Elvis and Kresse, a duo artist based in UK are doing a remarkable job by recycling fire hoses into very cool accessories. The fire hoses which otherwise are just confined to saving lives, these creative artists recognized it as a material to create a variety of fine products. And if you give a look to those products, it's really hard to identify of what they are actually made of. The finishing of the products is too amazing. In their each project, there is a freshness, innovation and style.

They are doing a proud job of recycling waste, making a significant contribution towards saving environment.

 Lets know more about their journey and projects from Kresse in the interview below:

Kresse, please introduce yourself to E-junkies.

I am a Canadian living by the sea in the UK, I met Elvis when I was living in Hong Kong nine years ago and we moved to the UK in 2005, he is British. We started the business together in late 2007.

Your recycling artwork is amazing. Tell us about the fascinating concept it uses.

Elvis & Kresse creates stunning life-style accessories by re-engineering seemingly useless wastes. The innovative and pioneering Fire-Hose range is made exclusively from genuine de-commissioned British fire brigade hoses which, after a distinguished career fighting fires and saving lives, were otherwise destined for landfill. 50% of profits from the fire-hose line are donated to the Fire Fighters Charity.

What inspired you to create recycled art work?

I have always been interested in the way the world works, particularly cities. My favorite sights in London were not St. Paul’s or The National Gallery – when I first moved there I wanted to see the Victorian Sewers, the water reservoirs, and I love a good landfill site! We were particularly motivated by the fire hose waste problem. I had a chance meeting with the London Fire Brigade and couldn’t believe that the hose, when it is too damaged to repair, goes to landfill. It is just too beautiful to waste. The hose lead us to discover many other stunning materials that are the unfortunate by-products of various industries or processes and now we are always hunting, always looking for beauty in unlikely places. 100 million tonnes of waste goes to landfill in the UK each year. Our project is a response to that problem.

What all materials you recycle? 

We reclaim fire hose, parachute silk, sail cloth, coffee sacks, closed cell foam, uniforms, tea sacks, packaging, shoe boxes, labels... And there are more wastes on the way.

What was the first project you guys worked on and how was the experience?

Our first project was the Live Earth Belt, delivering those on time was an incredible achievement as we had very little time to make them and had never made belts or even cut the hose before. Our most memorable product was definitely our first and still most popular handbag, our tote. We struggled so much with the hose that we never thought it would be possible to make a refined, high quality piece. They came out in late 2008. To see where it is now, on its 4th production run, is amazing. Our goal now is to always make the best possible products, items that will last, classics that people want to keep for years and then pass on. Only the best products will really be able to inspire people to change their relationship with waste.

How skeptical you guys were about making things out of waste materials?

I wasn’t skeptical, but I had no idea it would be so hard – I think my total lack of skepticism, aka overpowering optimism and naivete, is why we are in this business.

50% of your profits go to charity and, that's really wonderful! How difficult you find it to keep the business going on using the remaining funds?

This is not difficult at all – this is the best decision we ever made. The donations keep us focused on keeping the business healthy, if we aren’t profitable not only would the business close but we wouldn’t be able to have the impact that we do.

Do you think there is an extra edge to those who do not use waste materials to produce art?

Designers who are free to use any kind of material will have certain advantages, but the world has environmental issues which to me mean that we have to work within certain parameters – designing with waste means we can’t always make every product, but it also means that we have a real, genuine focus. The waste keeps us honest.

Would you like to share the best incident that you encountered in your artistic life?

This kind of question is always really difficult. It is incredible to be able to do what we love – realizing that the company would work, that it could support us, that was the best time.

Many other aspiring artists would draw inspiration from you. What message do you have for them?

They already know that they have to work incredibly hard, what they might not know is that they will need help. Without Elvis, there is nothing, I have very grand, sometimes impossible, ideas about waste, but he is able to realize them in truly incredible products. You need to find support and inspiration from the people around you, this is essential.

Kresse, thanks for a wonderful interview. You guys are doing a great job and making a significant contribution towards saving the environment. Thanks a lot for talking to us. We wish you all the very best!

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