nik bentel wraps a 25 ft electric cord into a statement handbag

transforming mundane items into fashion statements

Uncovering beauty from the mundane, Nik Bentel’s latest creation in his recent string of handbag designs is a limited edition bag crafted purely from a single unbroken electric cord. An orange cord measuring 25 foot long has been seamlessly wrapped and glued to form the bucket-like body of the Electric Cord Bag, extending outwards for its handles which plug together in the middle as they curve. The bag can be worn as a whacky and unexpected accessory to hold your items, or can even be plugged into a wall.

Inspired by the robust, mundane nature of the material, Bentel and his team first tested up to 20 different prototypes using various techniques, before deciding on the final ‘perfect’ version. The ultimate design, which has been launched in a limited-edition run of just 100 units, was developed through a painstaking process of gluing layers of cords together while molding them into the shape of a basket, all the while preserving the cord for its intended use without any cuts.

the electric cord bag can be plugged and unplugged | all images courtesy of Nik Bentel

nik bentel launches new limited edition bag collection

The Electric Cord Bag takes its key inspiration from the artworks of Fluxus — the avant-garde art movement that emerged in the late 1950s — specifically ‘One of Three Chairs’ by Joseph Kosuth’ which argues over the difference between and concept and its mode of presentation. As a result, designer Nik Bentel poses the question: ‘What really is a bag?’ and encourages us to expand our perspectives beyond restraints and be more resourceful in our creations.

‘In designing the bag, we are asking a few questions. Can we take mundane studio supplies and make them usable fashion… Can a bag also be an electric cord? Can an electric cord also be a bag? How far can this be pushed until one supersedes the other?’ he continues.

The Electric Cord Bag

an orange cord has been wrapped, molded,and glued to form the bucket-like body

the 25 ft long cord meets at the top and plugs together

Nikolas Bentel continues his experimentation with uncovering beauty from the mundane

the Electric Cord Bag measures approximately 8″ by 8″ by 6″

a whacky and unexpected fashion statement

project info:

name: The Electric Cord Bag
designer: Nik Bentel

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: ravail khan | designboom