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£290.00
The Whitstable Tote is handcrafted using the finest rescued leather, accentuated by our signature decommissioned fire-hose, and finished with a reclaimed lining. A great all day bag for those that like easy access to everything you carry. Designed to be held in the hand or carried over the shoulder, our Whitstable Tote has an inside zip pocket and a framed pocket and a large external pocket with a magnetic closure.
What can you fit in there?It is large enough to keep everything you need for a day out: iPad or small laptop, phone, purse, keys, reusable water bottle, lunch box, book, scarf and flats.
For many years we have been walking on the beach at Whitstable with Monty... this bag is inspired by its bright, boxy beach huts. The Whitstable Tote is crafted through a transformation of leather fragments from the production of Burberry leather goods. Our crafts team individually cut and hand weave, piece by piece, these otherwise lost scraps of leather into whole new hides. The Fire & Hide Collection is the sumptuous blend of our signature fire-hose and rescued leather. The limited nature of our rescued materials means we can only ever create a few pieces in each variation. You can learn more about our leather partnership here.
We are excited to be able to offer so many variations of the Whitstable Tote. Every option includes handles and trim in Elvis & Kresse's signature decommissioned fire-hose, which was previously deployed in active duty for up to 25 years, fighting fires around the UK.
The Fire & Hide CollectionIn 2005 we fell in love with London's decommissioned fire-hose. Determined to save it from landfill we took this lifesaving material home, gave it a second chance, and vowed to donate 50% of the profits to the Fire Fighters Charity. But fire-hose was just the beginning.
Every year, 800,000 tonnes of leather ends up on the cutting room floor. Our leather partners cherish their hides, but no matter how carefully they cut their patterns, there will always be small seemingly unusable offcuts. To rescue this leather we developed a unique modular approach. We hand weave these fragments into whole new hides then lovingly recraft them into sustainable luxury bags and accessories. Our commitment to rescuing British fire-hoses remains the same, the trim, handles and internal detailing of the Fire & Hide range are all made from genuine decommissioned fire-hose. And we continue to donate 50% of profits to charity.
Our Fire & Hide Collection represents a whole new kind of luxury. One that is sustainable, ethical, transparent, generous and kind.
Source: Elvis & Kresse
Since 2005, Elvis & Kresse have been saving raw materials, transforming them into luxury lifestyle accessories, and giving away half of their profits to charity. For example, Elvis & Kresse uses the leather scraps from Burberry in the United Kingdom, material that would otherwise be discarded.
Ethically produced: Elvis & Kresse bags are ethically made in England. They pay their employees above a real living wage and are an accredited Living Wage Employer. The label has its own production location and this is a certified social enterprise as well as a founding UK B Corporation.
Eco-friendly: Elvis & Kresse makes bags from niche repurposed material. They collect 15 different waste streams and reuse them. From fire hose to leather waste to tea sacks. The full list can be found on their website! The label also purifies their own water and is building a fully circular water purification system so that no water leaves the site. In a few years they hope to be completely self-sufficient with their own water. All packaging is made by hand in their workshop in Kent. Also made from reused materials, such as old printing blankets and parachute silk.
Locally produced: The collections are made entirely locally in England, from local materials.
Good cause: Elvis & Kresse donate 50% of their profits to charities. Their charity partners are the Fire Fighters Charity and Barefoot College.
Practical information:
Shipping fee: £3.50 and free for orders over £100 in the UK and €14.60 in the EU and free for orders over €170.
Delivery time: up to 3 days in the UK and 5 working days in the EU, express shipping is possible.
Address: No physical store. However, they do welcome visitors to their workshop in Kent, England!
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