Design Lab of Kathmandu University, we were fortunate to explore various problems in craft sectors. Some of them being chairs/used furniture causing pollution, hand-weaving process taking time and requiring a lot of skills, inappropriate sitting positions of vertical/horizontal weavers. We have decided to solve these problems by recycling the old chairs, and other types of furniture.
Our idea revolves around using of Bamboo instead of wood to avoid deforestation, upcycling of used chairs and manufacturing of weaving machine with good ergonomics. With this, we can solve various problems of crafters, mitigating several severe problems like deforestation, by upcycling used furniture making every craftsmen an entrepreneur by linking them to Fair Trade Organizations around the world to obtain possible market.
Pre-existing weaving machines are being developed by using bamboos, upcycling the used chairs. The weaving machine will be painted in white and sky blue color in order to reduce the effect of global warming as well. Weaving process will be a lot faster and will produce quality products. Our use of bamboo will help in prevention of deforestation. Additionally, the increased growth in plantation of bamboo will purify the air as it acts as a ‘Carbon Sink’. Same is the case for used chairs that will also be painted with nature friendly paints. Use of bamboos preventing deforestation, Use of white and sky blue paint. Every marginalized group using this weaving machine will be an entrepreneur after we link them, to the Fair Trade Organizations throughout the world and help them sell their products with proper quality. Proper training will be given in collaborations with different NGOs, INGOs.
We seek to provide people with a simple and affordable product. The loom will in no way be made of expensive materials and will be made purely with recyclable and non-expensive things. With this, the planet is directly and indirectly benefitted since there will be less use of new materials since we are mainly recycling woods. With the plantation of bamboo, it will also support in maintaining good quality of the air. In addition, there will be less deforestation relatively. There is mutual profit among the customers of this machine and us who are going to sell it in very low profit margin keeping nature preservation as our main motto. This will also promote our tradition and culture of weaving clothes with hand and giving them a good feel.
Our idea’s conceptual 3D prototype is already developed. This is a complete new idea. Similar ideas or products are not introduced in the market. Hence, no prototype or evidence of this model exists. We are having literature review on designing a weaving machine through different reports of pre-existing weaving machines. This idea is completely feasible as we are using chair as structural component only, keeping all the weaving machine design/manufacturing procedures similar. We are planning to collaborate with different fair trade organizations worldwide as our idea incorporates making every marginalized group/person an entrepreneur. Through collaborations with Fair Trade Organizations we can, sell their products, if proper quality is maintained. We are also having informal collaboration with different nearby waste houses, Khaalisisi organization, different furniture shops, etc. for getting our waste chairs/ furniture.
The weaving machine is already being used in the market. However, our idea is completely zero carbon emitting as it incorporates upcycling chairs, bamboo use, etc. Even our product will be organic clothes so, no such idea of promoting 100% green idea exists in the market. The product existing in market of Nepal is basically vertical/horizontal weaving machine which causes back ache issues to weavers, which is eliminated by our idea to a greater extent.
We have the mission to make fair trade concept more wide, empowering marginalized people do something on their own , reducing the effect of climate change. Similarly, the vision of our organization is to establish as a fair trade organization and promote green environment across the globe by 2025.