Courtesy of Loved & Upcycled, Standhill, County Sligo.

Veronica Kisela made her first laptop cover from her old wetsuit. She now designs and creates bags and wallets and other products are made from kitesurfing sales, bicycle tire tubes and neoprene.

Kisela explains, “We upcycle out-of-service sports gear such as wetsuits, sails, bike-tubes and kites, wetsuit zips, old tents, climbing ropes etc. These materials take on average around 100 years to decompose in nature.

To upcycle means to reuse discarded objects or material in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original.

The materials that we use to create our products are donated to us by fellow surfers, sailors, bikers, kiters, surf schools, sail schools and other outdoor enthusiasts who have been inspired by our mission.”

For more information or to donate unused wetsuits for a discount, visit Loved & Upcycled.

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