Empire State Building Partners with Sea Bags and Max to Transform Fabric from 270-Foot Dragon into Recycled Tote Bags

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Empire State Building Partners with Sea Bags and Max to Transform Fabric from 270-Foot Dragon into Recycled Tote Bags

2024-07-29 23:18 Last Updated At：23:21

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 29, 2024--

Vhagar lives on. The Empire State Building (ESB) announced today that it partnered with Max to donate 18,000 square feet of fabric from Vhagar – the 270-foot dragon that perched on its mast as part of the HBO ® Original series “House of the Dragon” takeover last month – to create limited-edition recycled tote bags by Sea Bags. A portion of the proceeds will be donated by Sea Bags to the Ocean Conservancy.

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“The Empire State Building is one of the world’s most sustainable buildings, and we continue with our sustainable mission as we transform the fabric from our epic ‘House of the Dragon’ installation into an iconic keepsake,” said Tony Malkin, chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust. “Fans can now own a piece of history through these exclusive recycled tote bags made from authentic dragon skin.”

Fabric from Vhagar – made up of 1,700 total patterns and 600,000 inches of sewn seams – was transported from New York City to Sea Bags’ headquarters in Portland, Maine. Each unique tote is made from a combination of the dynamic dragon material and recycled sail cloth with hand-spliced hemp rope handles and a brass clasp. The one-of-a-kind bags are individually numbered and include a certificate of authenticity.

“We’re honored to be selected to work alongside the iconic Empire State Building and Max to transform Vhagar into sustainable, recycled, beautiful totes,” said Don Oakes, CEO of Sea Bags. “This collaboration perfectly aligns with our commitment to sustainability and creative reuse, ensuring that Vhagar's legacy continues in a meaningful way.”

The “House of the Dragon” takeover at the “World’s Most Famous Building” included a photo opportunity with the iconic Iron Throne, a visit from the “House of the Dragon” cast, and an interactive photo booth on the Observatory’s 80 th Floor.

The Empire State Building underwent a groundbreaking deep energy retrofit that has reduced emissions at the building by 57% since 2007. Empire State Realty Trust has committed to achieve net zero emissions at the Empire State Building by 2030 and throughout its entire portfolio by 2035, in alignment with New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

Hi-res imagery of production and the Vhagar Sea Bags can be found here. More information about the Empire State Building can be found online.

About the Empire State Building
The Empire State Building, the “World's Most Famous Building," owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT: NYSE), soars 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan from base to antenna. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience created an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102 nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86 th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop culture. The Empire State Building Observatory Experience welcomes millions of visitors each year and was declared the #1 Attraction in the World – and #1 Attraction in the U.S. for the third consecutive year – in Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do, "America's Favorite Building" by the American Institute of Architects, the world's most popular travel destination by Uber, and the #1 New York City attraction in Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List.

Since 2011, the building has been fully powered by renewable wind electricity, and its many floors house a diverse array of office tenants such as LinkedIn and Shutterstock, as well as retail options like STATE Grill and Bar, Tacombi, and Starbucks. For more information and Observatory Experience tickets visit esbnyc.com or follow the building's Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Weibo, YouTube, or TikTok.

About Sea Bags
Launched in 1999 and incorporated in 2006, Sea Bags started on the historic working waterfront in Portland, Maine with a line of hand-sewn, functional, and stylish totes made from recycled sail cloth. Today the company employs nearly 300 people and has preserved its Made-in-the-USA sourcing, manufacturing, and design origins on the coast of Maine.

The exclusive use of reclaimed sail cloth is unique to Sea Bags, and since its inception the company has kept more than 1.5 million pounds of sail material from landfills. In 2021 the company was recognized as Green Circle Certified. The Sea Bags flagship store is located on Commercial Street in Portland, Maine, while its factory store is located around the corner on Custom House Wharf - where the headquarters remain today. The company has 50+ retail stores across the U.S. and operates in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Michigan, and California. To learn more about Sea Bags and the stories their sails tell, visit www.seabags.com.

Source: Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.
Category: Observatory

South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol removed from office over declaration of martial law

2025-04-04 12:50 Last Updated At：13:01

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s Constitutional Court removed impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol from office on Friday, ending his tumultuous presidency and setting up an election to find a new leader, four months after he threw South Korean politics into turmoil with an ill-fated declaration of martial law.

The unanimous verdict capped a dramatic fall for Yoon, a former star prosecutor who went from political novice to president in 2022, just a year after he entered politics.

In a nationally televised verdict, the court’s acting chief Moon Hyung-bae said the eight-member bench upheld Yoon’s impeachment because his martial law decree seriously violated the constitution and other laws.

