The circle of it: This British company repurposes used fire hydrants into luxury handbags and other luxury items.
elvis & kresse
Summary
Elvis & Kresse started out in 2005 with the primary goal of capturing value from a niche waste stream- London’s decommissioned fire hoses. Since it is made from a composite material, these hoses would have ended up in landfill. Since its inception, the company has repurposed many other types of material that are difficult to recycle (printing blankets, parachute silk, tea and coffee sacks, auction banners, etc.) and transformed them into high-end, fashion forward luxury items.
Story
In 2005, the founders, Kresse Wesling and James Henrit, had a chance encounter with the London fire brigade and learned that London’s damaged decommissioned hoses were destined to end up in landfill. The founders were convinced that they could rescue the material and repurpose it, and Elvis & Kresse was born.
Pic Credit: CE Hub (right) and Elvis & Kresse (top)
“For us, if it doesn’t make the world better for other people’s grandchildren, then it isn’t sustainable. This is why we don’t follow ‘seasons’ or trends, and instead focus on utilitarian classics. “
Kresse Wesling in an interview
Founder(s)
Kresse Wesling, James Henrit
Headquarters
Kent, United Kingdom
In business since
2005
Business type
for profit, social purpose, B corp
Impact
The company has diverted over 300 tons of material that has since been repurposed (Source)
Technology
diverting waste from landfill, desinging handbags and luxury items from upcycled materials, creating luxury goods from new waste streams
Website https://www.elvisandkresse.com/
The Circular People 
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