Luxury Bags made from Discarded Tractor Tire Inner Tubes
It all started when Ken Kobrick, an ex-welder, and Angela Greene, an inventor who doesn’t even carry a handbag, decided to dive headfirst into the incredibly competitive world of the accessories market. Inspired to take on the creative challenge of using discarded tire inner tubes to create a classic collection of bags and accessories.
Kobrick and Greene are both committed to recycling, and are passionate about creating products that are functional, unique and classic in design. Neither had any formal design background, but soon the couple was experimenting with hand sewn designs. “We started making the bags in our 900-sq.-ft house, and had to throw away our old couch to make room for the industrial sewing machines,” explains Kobrick about the brand’s modest beginnings. “The only room that didn’t have inner tubes or a sewing machine was the bathroom.”
Passchal incorporates leather trim and sides to their rubber bags, keeping them lightweight and enabling the introduction of new colors and textures. All bags are handcrafted using the highest quality leather, hardware and materials available. The inner tubes are collected in VA, Ohio, PA, TX and GA, and undergo a rigorous but environmentally friendly, multi-day cleaning process.
To date, Passchal has recycled approximately 70 tons of inner tubes! The line caught the attention of both media and celebrities. Passchal bags have been featured on The Today Show, and in Entrepreneur and Rolling Stone magazines, to name a few. They have also been featured at Olympus Fashion Week and Back Stage at the Tony Awards.
