Ever imagined whether the rubber from plane tyres, bicycle tubes, and fire hoses can be transformed into chic bags, belts or earrings? Well yes because Alchemy Goods, Champ Co, and Elvis & Kresse have taken up the creative challenge in making this possible with common the goal of circumventing landfill.
Highly durable and non-biodegradable, tires or hoses tend to consume a lot of space in landfill. They can trap methane gases, causing them to become buoyant. This, as a result, can damage landfill liners that have been installed to help keep landfill contaminants from polluting local surface and groundwater. In addition to this, these scrap stockpiles can create health and safety risks. Fires can occur easily leading to heavy pollution in the air and ground and the piles provide shelter for vermin and a breeding ground for mosquitoes that may carry diseases.
An environmentally favored solution to this is to reclaim the rubber. Reclaimed rubber is a cured rubber that has passed through a Thermo-Chemical process that softens and swells the rubber. This process brings is less expensive than virgin rubber. Moreover, some of the technical advantages of using reclaim are that there is less power consumed, faster processing, has good ageing and the best it can be molded into different complex shapes!
Pookipoiga offers some amazing accessories made from reclaimed rubber from Alchemy Goods, Champ Co., and Elvis & Kresse. These high-quality products are practical, stylish and so refined that you can’t help but wonder that can something that was previously used for mechanical or functional purposes be transformed into something super glorious!
Alchemy Goods’ Belts
Sleek in design and practical, Alchemy Goods approaches the modern way of upcycling old materials such as bicycle tyres and advertising banter into bags and accessories. Their top-selling Ballard belt has silver stitching and is made from reclaimed bike tubes. A bicycle tube, as described is mainly made of Butyl rubber which is a very elastic and airtight synthetic rubber that can stretch. The belt is created in such a way where one tube is wrapped around another to create four layers of rubber. The silver stitching on it allows the belt to stretch just enough for comfort, but at the same time, the rubber construction ensures the belt won't stretch out permanently over time. Vegan and leather-free this unique waistband includes a sharp-looking, removable brushed steel buckle.
Champ Co.’s Jewellery
Aiming to create lifelong engaging and sustainable products, Champ Co. as stated on their official website is “compelled by objects that influence creativity, and have a meditative playfulness show an alternative and positive approach to design.” Using recycled airplane tyre and new rubber, this brand creates some very distinctive jewellery pieces such as bangles and earrings that are eye-catching and modern.
The Hookey Bangles that come in two sizes, large and small are flexible to get onto the hand and have a firm or relaxed fit. In case they bend then lay them on a flat surface in the sun for half an hour to get back the original shape. Quirky and fashionable earrings such as Eyes on You, Two Tone Super Light Hoop, Sunrise Hoops, Goal Keeper Hoops, Drop Earrings or the Simple Studs all have high grade surgical steel posts and findings.
Apart from these fun jewellery pieces, Champ Co. also specialises in creating placemats and trivets in various sizes.
Elvis & Kresse’s Bags, Belts and More
Since 2005 Elvis & Kresse have been rescuing raw materials, transforming them into luxury lifestyle accessories and donating 50% of profits back to charities. An encounter with London Fire Brigade stemmed the idea of collecting damaged decommissioned hoses (which would have otherwise headed to landfill) and creating wonderful luxurious and sustainable accessories.
For over a decade the brand has been rescuing all of London's retired fire-hose by creatively handcrafting them into sustainable luxury bags and accessories. Every year since Elvis & Kresse has donated 50% of the profits from the Fire-hose Collection to The Fire Fighters Charity.
Among the popular pieces include The Weekend bag is made from genuine decommissioned fire-hose and the lining is made from material rescued from Burberry's Yorkshire workshop. As described, the wide mouth opening of the bag makes packing, unpacking and searching very easy and the generous sizing means you can take everything you need for a weekend away. The bag has an easy access external pocket, an internal zip pocket, and 3 further internal poacher-style pockets.
Likewise, the Reporter Bag is perfect for all of your daily essentials. Made from genuine decommissioned British fire-hose and is also lined with reclaimed military-grade parachute silk. There is 1 internal zipped pocket and 1 external zipped pocket for quick access. Featuring a fully adjustable shoulder strap, the bag is unisex and is designed to be worn over the shoulder or across the body.
Elvis & Kresse’s cufflinks such as the Wrap-Around Cufflink is also another classy and standout piece. Handmade to order from genuine decommissioned fire-hose that was previously deployed in active duty for up to 25 years, fighting fires around the UK. This traditional cufflink looks great with all styles of shirt and the hand-stitched detailing brings out the best in the hose.
If you are looking for versatility in belts, the Slider Belt is a perfect choice. Designed to fit any size, this unisex belt with a nickel free buckle, is available in either antique silver or antique brass finish. Coming in a standard size, you can modify it by just unclipping the buckle from the fire-hose using a flat screwdriver and then cut to your desired length with a sharp pair of scissors.
