Plastics Make It Possible® Unveils Vending Machine For Recycled Plastic T-shirts At New York Fashion Week

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- For three days during New York Fashion Week, consumers on midtown 8^th Avenue can "buy" a limited edition designer T-shirt made with recycled plastic fabric from a new vending machine by Plastics Make it Possible^® —using a plastic bottle as currency. Anyone passing by can simply deposit a plastic bottle into the machine and a beautiful new garment made with recycled plastics will be dispensed, underscoring how everyday plastics can live on as "eco-chic" fashion.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111114/LA05519LOGO)

The new vending machine is designed to celebrate the growing role of recycled plastics in fashion during New York Fashion Week. Visitors to the Plastics Make it Possible^® website also will have a chance to win one of the limited edition T-shirts.

Plastics Make it Possible^® has partnered with New York fashion designer Allison Parris for the debut of the vending machine, which will be located south of Columbus Circle on 8^th Avenue between 57^th and 58^th streets in New York City from Sept. 9 through 11. The T-shirts feature an original design by Parris, whose collection is "built around the idea that retaining moral values and being able to wear beautiful, well made clothing are not mutually exclusive actions." Parris is one of a growing number of designers who have embraced recycled plastics as one of the new go-to materials for creating stylish clothing and accessories.

"I'm thrilled to partner with Plastics Make it Possible^® and help raise awareness that our everyday plastics can become beautiful, stylish clothing and accessories," Parris said. "When consumers recycle plastics, it gives designers like me the ability to create clothing that's both fashion-conscious and eco-conscious. Recycled plastics make a real contribution to sustainability in fashion—both in my own line and in the industry as a whole."

To help create the T-shirt material, plastic bottles are cleaned, melted, and stretched into a fine thread, which then is woven into soft, comfortable fabrics. Thanks to the versatility of recycled plastics, these fabrics can be manufactured with a variety of weights and textures for a wide range of uses. Both high-end designers and mainstream brands today use recycled plastics to make everything from stylish party dresses to trendy shoes to rugged outdoor jackets.

"By demonstrating that high-quality, stylish clothing can be made with recycled plastics, we hope that Allison Parris's design and this unique vending machine will inspire people to recycle more plastics," said Steve Russell, vice president of plastics for the American Chemistry Council, which sponsors the Plastics Make it Possible^® initiative. "The simple act of recycling a plastic bottle or container or wrap not only helps reduce waste but also helps create the raw materials for making new, useful products, such as clothing."

Each day during Fashion Week (Sept. 5–12), five visitors to the Plastics Make it Possible^® website will win a limited edition Allison Parris T-shirt made with recycled plastics. To enter for a chance to win, website visitors simply leave a comment about what plastics they recycle.

To learn more about how recycled plastics are used in today's fashions, click here.

About Plastics Make it Possible^®
Plastics Make it Possible^® highlights the many ways plastics inspire innovations that improve our lives, solve big problems, and help us design a safer, more promising future. This initiative is sponsored by America's Plastics Makers^TM of the American Chemistry Council. For more information, visit www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com, check out our Facebook page and follow us @plasticpossible on twitter at www.twitter.com/plasticpossible.

http://www.americanchemistry.com

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care^®, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $760 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is the largest exporting sector in the U.S., accounting for 12 percent of U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation's critical infrastructure.

Contact: Jennifer Killinger (202) 249-6619
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Plastics Make it Possible