“The defendant not only declared martial law, but also violated the constitution and laws by mobilizing military and police forces to obstruct the exercise of legislative authority,” Moon said, “Ultimately, the declaration of martial law in this case violated the substantive requirements for emergency martial law.”

“Given the grave negative impact on constitutional order and the significant ripple effects of the defendant’s violations, we find that the benefits of upholding the constitution by removing the defendant from office far outweigh the national losses from the removal of a president,” the justice concluded.

At an anti-Yoon rally near the old royal palace that dominates downtown Seoul, people erupted into tears and danced when the verdict was announced. Two women wept as they hugged and an old man near them leapt to his feet and screamed with joy.

The crowd later began marching through Seoul streets. Some people were dressed in cute blue bear costumes, a protest mascot that uses the opposition’s colors.

Outside Yoon's official residence, thousands of supporters cried and screamed when they saw the news of the verdict on a giant TV screen. They waved South Korean and U.S. flags and chanted slogans.

“We will absolutely not be shaken!” a protest leader shouted on stage. “Anyone who accepts this ruling and prepares for an early presidential election is our enemy.”

No major violence was immediately reported.

An election will be held within two months to repalce Yoon, but a festering national divide over Yoon’s impeachment will likely continue and could complicate South Korea’s efforts to deal with President Donald Trump’s “America First” policies and North Korea’s expanding ties with Russia, observers say.

One of Yoon’s lawyers, Yoon Kap-keun, called the ruling “completely incomprehensible” and a “pure political decision,” but the former president did not immediately issue a statement. Yoon’s ruling People Power Party said it would accept the decision.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the country’s acting leader, in a televised speech vowed to ensure “there are no gaps in national security and diplomacy” and maintain public safety and order. Han was appointed prime minister, the country's No.2 official, by Yoon.

“Respecting the will of our sovereign people, I will do my utmost to manage the next presidential election in accordance with the constitution and the law, ensuring a smooth transition to the next administration,” Han said.

Surveys show Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, is the early favorite to win the by-election to choose Yoon's successor. Lee is facing trials for corruption and other charges.

Lee welcomed the ruling and credited the South Korean people for “protecting our democratic republic.”

“The courage of the people who stood in the face of guns, swords and tanks, along with the bravery of troops who refused to obey unjust orders, has led to this great revolution of light,” Lee said.

Martial law lasted only six hours, but left behind a political crisis, rattling financial markets and unsettling the country’s diplomatic partners. In January, Yoon was separately arrested and indicted by prosecutors on alleged rebellion in connection with his decree, a charge that carries the death penalty or a life sentence if convicted.

Under Yoon’s decree, the first of its kind in more than 40 years, hundreds of soldiers were dispatched to the assembly, election offices and other sites. Special operations soldiers smashed windows at the National Assembly and scuffled with citizens gathered to protest, shocking South Koreans and evoking traumatic memories of military rule.

Enough lawmakers, including some from the ruling party, managed to enter the assembly to vote down his decree unanimously.

No major violence occurred during the brief period of martial law, but some senior military and police officers sent to the assembly have testified that Yoon ordered them to drag out lawmakers to block a vote on his decree or to detain his political rivals. Yoon says the troops were deployed to the assembly simply to maintain order.

Yoon, 64, a conservative, was impeached by the liberal opposition-controlled National Assembly on Dec. 14. The assembly accused him of violating the constitution and other laws by suppressing assembly activities, attempting to detain politicians, and undermining peace across the country.

In his final testimony at the Constitutional Court hearing, Yoon said his decree was a desperate attempt to draw public support of his fight against the “wickedness” of the Democratic Party, which had obstructed his agenda, impeached top officials and slashed the government’s budget bill. He earlier called the National Assembly “a den of criminals” and “anti-state forces.”

Some experts say Yoon may have imposed military rule to head off a possible independent investigation into scandals involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee.

Without presidential immunity, Yoon could face other criminal charges, such as abuse of power. He’s the first South Korean president to be arrested or indicted while in office.

Yoon served as prosecutor-general under his predecessor, liberal President Moon Jae-in, before joining the now-ruling party in 2021 following disputes with Moon allies. A public image as strong-minded and uncompromising helped him defeat Lee in the close-fought 2022 presidential election. But after becoming president, Yoon has faced criticism that he refused to replace officials implicated in scandals and vetoed many bills passed by the assembly.

On foreign policy, Yoon pushed hard to bolster South Korea’s military alliance with the United States and overcome long-running disputes with Japan over historical traumas. He said that a greater Seoul-Washington-Tokyo security partnership is essential to coping with North Korea’s growing nuclear threats. Critics of Yoon accused him of unnecessarily provoking North Korea and neglecting relations with China, South Korea’s biggest trading partner.