Emirates makes upcycled luggage from A380 and 777 aircraft parts
Emirates is preparing to launch a limited-edition line of handbags and accessories made from upcycled parts of its Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft. The collection, which will go on sale in 2024, includes belts, shoes, backpacks, handbags, cardholders, toiletry bags, and suitcases. Created by a group of skilled seamstresses at an Emirates Engineering location in Dubai, this endeavor is a component of a large-scale refurbishment project that will see 120 aircraft get entirely new interiors.
The collection will be customizable, with proceeds donated to charity
This upcycled collection is entirely customizable, allowing customers to request items with personal specifications or engravings of their initials. Per reports, the proceeds from the sales will be donated to children in need through the Emirates Airline Foundation. The materials used for the collection come from planes that are still in service and undergoing cabin redesigns. The retrofit process, which began in 2022 and is expected to take two years, involves 67 Airbus A380s and 53 Boeing 777s.
Over 30,000 pounds of material has been recovered for upcycling
Emirates Airlines plans to obtain up to 595 pounds of leather and 1,382 pounds of seat fabric from each aircraft that is refurbished, having already salvaged over 30,000 pounds of material from 16 aircraft. Items collected include seatbelts, headrests, leather from A380 lounges, and fur from the lining of cockpit seats. Ahmed Safa, Emirates' divisional senior vice president for engineering, said that this is a "one-off chance to own a piece of aviation history."
An In-house team creates stylish and high-quality upcycled products
The upcycled products are created by Emirates' in-house team of 14 tailors, known as Engineering Maintenance Assistants, who typically work on cabin fittings maintenance. Reportedly, four of them are currently dedicated to the upcycling initiative. Safa explained that the leather is laundered, deep cleaned by hand, leather-conditioned, and thoroughly disinfected before being made into the products. Sustainable fashion expert and educator Nina Gbor praised Emirates for demonstrating that upcycling can be stylish and of good quality.
Emirates isn't the first airline to do this
Lufthansa Airlines previously released a line of home furniture and accessories with components taken from a retired A340-600. Gbor hopes that Emirates continues this range beyond just a limited edition and that other product manufacturers are inspired to commit to using existing materials for redesigning and repurposing their products, contributing to a much-needed circular economy in the world. Emirates auctioned off several hundred items from a decommissioned A380 in a previous charity event.
