This weekend we were featured in the Financial Times How To Spend It feature magazine on interiors.
Flipping through the pages, it was impossible to miss the quality, history and craftsmanship behind some of the pieces. It is a real honour to be included. One interesting note, we were among three brands featured for being 'good', And we wondered, why are there only three?
This isn't fashion, people don't refresh sofas or rugs like they do their clothing, not yet, thank goodness, so why shouldn't there be more ethical, sustainable brands on show? These are 'keepers', these are the pieces that are literally 'part of the furniture', they last for decades, if not centuries... The home is one place where buying good should be a lot easier as it should be easier to consider the investment?
Our rugs are made from thousands of pieces of hand-cut, hand-woven leather. We do offer them in standard colours and sizes but try our 'customisation' app and design your own. Have some fun!
By their very nature and design, these rugs can be remade and repaired over time. They help us to employ apprentices in Kent, save thousands of kilos of leather and 50% of the profits will go to renewable energy projects.
Our rugs are not just amazing to have in your home, they create an amazing legacy of goodness. Thank you to Tim Auld for featuring us, and keep your eyes peeled in the future for this regular item called For Goodness' Sake.
Over the years we have met some incredible people who are all working to make the world better, in many different ways, and we wanted to find out their thoughts on our industry. Why? Fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world...
This week we took some time to talk to New York based Laura Baross, the founder of Design with Care. An interior design platform that prioritises sustainably sourced materials and finishes, that works exclusively with environmentally and socially conscious design brands.
1. Tell us a little about yourself and what you do?
I was born and raised surrounded by art. After architectural studies my path led to Interior Design. Before graduating I started to become more conscious about my next steps and understood the impact my work will have on the planet and future generations. Therefore I started an eco-friendly design platform called DESIGN with CARE. We put emphasis on sourcing exclusively from eco-friendly vendors and introduce only sustainable finishes to the spaces we design.
2. Everyone has an unexpected luxury - or a different way of defining luxury. What does luxury mean to you? What do you consider to be a luxury that others might not?
I always put functionality first. Even an object that is less aesthetically pleasing at first sight with an astonishing story behind it becomes beautiful to me. Same applies when it comes to luxury. Purposeful, sustainably made and great quality products that last long, is what defines luxury in my mind.
3. What is the most environmentally or socially positive project you have ever worked on?
One of the most conscious projects I worked on is definitely The Package Free Shop. It is the first Zero Waste lifestyle store in New York. The founder, Lauren Singer had an idea to bring everything that individuals need to transition to a low waste lifestyle under one roof. The initial pop-up was designed to educate customers about their everyday habits and offer them tools that can help them keep life less trashy. It functioned both as a market place and an informative gallery space with sketches on the walls, mimicking real life situations.
The space was designed within the same low waste guidelines. Everything was handmade, up-cycled and custom-built by Brooklyn artisans. We used certified wood, sourced certain elements from The Big Reuse and kept the aesthetics minimal and simple.
4. Do you think the future of interiors is sustainable? Why? Why not?
Let’s assume in all the production they use raw materials that come only from sustainable sources or reuse post-consumer recycled materials. Companies manage to lower the waste that comes with shipping and delivering and interior designers start incorporating only eco-friendly materials in projects. It doesn’t sound too futuristic or unmanageable right? This is exactly what we do at D\\’C We’re hoping to keep pushing the sustainability standards of the current market and motivate more companies to switch to greener manufacturing.
5. Do you have a piece of clothing, furniture, or an accessory that you have had forever - a completely indispensable classic?
When my Mom was my age she played in a band and had the coolest clothes in town. Over the years she went through minimizing her wardrobe multiple times, but luckily kept the best pieces for me. Her high rise jeans and a vintage biker jacket are definitely my favourite to wear.
6. Tell us about the last thing you bought which would be considered a socially or environmentally sustainable. Why did you choose it?
It was an outdoor bistro table that I purchased for one of my projects at a Brooklyn thrift shop. I love shopping vintage and second hand furniture in good conditions, because it is one of the most sustainable ways to find what we need without exhausting new resources.
7. If you could make one change in your own industry, to make it better, what would that be and how would you tackle it?
I would love to see biodegradable plastic wraps and compostable plastic bags in our industry. Renovations and furniture handling come with a lot of mess. We wrap products to protect them during shipping and cover up existing interior surfaces to avoid any damage. After the work is done all these non-recyclable plastic coverings are sent to landfills. If we had less harmful ways to keep the finishes clean without sacrificing our environment that would be very helpful.
For the past several years Kresse has given an annual lecture to the One Planet MBA class at Exeter University. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet the new cohort of students who are keen to simultaneously advance their careers while learning how this can be done for the benefit of planet and people, as opposed to at their expense.
It is a diverse, engaged and talented group. Their detailed, challenging questions are a joy to respond to and reflect incredibly well on the One Planet program. We love that they share our values, here is how they express them:
"business success and sustainability go hand in hand. As we work with entrepreneurs, again and again we find a direct link between meeting customer needs and achieving positive environmental and social impacts. The best entrepreneurs take this a step further; they have a holistic and borderless view of business; they are motivated by the urgency of addressing big challenges and engage with the technologies and networks that make innovation possible."
