We have just made our annual donation to Barefoot College International. 50% of the profits from our rescued leather are donated to Barefoot, and we are very proud to announce a donation of £15,600.00. We have been working with them for several years, sponsoring women to train as solar engineers. You can learn about how this training can transform communities by reading some of our previous posts but also find out more about Barefoot's Solar Program by heading over to their website.
Why accept less from a handbag? Why not demand more? If you can think of anything else that we could be doing let us know. Come on down the farm and let's talk.
Interesting question! Particularly for us, as we have been labelled or introduced so many times as a 'sustainable luxury pioneer'. But what does it really mean?
Let's start with 'sustainable'. It is such a shame that this word has become overused and part of the standard greenwash playbook. It shouldn't be a word that loses meaning as it is actually quite precise.
Sustainability is sometimes easier to understand by its opposite. To be unsustainable means that something is either:
I have to say that indefensible is my favourite. There are so many things that we humans make, that we do, that we simply know are indefensible. For example, modern slavery is indefensible, but it is rife in the fashion sector. And then there are the plethora of things that we just can't keep doing in the long run; the vast majority of the goods and services that flow through our current economy are unsustainable. Perhaps they are derived from fossil fuels (think of viscose, or nylon), perhaps they use an inordinate amount of water or chemistry to be grown or processed, perhaps they are designed to be worn once or made with such poor material or craftsmanship that they simply won't last. For us, you have to make every business or design decision based on whether or not it is going to make the world better for other people’s grandchildren. This guarantees sustainability. How? Well, we would have to still be able to do it, largely in the same way, in perpetuity. Our materials and techniques can't rely on diminishing resources. Also, we have to be able to defend our decisions to future generations. We would have to be able to look them in the eye and say we did our best, or more importantly to paraphrase Maya Angelou 'we did our best until we knew better, and then we did better'.
Being sustainable is tricky, but not impossible. And realistically, it isn't enough. Biodiversity loss and climate change demand more, we can't just maintain or defend things, we now actively have to improve them. Which is why our focus now is on regeneration (another word that is quickly being gobbled up by greenwashers).
Now luxury is harder to define, but I love how a mentor of ours, Maria Eugenia Giron, put it in her book on Sustainable Luxury (a book we feature in!).
"Luxury is beautiful, refined, innovative and essential."
This is certainly a tall order but it is what we absolutely aim for in every single piece. The first two requirements, beauty and refinement are kind of obvious. Of course you have to be both of these and although beauty is in the eye of the beholder craftsmanship (how we read refinement) speaks for itself. Maria Eugenia's final two requirements are less obvious, but really important for us, and certainly what separates true luxury from the rest of the pack.
Innovation is actually absent from much of modern luxury - using the same materials, techniques, manufacturing processes and designs as the rest of your industry just isn't innovative. Pioneering the use of a novel material? That is innovation. Relocating to a farm in order to generate more clean water than you use? That is innovation. Donating 50% of your profits to charity? That too, is innovation.
And essential... this really is the stand out term. A luxury piece should really be something that you rely on, a cornerstone of your wardrobe, something that you use rather than occasionally admire. And I think we have achieved this too. Proof? How about this feedback from Emmy Nominated Composer, Mark Crawford:
"I’ve worn that belt pretty much every single day since 2018. Best belt ever."
Sustainable luxury is a journey, one we don't think anyone will really ever arrive at either because you can always learn and improve. All I can promise you is that we will never be satisfied with what we have done, we will always be aiming to 'do better'.
Elvis & Kresse just won the 2023 Marie Claire Sustainability Award!
We were the best accessories brand and given the competition and the judging panel this one is a real honour. I think our favourite part of the process was watching the awards (they were virtual to avoid a travel footprint). It was really lovely to learn about all of the brands who participated. They are all solving environmental problems creatively and joyfully.
Everything we do is inspired by the challenges we face, socially and environmentally. We are always trying to squeeze absolutely every ounce of goodness from the decisions we make, the products we design and how we produce, communicate and distribute. There isn't enough time for anything less than our best and it really is lovely to be recognised as making some serious progress.
