If I were to see a fire hose lying curled in a pile on the floor I would not think messenger bag. I would not think of a coffee sack as a case for a MacBook Pro. And I would definitely not think that these materials could be a foundation of one of the coolest most innovatite fashion design companies. Kresse Wesling has a background in eco-design, and together with James Henrit(Elvis) she has made the firehose a material seen worn by both rockstars, and models.

Eco-design is basically answering a key question to our future: how can we recycle industrial waste, and save our limited resources on Earth? In the case of the firehose it is a brilliant undertaking, as a cleaned up firehose is stronger than leather and looks amazing. What you also get is personalised items. By going as vintage as you possibly can with your raw materials you can create items that oozes life, personality and charm. In the case of the firehose this is evident in the wear it shows, and that all pieces have different parts of the lettering spelling out “Angus Duraline”, and numbers showing district used. The coffee bags used for shipping coffee to the UK from South America. It has different lettering depending on the brand, but all have their own distinct character. My MacBook case has the word gourmet, some letters and the Fairtrade symbol on it.
To line the products military-grade parachute silk is used. This is a soft, shiny material that looks great.

The goal of Elvis & Kresse is to reclaim as much material from becoming landfill as possible. About 100 tons has been reclaimed so far according to the FAQ at their shop. New materials are always searched for, and it is so far an eclectic collection of materials used. When you get a product shipped from Elvis & Kresse it is in a reclaimed packaging. The shiny silver packaging is actually waste tea bags that have been turned inside out. Another excellent example of how something otherwise seen as waste can be turned into something beautiful given a green point of view. And it takes talent to be able to fully see these opportunities.

MacBook Case

Made from coffee sack, military grade parachute silk and firehose the MacBook Case has all the unique materials in one cool product. The main material is the coffee sack that covers the entire back, and front of the sleeve. Reclaimed cell foam has been sewn in between the parachute silk, and the coffee sack. This gives some extra padding to the case. When empty it is not completely rigid, as it lacks any hard material. For protection this is not meant to withstand high falls, but rather to protect the MacBook from minor bumps and scratches. To hold it all together a thick piece of firehose goes from the back to the front. It connects using Velcro, and it is a sturdy construction. I am not able to shake the MacBook out no matter how I try.

The main attraction of this case is the look, and the cool materials used. It is truly a conversation piece. The combination of a spanking new laptop with a reclaimed coffee sack is mind-boggling, and somehow Apple and Elvis & Kresse works in perfect harmony. If you are interested in a great sleeve for your 13″ MacBook or MacBook Pro this is worth considering.

MacBook Case at Elvisandkresse.com £51.95

Messenger Bag

This is probably the flagship of the brand. A product that looks awesome, works great and is made from 30-year-old fire hose material. The entire bag is made from the material except the lining that is military-grade parachute silk lining. Starting with the strap it is a long about 4 centimetres wide. There are seven holes for the buckle to adjust it. You can make extra holes if you want to have a shorter strap. For me who isn`t that tall it is almost too far down on my back using the shortest option on the strap. The buckle is strong, and even though there is no foam padding it is not uncomfortable to wear.
The bag has one large main compartment with no dividers. Inside there is also a zippered pocket for keys, wallet and other small items. On the front, protected by the front flap is an open pocket for a small book, a sandwich or other small items. The main compartment can fit about two 15″ laptops at the same time to give you an idea of size. I have been using it with my 13″ MacBook Pro with a sleeve, and it is easy to fit my lunch box, a book and a bottle of water inside it as well. I would have liked more compartments and pockets for the bag. As a messenger bag it works well on the bike, but I would also have liked some extra strap to hold it securely in place on my back when going at full speed. It stays on my back, but there is a bit too much movement for my liking.

Being made from firehose the messenger bag is durable, and water-resistant. How often can you say that your bag is better at resisting water than your raincoat? It is easy to wipe it clean, and even when dirty it retains a matte gleam. The full length flap protects the contents, and is fastened using two strong magnets on the bottom.

The look, and design is unisex. It looks just as cool on me, as when my wife wears it. It is available in two different versions. The standard has green lining. The Limited Edition comes with a gold parachute silk lining. It has a cool volcano print in gold on the front flap, and in black on the inside of the front flap. The volcano art is made by artist Paul Morrison. Both versions look great, and as there is only a minor price difference the decision is more about the preferred color for the lining.

Messenger Bag at Elvisandkresse.com £205

Conclusion

If you are looking for cool products with a lot of personality Elvis & Kresse is the way to go. Everything is functional, durable and well designed. You don`t have to sacrifice function to save the environment with any of these products. Being environmentally conscious is easy when there is an exciting option available.

Read more about Elvis & Kresse, and take a look at their belts, iPhone cases and iPad Saddle Bag.