The story of Elvis & Kresse gets richer with each passing year, as we grow, as we push the boundaries of what we are capable of doing and as we extend our commitment to problem solving to yet more unwanted or underloved materials. Preparing these lectures is a fantastic opportunity to review, challenge and plan the year ahead.
Thank you Exeter and your borderless view of business! Until next Spring...
This wasn't a commission, this became a really wonderful set of Christmas presents for our entire family. We are sharing this story because we hope it gives you the idea that, once anything has been created and has lived their first full life, materials have a lot more to give before they are pulped, down-cycled, landfilled or incinterated.
When we shared this video with Kresse's brother, the hero of this story, his comments were as follows, 'if this doesn't make people recycle, nothing will.' We hope it works.
Love,
Elvis & Kresse
Tonge Mill isn't just the home of Elvis & Kresse, it is also our home, it is where James (aka Elvis) and I (Kresse) live. It isn't that easy to distinguish between our home and workshop though, both are designed and built with the same ethics and the same principles.
Nothing should be new, everything should be reclaimed.
When Jane Crittenden got in touch to see if we would be happy to tell the story of Tonge Mill for Reclaim Magazine we could immediately see the fit and couldn't wait to reveal every material, every technique, and really share the story of this incredible building and how we spent two years bringing it back from the brink and restoring it with as many rescued materials as building control and our local planning officer would allow...
We had an amazing day with James French (photographer) and Marisha Taylor (stylist). It was fantastic to see the Mill through their eyes and to challenge James to capture Monty, who is notoriously difficult to photograph. We absolutely can't wait to see the results.
The photos included here are a few of James and Marisha's behind the scenes snaps - stay tuned for the full shoot - when our issue is out we will let you know where you can get a copy of the magazine.
Over the years we have met some incredible people who are all working to make the world better, in many different ways, and we wanted to find out their thoughts on our industry. Why? Fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world...
Right now, I'm chairing the board of New York City's High Line, and continuing to build Project For Good, a non-profit online venture providing information about consumer product companies with “more-than-profit” business models. After so many years thinking about the concept, developing and refining it, it is gratifying to have the site launched. I'm very excited about the possibilities for Project For Good, as I do believe, and statistics would confirm, that this is a growing field, with lots of consumer demand supporting that growth.
Marcus Tullius Cicero said: “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” That is, to my mind, the ultimate luxury. And, of course, you need the time to enjoy them!*
I'm most proud of my work for The New York Public Library, where I was Chairman for seven years. The library is perhaps the most democratic institution I know. It's free of charge, with research centers and almost 90 branches in the city. The branches are vital community gathering spots, providing not only free books and internet access, but also homework help, literacy classes, job research resources, and more than 17 million programs for all ages. This is the kind of community service that inspired me to build Project For Good – to celebrate for-profit initiatives that provide these same services to those who need them.
Wouldn't that be wonderful if it were, and I do think there are many signs pointing this way. Consumer demand is there, particularly among millennials. And industry action is coming along. For instance, the cotton industry is working with denim brands to keep old jeans out of landfills. Established apparel brands like Stella McCartney and Eileen Fisher, both founded on sustainability and environmental principles ahead of their time, remain true to their founding principles, continue to demand more research on critical sustainability issues, and are, as a result, celebrated as pioneers. B Corporation’s rise and ever-growing recognition also point to this trend.
I generally wear classics, so almost every item in my closet would count. It would be too boring to answer by saying a crewneck sweater, so instead I'll choose my favorite raincoat, from Prada, which I've had for well over ten years. It's one of those pieces that I can dress up or down. And it's my favorite color to wear -- navy blue. And, truly, what is better than a good raincoat that lasts and lasts?
The most recent items I purchased came from learning about two companies on Project For Good: Blue Avocado bags, and ECO-BAGS. Through studying our companies' missions, I've become more aware of the huge amount of waste, especially plastics. So, using these instead of tossing away packaging is meaningful to me.
More companies in this field of more-than-profit brands!
*We were inspired by Catie's definition of luxury to include the cover image of a garden library, it is an award winning design by Office Sian Architecture called The Hackney Shed
What is a B Corp?
This isn't a simple question to answer. Thousands of businesses have chosen to be certified as B Corps and they represent a very broad church. No two are the same. At the most basic technical level a B Corp is a business (not a charity or NGO) that has chosen to go through a rigorous assessment process which covers 5 key areas - Environment, Workers, Customers, Community and Governance. You have to repeat and improve on your certification process every two years, which means you accept that you are on a journey and that you need to keep getting better. You have to score at least 80 points out of a possible 200, which is actually quite difficult to do. And you have to sign up to the Declaration of Interdependence, which means your business puts stakeholders and shareholders on an equal footing.
Why is it a Movement?
It is a movement because B Corps want 'Business as a force for Good' to become business as usual. We want to work together, trade with each other, and change the world. We have a shared dream that business can be a force for good.
