From Fire Hoses to Fashion: Elvis & Kresse’s Search & Rescue of Waste
- yanabijoor
- 39 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The Problem
Elvis & Kresse, a UK-based social enterprise, addresses the environmental problem of industrial waste, specifically retired fire hoses and leather waste that end up in landfills. This social enterprise is tackling the fashion industry's significant contribution to pollution and carbon emissions.Â
The Solution
Elvis & Kresse rescues these materials, along with other waste such as parachute silk and coffee bags, and transforms them into durable, high-quality fashion accessories, including handbags, belts, and notebooks, through a zero-waste design process that generates no waste and utilizes reclaimed fabric for packaging.Â
Why Is It Innovative?
This idea is innovative, as it adopts a circular approach to fashion, reconfiguring waste and luxury by upcycling unrecyclable materials into classically designed, usable products, rather than following short-term fads or trends. The company donates half of its profits to charities, predominantly The Fire Fighters Charity, and supports initiatives like empowering women through solar engineering training.
What Is The Impact?
To date, Elvis & Kresse has recycled over 315 tons of waste, including 73.5 tons of fire hoses, donated over $500,000 to charity, facilitated more than 29,000 therapy sessions for firefighters, trained 35 apprentices, and urges the fashion world to utilize recycled materials.
Areas For Improvement
Hand-sorting through waste limits Elvis & Kresse’s ability to scale to a broader market, and its transport and shipping emissions are an ongoing barrier to net carbon neutrality—a goal the company aims to achieve by 2030. Increasing awareness and demand for their sustainable luxury products will amplify their impact, as could exploring additional waste streams to address the UK's 100 million tons of annual landfill waste.
Sources: