New York ( CNN ) -- Most people toss out their busted umbrellas after a strong storm rips them apart . But for Catherine Charlot , these broken remnants are true treasures . After rainy weather hits New York City , Charlot takes to the streets collecting umbrellas from roads , subway stations and trash cans . Then she totes them back to her Brooklyn studio and transforms them from trash into fashion . Her unique pieces are anything but shabby . Charlot creates chic cocktail dresses , tote bags and dog clothes from umbrella material and other recycled fabrics for her clothing line Himane . She has even made a wedding dress using 15 white umbrellas . After watching the film `` Breakfast at Tiffany 's , '' Charlot was inspired to make her own version of the little black dress , thinking , `` I really love that black dress , but I do n't want to do the same kind of little black dress . What about I try something out of umbrellas ? `` And I took 3 umbrellas and I designed a beautiful gown . '' Wet-weather months provide an abundance of fabric for Charlot . `` In March , during the rainy month , I collected 237 umbrellas , '' she said . The job can lead to interesting situations . One woman who came across Charlot digging deep in a trash can mistook her for a homeless person and offered her lunch . But Charlot does n't mind . She believes she is helping to reduce the amount of garbage on the streets . `` I think I 'm doing a lot . I 'm helping a lot because all those umbrellas and all those fabrics are going to end up in a landfill . '' Her creations are mostly sold online . The umbrella dresses start at $ 200 , dog clothes are $ 40 , and purses are about $ 150 . It 's fashion for a good cause . Charlot says 10 percent of every sale she makes will go to a school she is building in her home country of Haiti . The school , Charlot said , will be `` something young kids can just go and learn something positive , learn how to recycle , how to do something with their hands , and be useful for tomorrow . '' Charlot believes she is making a difference at home , too . `` By purchasing and buying one dress , a bag made out of a recycled umbrella , right there you 're showing your support , you 're doing something that is right , that is good for the environment , for you , for your kids , or for everybody , '' she said . Meanwhile , Charlot is committed to braving the rainy New York City streets on the hunt for trashed umbrellas . `` I 'll keep on going and recycling and do whatever I can just to make our lives easier , a little bit better maybe . ''
Broken umbrellas find second life at the hands of Catherine Charlot . Cocktail dresses , tote bags and more are created from umbrella material . Charlot hopes to make people 's lives `` a little bit better maybe ''