Plastic bag swimsuits a fashion trend in Taipei
It's eco-friendly, affordable and most importantly, completely free of charge. So what's wrong with the hottest outfit in Taiwan right now?
Well for starters, it's a plastic bag. Yes, people are actually wearing plastic bags that they have brought home from convenience stores and supermarkets.
Young women, and some men, have been proudly sharing photos of themselves wearing nothing but translucent bags from stores such as Carrefour and 7-Eleven — which according to Mail Online, seems to be the most popular brand.
It's easy to see why these plastic bag swimsuits have been drawing so much attention. Wearers are able to decide how much skin they want to show — as if they aren't already revealing enough — by making their own slits in the bags.
The trend, which has gone viral, appears to have been initiated by a closed Facebook group with over 300,000 members.
Shanghaiist reported that while some netizens commended the bag-wearers for making a statement about the excessive use of plastic bags. Others, who were more critical, felt that it was just another way for them to show off their bodies.
But as ridiculous as the idea may seem, these plastic bag swimsuits could yet prove useful. Here are some ways we can use this odd invention.
Turn it into a VMA outfit
The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) is perhaps the only place where the plastic bag swimsuit wearers will feel right at home.
From rapper Lil Kim's nipple pastie in 1999 to Lady Gaga's meat dress in 2010, the awards show never fails to churn up weird outfits.
So it's not so much of whether celebrities will be daring enough to walk up on stage in just plastic bags, but rather how creative they can get with their new outfits.
Convert it into a disposable swimsuit
It may have the word swimsuit in its name but we all know it won't work as one...yet.
A plastic bag is designed to hold groceries so it's definitely durable. But when an adult woman or man puts it on and starts stretching it, it's only a matter of time before the bag gives way.
If there's a way to make the bag thicker and less translucent, there might yet be hope for a swimsuit that we can carry around with ease and discard when it gets dirty. Think disposable underwear, except it's made of plastic.
New products for convenience stores
This is a great opportunity for convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and Cheers to make some extra money.
With so many young people trying to replicate the photos of the bag wearers, there has to be huge demand for plastic bags. Just throw in a few variations of a bag, maybe in different colours and designs, and you'll have plastic bag lovers flocking to your store before you know it.
Make one for dogs
Who says it has to be exclusive to humans? A dog version of the plastic bag swimsuit, or diaper in this case, would be a pretty neat idea.
Once your dog has it on, you won't have to worry about picking up its poo with newspapers anymore. All you have to do is remove the diaper/bag, tie it up and dispose of it. Easy, right?
Sources: Shanghaiist, Mail Online, Bustle
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