before the invention of the "modern day" aluminum can pull tab, there was the completely removable pop top. for those of us old enough to remember them (yes, that means you, darling), these sharp little tops met their bitter end after they abundantly and dangerously littered our beaches, parks, sidewalks, and oceans.
during their reign, however, some of these metallic pop tops
sparkled their way onto the fashion scene via hats, skirts, vests, and
belts. check out the phab photos (above) from the book Pop Topping!
san francsico based escama studio works with womens cooperatives in brazil to craft modern and sleek purses from tabs collected along the brazilian beaches. these fair-trade cooperatives offer women a supportive community and the means to earn a living wage through handicrafts. over the course of four years, approximately 70,000 bags have been produced through escama's program.