First World Trash Makes Stylish Handbags From New York’s Discarded Billboards

Do you ever think about the afterlife of billboards? Jenelle Malbrough certainly does, and after discovering that over 10,000 tons of discarded billboards end up landfills, she decided to take action. Her company, <a href="https://www.firstworldtrash.com/">First World Trash</a>, salvages billboards and old seat belts to make an array of water resistant, tear proof bags and accessories that are built to last. Because the products are made from re-purposed materials, each features a unique color scheme, graphics, images and fonts that speak of its history. We caught up with the Long Island City-based designer at the <a href="http://www.nyigf.com/">New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF)</a> and decided to find out more.

What began as a personal fascination for creating hand made objects from <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/purgatory-pie-press-limited-edition-2012-datebooks-made-completely-from-upcycled-materials/">found materials</a> was largely inspired by Malbrough's upbringing. “All the furniture in our house, my Popa made. My grandma would reupholster things or make our clothes. Making things goes deep into my family.”

Most billboards that appear on the side of the highway are manufactured to last eight years but enjoy only a month or two of life as a billboard.

First World Trash's utility tote features 10 outer slots, a zipper closure and two inch seat belt strap handles. The larger Commuter Tote features an outside pocket, inner key hook and adjustable beverage strap.

Laptop sleeves feature a Velcro closure and an inner soft lining made from vintage sheets.

One of the latest designs, the "Lazy Boy" is a backpack designed specially for bikers.

Beyond good design, Marlbrough's company is really about reinventing how we think about our surrounding resources. "There's a real gap between manufacturing and waste management," stated Malbrough.

"I saw this hole. There's this stuff but it just doesn't look good and I don't want to carry it," explained Marlbrough. "It screams green or eco. While it is, that's not all that it is. It has so much more of a story to it. So I put my design twist on it."

A variety of wallet designs offer graphic alternatives to the traditional money holder.

The bags are fun and colorful yet designed to last and make a statement.

"Making things goes deep into my family," states Marlbrough who has a passion for making things by hand.