Detroit’s Mike Forbes is looking to make life a little easier for America’s homeless population with his new Ulterior Survival Bag.
The College for Creative Studies graduate developed the unusual bag, which serves as both a carryall and a pair of boots! As a carryall it provides a more durable alternative to the garbage bags homeless people often use. And when the needy aren’t on the move, they can simple turn their bag inside out and use them as a pair of boots.
As the base of the bag turned boots is made from recycled scrap rubber, they protect feet from frostbite and other common cold weather ailments. The reclaimed wool blanket lining keeps feet warm, while the extra Tyvek insulation stores heat and keeps water out. A rope crafted from recycled plastic bottles serves as a drawstring closure when it’s a bag, and a shoelace when it’s a boot. Recycled aluminum grommets anchor this clasp to the Ulterior Survival Bag.
Forbes developed the concept at college, where he was encouraged to create an item to fill a need. This clever invention certainly does that! It was recently recognized by the Industrial Designers Society of America, which named the Ulterior Survival Bag one of the finalists for its 2011 awards. Forbes recently launched a T-shirt line called Anymile Clothing to finance the production of his Ulterior Survival Bag. Hopefully it won’t be too long before these clever bags are in the hands, and on the feet, of people who need them most.
