NYC company turns old plastic bags into fashion

NEW YORK (PIX11) -- New York is known for creating trends and the next big thing in fashion. One business is finding inspiration in the trash.

ANYBAG was created in 2020 and it's produced at Park Avenue International on West 29th Street in Manhattan's Garment District. 

It was founded in 1982 as a family-operated company that specializes in handmade leather goods.

Alex Dabagh came up with the new idea when he was taking out the trash in 2020. 

"If we can do this with leather, we can do it with plastic. It's NYC's finest trash. We are intercepting it before it reaches the landfill," he said. 

They collect plastic wrappings and bags from brands and companies and have expanded to local schools. 

They create sheets of plastic by cutting and fusing together the plastic or bags. Those are cut into strips and weaved together in a loom. 

The material is cut to form a pattern and sewn together. 

"Instead of working with cotton or leather, we use plastic and cotton cord. It's unique and one of a kind," he said. 

Dabagh and the staff take pride in giving another use to something that seemed to have a single purpose. 

It takes about 96 bags or two pounds of plastic to make a bag. 

This spring, they'll be using a newly designed loom which will weave the material faster.