ABSTRACT
Elvis & Kresse Wesling is interesting because it is an example of a traditional model – that of the venture capitalist finding and then exploiting an opportunity. Kresse has had a longstanding fascination with waste. Fast-forward ten years, and Elvis & Kresse, based in Kent, currently buys up the world’s annual supply of damaged fire hoses and has prevented over 200 tonnes of waste going to landfill. Future Elvis & Kresse projects include matching biomass to boiler suppliers and waste leather with soft furnishing companies. Of course, as with all products, recycling the waste material is only slowing up its inevitable journey to landfill, although turning waste fire hoses into more valuable and desirable fashion accessories will make the customer think twice about throwing it away. It also helps reduce the amount of raw materials used within the fashion industry and that reduces the burden on planet earth to supply these.
