Danger Dust

Ravensbourne University graduate Rahat Rai has created a pair of slippers made using dust collected from a vacuum cleaner that was compressed to form a felt-like fabric.

The Done & Dusted project was completed by Rai during his final year of studies at Ravensbourne University in London, where he decided to focus on sustainability through the lens of material innovation.

The project explores how society might be able to reduce its reliance on new materials by identifying alternative uses for waste. Rai saw potential in household dust, which is present in every home and is treated as having no inherent value.

"I wanted to flip the script on dust," said the designer.

"People constantly clean it up and throw it away without thinking. I decided to explore the potential of turning this overlooked, abundant waste into a usable raw material for creating something new."