Blooming bras and pants

It seems that our ideas for unusual plant containers have been taken up in the most influential circles – the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) no less.

A little while ago we wrote on our website about turning bras into unusual plant containers (see link below).

Now the RHS has created the ‘Hanging Bra-sket’ as part of its drive to encourage sustainable gardening and food growing. (The bras were apparently donated by ‘enthusiastic gardeners’ and Marks & Spencer.)

They have since upped the ante and come up with ‘plant pants’ which are, yes, you guessed it, pants with plants in and what we’ve christened ‘window boxers’. (Think horticulture’s answer to Linford Christie.) The RHS has gone for a combination of blooms and veggies. Something for the lunch box, so to speak.

The containers were on display at the recent Hampton Court Flower Show.

>> Watch a video about the RHS bra-skets and plant pants

>> See our orginal bra container article - as well as lots of other ideas for creative containers

According to Georgie Webb of the RHS: “Due to their conical shape, bras are ideal containers for turning into hanging baskets, and if you sew two together, you have what is best described as a ‘hanging bra-sket’.

“Once filled with compost you can grow salad leaves, herbs, alpine strawberries and even tumbling cherry tomatoes in them; the bigger the bra the more you can grow. But the serious message behind the ‘bra-skets’ is that you do not need a lot of space or even a lot of money to start growing your own food – just a bit of imagination.”

Bra recycling – ‘bumper crop’ expected

Brighton and Hove City Council is the latest of many UK local authorities to set up a bra recycling scheme. There will be 10 pink painted recycling banks across the city. The first one was launched on The Level in central Brighton last week.

Cityclean, the council’s waste, recycling and street cleansing service, and BCR Global, a national textile recycling company are backing the scheme.

The bras will be transported, along with other clothing, to developing countries including Africa, Pakistan and Eastern Europe, where they will be repaired (if necessary) and sold on, providing business opportunities as well as affordable clothing.

Every bra donated will earn money for local breast cancer charity The Pink Dolphin Appeal, which was first launched in 2003 to raise money for local breast care services. The new breast care unit was opened in Brighton last year.

Councillors from Brighton & Hove showed their support by donating the first batch of unwanted bras. Council environment director Jenny Rowlands said that women in the city were already ‘brilliant’ at recycling clothing through charity shops and the many textile banks around the city.
‘However, many never think of donating their bras. Now we have a great chance to put all that unwanted underwear to good use.’

We are urging women in the city to have a rummage, dig out and donate all their old bras. I’m sure they’ll find the experience really uplifting!”

Spokesperson for BCR Global, Lynne Timms said:
“Residents of Brighton & Hove have an excellent track record for recycling and, if the donations by councillors are anything to go by we’re expecting a bumper crop of bras.”

If there is not an inititative like this near you then don't worry, you can still donate your (washed) bras by posting them direct to BCR Global. There are full details of this on the Breast Talk website .

....and don't forget this week (June 22nd to 28th) is National Recycle Week. More on this to follow!