Mondo Design upcycling: Imagining old tires into fashion bags

With a little imagination and effort, a discarded item can be converted into a new product while keeping some of its original characteristics. Upcycling is a creative method of giving a second life and function to used things, as well as increasing the value of materials.

The fashion industry is often taken to task on its lack of sustainable solutions for environmental impact. Brands such as Adidas and Zara, however, are slowly addressing this issue with a range of upcycled products. For example, Adidas recently released golf shoes made from upcycled plastic waste, and Zara launched a new denim line made from used jeans.

Mondo Design co., ltd is one of the companies in Japan focusing on upcycled products, repurposing used truck tire tubes into handbags, backpacks, wallets, and other products. From the start, the company’s CEO Yohei Horiike had a keen interest in making eco-friendly products using ready-to-be-scrapped items. He noticed that because of the durability and water resistance of tire rubber, the material is perfect for high-quality daily-use bags, and this realization later helped transform his ambition into action.

Truck tires are designed for use in harsh conditions. Tires are expected to handle high and low temperatures, constant friction against the road, and heavy rain conditions. Consequently, products made from this sturdy material are resistant to unpredictable weather and don’t require special care. Even if you spot some dirt on your product, you can easily rub it off. What also makes the upcycled products special is the fact that every bag has distinctive patterns. The tire pattern varies depending on how the rubber was cut to make the product and how much of the ridges are worn down. Therefore, no two bags are alike.

The used tires are imported from Thailand. After going through several processes such as material cutting, cleaning, and sorting, each product is carefully sewn by experienced craftsmen and craftswomen in Japan. The whole process could take from 6 to 24 months, but the result is a guaranteed high-quality product.

Horiike believes that putting emphasis on quality, design, and functionality is more important than just promoting eco-friendliness. “Sustainability can’t be the main reason for customers to choose our products, especially when similar products are available at lower prices.” He says that customer satisfaction has to come first in order to grow a steady base of Mondo Design fans. Horiike believes that more widespread awareness of upcycling will follow eventually.