According to Marie Claire, this is why we won:
As a certified Social Enterprise and B Corp, Elvis & Kresse is dedicated to redefining luxury. It has donated more than £350,000 to charitable partners – including The Fire Fighters Charity and Barefoot College International – saved 307.6 tonnes of materials that would otherwise have gone to landfill, and established eco-conscious manufacturing sites. Simply put: it's making things better."A great concept and solid initiatives from a small business that was born sustainably. Very credible," says Amy Nelson-Bennett, Managing Director of Positive Luxury, and our Sustainability Awards judge."
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Come and stay at the farm!
For our first two years at the farm The Field House was home for Elvis, Kresse and Monty... it was the perfect place to escape while the workshop was under construction and as the whole farm was transformed.
Now we would love to share it with you!
The atmosphere is relaxed and quiet and not available on airbnb. A simple, one double bed cottage with a galley kitchen (stocked with basics like olive oil, salt, pepper, tea and coffee, tableware, pots, pans etc.) and perfect for a getaway. It is at the heart of our organic and regenerative farm, overlooks a wetland and is entirely private. If you have any questions, or any requests just get in touch and we will do our best.
The cottage is £95.00 per night, with a 2 night minimum booking. No hotel pricing as this is not a hotel - it is just a lovely place to be... and if you answer anything other than 3 to the following multiple choice question, maybe not for you:
It is dusk, an owl hoots outside and you step out to hear it better. While enjoying the stars a rare frog hops in the door and when you turn to head in you spot it, looking quizzically at you from the kitchen. Do you:
If your stay coordinates with our workshop opening hours, Monday to Friday - 08:30-17:00 then you are welcome to pop in for a look around. If you would like a more formal tour then we can arrange that separately - or you can try to coordinate your stay with one of our workshops or experiences.
Over the last few months we have been opening up the workshop to offer the wider world a little bit of the Elvis & Kresse magic... we have hosted all kinds of groups from business, community and academia. And whether they are here for inspiration or escape we are happy to help.
We can arrange workshop and farm tours, host discussions on many topics from the broken fashion system to regenerative agriculture. We are a live experiment of what a business can be when it decides to be good and continues to push that goal over decades.
We can tailor any kind of experience from making to farming, anything you like really! Send us an email, support@elvisandkresse.com
"The feedback from everyone has really been amazing Kresse, it far outdid everyone’s expectations (We had held back the full details of the day until we were on the way to you, so it was a surprise to most!) The whole team said they came away feeling really inspired. The passion, knowledge, and dedication you and Elvis have really shone through and was super motivating. All the work taking place on New Barns Farm is just incredible – I’ve had multiple comments on how high you have set the bar for our team days out, and I couldn’t agree more, it will be a tough one to follow!
Please also pass on our appreciation to the amazing catering team! Again, rave reviews from all; it was the perfect spread and truly delicious!
Hope to stay in touch, I can’t wait to see the results of the fabulous work you guys are doing.. and hopefully try the wine one day!"
Here is a quick snap of the incredible catering from our last event by Wasted Kitchen, who use locally sourced food that would otherwise be discarded.
When we started rescuing hoses back in 2005 we found that the material we fell in love, nitrile rubber, with was also naturally vegan, and that by not using animal derived glues or lining materials we could offer a completely vegan collection while also staying true to our mission - rescuing materials and donating 50% of profits to charity. All of this is as true today as it was in the beginning.
Not only is our fire-hose collection vegan but so is everything heroing reclaimed printing blankets. The off-set printing industry uses a printing blanket to transfer ink from the roller onto the paper. If the blanket is damaged or wears out it can no longer be trusted to dot your i's or cross your t's . We rescue these blankets, clean them up, re-engineer them and create a second life for a vintage material.
Q&A
Oh we do like a trip! Elvis, Monty, and a weekend away? Heaven....
Our Weekend Bag has become such a classic... the wide mouth shape of this versatile duffle (or is it spelled duffel???) makes it suitable for all kinds of occasions.
Most of our Fire & Hide Weekend Bags are rare, because the leather we use is rescued from Burberry, many are 1, 2, or 3 of-a-kind. Once these are gone, they will be gone for good. Here are some of our rare colour combinations.