When did it start?
The B Corp movement first started in 2006, about one year after we discovered London's Decommissioned fire-hose and launched Elvis & Kresse. They have had some pretty amazing milestones along the way, you can learn more here.
Why is it important?
We think this is important for two key reasons.
Who are some other B Corps?
There are so many truly amazing B Corps, we definitely don't want you to think that this an exhaustive list.
Why is Elvis & Kresse a B Corp (certified since 2015)?
We guess we were a B Corp before there were B Corps. We only do three things, we rescue materials, we transform them, and we donate 50% of the associated profits to charity. We exist to solve environmental problems and ensure that there is a circular flow of capital back into great causes. We don't just think that businesses should be better, we know that they simply must be in order to combat climate change, redress rising inequality and ensure that future generations have a future. We are also a B Corp because being one is truly joyful. It is an optimistic, hard working movement that is happy to roll up its sleeves and muck-in, and it does this with a smile.
After much rewinding and pausing, there were a lot of nodding heads, 'Yes, that is definitely our bag'.
It came as a complete surprise to everyone at the workshop to find the Elvis & Kresse Yellow Tote Bag in not just one, but 3 scenes of Madam Secretary (season 4, episode 11 to be precise).
And then imagine our surprise when we tuned into the next episode and again spotted our Tote!
We have had some tweets with Geoffrey Arend, who plays Matt Mahoney, but was guest directing the first episode that we appeared in. He praised the undercover work of their 'fantastic props/costume department' and was glad 'it made it in!'.
We love being a part of a strong cast and being carried by Stevie, the lovely Wallis Currie-Wood. This bag is entirely vegan so very suitable for a character who promotes 'meatless Monday'.
We will keep watching as who knows? The Tote could become a 'Regular'.
If you have any idea about how this bag made its way to the props and costume team at Madam Secretary, please let us know. Our own sleuthing is not working.
Some of you have been to see us at Tonge Mill and many of you follow our social accounts too. The one rather unforgettable highlight is our really rather spectacular dog Monty.
He didn't have the best start, but we are veterans of rescue, and at almost 4 you couldn't meet a lovelier, crazier, bouncier, cuddlier pup.
After much prompting from all of you lovely people, and your gorgeous dogs, we are making bespoke collars again... The first went to Fifi, but we tried it out on our Monty before it left the workshop. We will be doing leads too - so just get in touch, every piece will be handmade to order from our Kent workshop.
Email: support@elvisandkresse.com
95% of British fire-hoses are red, but only 5% are yellow. For years our pallet has been dominated by lustrous shades of rich deep red. But over the last few months, there has been a dramatic increase in colour in our workshop.
Our Fire & Hide Collection combines our signature fire-hose with the unique system we have designed to rescue leather. This system transforms leather fragments from the production of Burberry leather goods into components which are then hand woven, piece by piece, into whole new hides.
Although the leather will flow to us in some regular expected colours, like black and brown, we also receive tiny amounts of very distinct colours and textures. This means you will start to see completely individual pieces on our site.
This Fire & Hide Billfold Wallet is our third One of a Kind. It combines a clear yellow textured leather reclaimed from the production of Burberry leather goods with genuine decommissioned British fire-hose, also in yellow. Due to the material available, we could only make one. When it's gone, it's gone.
95% of British fire-hoses are red, but only 5% are yellow. For years our pallet has been dominated by lustrous shades of rich deep red. But over the last few months, there has been a dramatic increase in colour in our workshop.
Our Fire & Hide Collection combines our signature fire-hose with the unique system we have designed to rescue leather. This system transforms leather fragments from the production of Burberry leather goods into components which are then hand woven, piece by piece, into whole new hides.
Although the leather will flow to us in some regular expected colours, like black and brown, we also receive tiny amounts of very distinct colours and textures. This means you will start to see completely individual pieces on our site.
This Fire & Hide Duffel Bag is our third One of a Kind. It combines a clear yellow textured leather reclaimed from the production of Burberry leather goods with genuine decommissioned British fire-hose, also in yellow. Due to the material available, we could only make one. When it's gone, it's gone.
95% of British fire-hoses are red but only 5% are yellow. For years our pallet has been dominated by lustrous shades of rich deep red. But over the last few months, there has been a dramatic increase in colour in our workshop.
Our Fire & Hide Collection combines our signature fire-hose with the system we have designed to rescue leather. This system transforms leather fragments from the production of Burberry leather goods into components which are then hand woven, piece by piece, into whole new hides.
Although the leather will flow to us in some regular, expected colours like black and brown, we also receive tiny amounts of very unique colours and textures. This means you will start to see completely individual pieces on our site.
This Post Bag is our first One of a Kind. It combines a clear yellow textured leather reclaimed from the production of Burberry leather goods with genuine decommissioned British fire-hose, also in yellow. The reclaimed parachute lining is a luscious harvest gold. Due to the material available, we could only make one. When it's gone, it's gone.
If you love this yellow, stay tuned or contact us. There will be a few more pieces featuring it, which we will post about in the coming weeks and months.
