luke cardew recycles market stall material to create 100% waterproof raincoat

shanghai based designer, luke cardew, designs the ‘market trench’ using the red, white and blue market stall material found across china. the colors of the coat have been long known to represent liberty, equality and fraternity, but this project aims to create a closer relationship to transformation, urbanisation and nomadism under the theatrical developments of modern china. 100% waterproof, the ‘market trench’ makes a serious statement in addition to being a functional raincoat.

the designer in the first prototype, all images courtesy of luke cardew

cardew first encountered the material for this project back in 2008 in chengdu, when the earthquake emergency response project we set up. the material was being handed out by the chinese government as an immediate protection against the elements. returning to shanghai the designer noticed the ubiquitous use of this material, from market stall vendors, shop renovations to large scale construction sites, and started documenting the use of the material across china. the result was the ‘market trench‘. envisioned as a symbol of change, the raincoat began as more of an art project, however it is now being bought to provide protection from the weather. 

the ‘market trench’ features a double zip so you can still ride your bike

xiao modelling one of the first ‘market trench’ prototypes

lilja and hugo in italy modelling the ‘market trench’

the ‘snake skin’ material being used to hide the interior of a shop renovation in shanghai

the material being used to mark out a clear zone

used to protect building materials at the side of the road

the original use of the material was for bags, people from hong kong would fill the bags with supplies when visiting their relatives in china

a local convince store in shanghai, every night he wraps the store up to protect it from the elements

the launch event at a store in shanghai run by oway from hong kong

vlad at sido, the first shop window redressed to launch ‘market trench’ into the world

project info:

project name: ‘the market trench’

design: luke cardew

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: lynne myers | designboom