Old election campaign posters are being recycled into fashionable clothes through an eco-friendly community initiative in Thailand.

Instead of being burnt or discarded, the stacks of vinyl political ads were donated to the Thung Setthi Community Enterprise in Khon Kaen province, where they are transformed into shirts, bags, jackets, or shoes.

To upcycle the posters, they are first removed from their metal or wooden frames, which are sent back to the donors. Then, each banner is washed and dried before being painstakingly cut by hand into 1cm wide strips.

Tailors from the community then weave together the vinyl 'fabric' into colourful wearables which are sold or sometimes given away as souvenirs.

They also create casual shoes, sports shoes, shopping bags, purses, jackets, turtleneck shirts, and even casual suits.

Nattawut Sriart, the chief of Thung Setthi Community Enterprise, said various political parties have been sending their discarded campaign materials.

He said: 'Though we work with different kinds of waste material, we specialise in recycling vinyl signs. Not only does this generate revenue for the community, but it also creates job opportunities for the locals.'

He added most of the workers were bedridden patients, pensioners, caregivers for the elderly, farmers during the off-season, and students looking for part-time jobs.

He said: 'The staff are all hardworking. They maintain high standards at every step of the manufacturing process.'

Aside from election posters, the project also sources its material from ads used in local events. These include seminars, motor shows, fairs, exhibits, festivals, and religious celebrations.

Nattawut added: 'Recently, car brands have also joined in by sending their vinyl signs to be repurposed into bags. These bags are then either sold at their showrooms or given to customers as souvenirs.'

He said he is proud of what the enterprise has accomplished and hopes that upcycling will become a more widespread practice in Thailand.