Fire-Hose Bags

These bags are made from fire-hoses that once carried water into burning buildings. When a fire-hose reaches the end of its service life, it gets replaced. Until we started our rescue mission, the old hose was simply scrapped. We started collecting it instead, and we have been turning it into bags since 2005.

Every Elvis & Kresse bag is handmade between our two workshops, one here at New Barns Farm near Faversham in Kent, and the other in Istanbul. This collection is all made from genuine decommissioned British fire-hose. The red and yellow are the original hose colours - we do not dye it or change it. The texture, the weight, the slight variations between pieces? All of this is real; it is what happens when you choose a material that has lived a heroic life before it reaches you.

Built for pressure. Yours to carry every day.

• Decommissioned fire-hose: Our hose has been sourced directly from fire brigades across the UK since 2005. Cleaned and prepared using a process and equipment we have developed ourselves. It is water-resistant, structurally dense, and built to take daily use without showing it.
• Solid metal hardware: We work with metal hardware for quality and longevity. It is available in two finishes, antique brass and silver.
• Reclaimed Lining: We also rescue the materials for our lining. Depending on the piece this could be failed parachute silk or deadstock cotton canvas.

The kind of credentials that take 20 years to earn.

• Certified B Corp
• Certified Social Enterprise
• Certified Living Wage employer
• No-outsourcing: Everything is handmade by our own team across our two sites, one in Kent and one in Istanbul.
• Queen Award for Enterprise winner
• Cartier Women Initiative winner
• Over 300 tonnes of materials rescued to date
• 50% of profits from this collection donated to The Fire Fighters Charity

Frequently Asked Questions

How heavy are the fire-hose bags?

Heavier than synthetic bags, but very similar to leather. The hose is an extruded rubber sandwiching a woven nylon core, so it has real weight and structure. Our classic tote bag weighs approximately 1kg. The weekend bag is closer to 1.8kg. The weight is part of what makes them feel substantial and lasting but they are not heavier than leather bags of the same size.

Do the bags have pockets?

Yes. All our bags are designed for actual daily use. Internal organisation varies by style - messenger bags and briefcases have laptop pockets and multiple compartments. Totes have internal zip pockets. Check the individual product pages for details on each bag.

Can I personalise a fire-hose bag?

Many of our bags can be personalised with laser-etched initials or a short message. You can see the full range of personalisation options in our Personalisation Available collection.

Are these bags suitable for everyday use?

That is exactly what they are designed for. Fire-hose is a very durable textile. Our bags are built to be carried every single day, in all weathers, for years. The material improves with use. They still need love and care - any product with this much hand-stitching needs love to last.

Where are the bags made?

Every Elvis & Kresse bag is handmade between our two workshops, one here at New Barns Farm near Faversham in Kent, and the other in Istanbul. We do not outsource production. Our team makes every piece from start to finish.