When I walked into Mollusk Surf Shop in San Francisco the other day I wasn’t looking for a wallet, but the need for a new one was clearly there. My old Ripcurl one had had it. The stitching was falling apart, the inserts were shot, and the plastic sheath holding my ID was torn.
I’m a reluctant consumer for many reasons, but the answer to my wallet woes was sitting in front of me on the surf shop’s nonchalantly merchandized counter. A handful of stylish bi-fold wallets, card holders, and zip cases from a company called Rareform was casually lined up. Each one had a distinct look and was repurposed from discarded billboard material.
The Rareform website explains the process of making these unique, repurposed items. They collect billboards, cut and wash the vinyl, and sew them into new products like backpacks, surfboard bags, and changing mats.
Clearly this type of recycling is part of a larger movement within the surf industry aimed at lowering the impact we have on the ocean and environment. From Kelly Slater’s Outerknown product line, which seeks to create high quality apparel from entirely recycled material to Patagonia‘s neopreneless wetsuit line, a new direction is evident.
While I pondered the positive global implications of my buying power, I was also personally psyched on my unique new wallet. It felt good to know that my purchase was created from a recycled source and would have a low impact on the environment. If only it came stuffed with cash – then all of my wallet woes would be cured.
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