Cognac with a Black Band across the top:
Black with a Bright Yellow Band across the top:
Black and Yellow Weekender (Monty not included):
Whether you are searching for a holdall or a duffle, in decommissioned fire-hose or a rescued leather and fire-hose combination, we are pretty sure that our Weekender will have you covered.
And not to confuse things too much but we do have a few more options for travel - bags that are great for an overnight, a weekend, or even more depending on how minimalist you are. If you want to see all of our luggage, all in one place, head here!
We hope that you are planning some lovely trips this summer, and if you take any of our pieces with you please do send us some pictures. We love to share these - and to travel vicariously through you! You can send an email to us:support@elvisandkresse.com or just post them online, but do remember to tag us, #elvisandkresse.
If you don't have the right piece yet, just head to our travel section.
On June 14th Kresse will be giving a lecture at the RCA. The RCA's Inspiring Entrepreneurs series has hosted many incredibly creative founders like James Dyson, Aron Gelbard and Carmen Hijosa.
See this link for more details!
TIME: Starts at 6:30pm
LOCATION: Royal College of Art, Gorvy Lecture Theatre, Dyson Building, 1 Hester Road, London, SW11 4AN.
This is a milestone we have been creeping up on for a few years... and suddenly last week we jumped past it.
We have officially rescued 307.6 tonnes, or 307,600kg of materials that would otherwise have gone to landfill. Over the last 18 years we have transformed this into items that are still living wonderful lives, holding up your jeans, carrying your laptops, and accompanying you around the world on all your journeys.
Thank you! Without you we would still be at 0.
What else wouldn't have happened?
Every single piece we make is a one-of-a-kind.
Why is this?
It is primarily due to our cherished raw materials. They are rescued. They have lived a life before coming to us. Fire-hoses change with age, they darken, they weather, they get lovely scars as they go about their business saving lives. The hoses are also stamped with their brand, Angus Duraline, their type, their British Standard mark and their date of extrusion. When we clean the hose and cut it into patterns to stitch into our final pieces these marks all fall in different places.
Our leather off-cuts are also all distinct. We rescue the small pieces that are unusable for our partners, or the leather that they reject because of the texture: stretch marks, insect bites, or imperfections that we love to celebrate! When we cut the leather into our system, then weave and stitch them into place the variations in the material always create a unique signature.
This week we had 40 guests from the University of Victoria in our workshop, and many of them were pleased to choose not just an Elvis & Kresse piece, but the precise item from a batch that really caught their eye. As one guest closely examined more than 20 of our Classic Tote bags before deciding on the one she liked the best, we thought how amazing it would be to host a reunion at the farm, for all our Totes. We have been making the Classic Hose Tote for more than 15 years. As each one is distinct, we could guarantee that everyone would take their own bag home.
It is true, that two pieces can be made to the same pattern, and may be similar, but they would never be the same.
We were thinking about the best way to celebrate B Corp month and that prompted a discussion on our favourite things about being a B Corp. I can sum it up in one word... community.
B Corps work together and support each other. How?
They buy from each other. We eat Divine Chocolate and Cook Food, drink Toast Ale and Chateau Maris wine, we wear Finisterre clothing and start every morning with Cafédirect...
They collaborate. We have worked with so many other B Corps but here are a few examples.
They promote each other. Allbirds just hosted two fellow B Corp founders at an International Women's Day event, myself and Stephanie Jordan from Avallen. I have also spoken at events organised by Coutts, the Guardian, Oxwash and many more!
And we are working together to truly make business a force for good. The UK B Corp movement is a driver behind the Better Business Act, which brings together businesses to change the UK law to ensure every company in the UK aligns their interests with those of wider society and the environment.
This also means that there will be critics - and there will be growing pains. In February 2023 the FT wrote an article about the struggle for the soul of the movement and I don't think this is a bad thing. We are collectively trying to do something amazing, in a dream world all businesses would be striving to be B Corps and then, once certified, would be striving to improve. And it is worth noting is that each and every one of these businesses, including mine, is putting its head above the parapet. The best businesses, particularly the vocal ones, invite the most scrutiny and often criticism. One of Elvis' favourite quotes? Elbert Hubbard. "To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing...." Well, given the challenges we face, we need more talking, more doing and a lot more 'being something'.
