The ALCHEMY of scrap Rubber
Carefully handcrafted upcycled tyre rubber jewellery and men’s belts. Made with love, not just for the planet but also for the consumer. Every tyre and tube has its own story and no two products are identical
Individually collected, retooled and reborn, Laura Zabo’s fashion range is an embodiment of the recycling, low waste movement.
My upcycling journey began five years ago while I was exploring the beautiful country of Tanzania. I was captivated by the wild open spaces, the vibrant colours, and the warm generous people. The moment which changed my life was when I caught sight of some handmade brightly-painted sandals at a Maasai market. These innovative sandals were made entirely out of repurposed car tires. I immediately fell in love with the idea that functional products could be created out of trash, and I knew that I simply had to share this brilliant idea with the world.
Laura Zabo tyre wear vegan upcycled fashion accessories
Scrap tyres are a rapidly growing problem on this planet, with over 3 billion tyres dumped globally every year. They take decades to break down and often pile up on landfill sites, taking up valuable space and clogging up our planet. We need to find imaginative and creative eco-solutions for the increasing amount of waste on our planet and transform it into useful and sustainable treasure. From the moment I saw those car tyre sandals, I knew that this had to be my mission in life.
laura zabo and maasai After returning from Africa I was inspired to begin crafting tire belts at home, going on to sell my handmade fashion accessories at the London markets. As my ideas and techniques developed, so did my business and I began creating even more items such as inner tube jewellery and dog accessories. German tire manufacturer, Schwalbe, donated approximately 5000 rejected tires to me saved from a future in landfill, which I upcycled into an eclectic range of belts, jewellery, guitar straps, dog leads – and much more.
I am delighted that more and more people are becoming eco-conscious, choosing sustainable and vegan products. I hope to inspire others to think big, create to live in a better world.
When you need a unique, sustainable, vegan and eco-friendly, upcycled statement piece for yourself or your loved one; just remember ZABO.
These creations are not products. Every accessory has it’s own story and carefully made with LOVE and PASSION.
https://laurazabo.com/collections/upcycled-inner-tube-jewelry-jewellery
Laura Zabo belts fuse classical design with sustainability.
Tyrebelts give you that leather biker look without the cruelty to animals or our planet. Every belt is vegan and eco-friendly made.
https://laurazabo.com/collections/bicycle-tire-belts
Stylish footwear made out of vegan leather and repurposed (rejected) car tyres.