Canadian designer Anne Painchaud-Oullet combines contemporary styling with social responsibility with her accessories label, Ressac Bags.
Painchaud-Oullet uses punctured inner bicycle tubes to create her eco-friendly, durable, and water resistant purses. The material looks surprisingly like leather, but of course it’s much kinder to the planet. The construction of Ressac Bags saves the used bike tubes from landfill and give them a new lease on life.
Painchaud-Oullet sources the used tubes from local bike repair shops. Once she secures the tubes she cuts them to size, cleans them, and paints them with a glossy topcoat. She then handcrafts the tubes into the distinctive accessories she sells.
I wish we knew about the other materials that make up the Ressac Bags though. While Painchaud-Oullet is candid about the green credentials of her bike tubes, she doesn’t give details about the bags’ hardware and fabric lining. I’d like to think both elements are eco-friendly, but I can’t be sure. That’s concerning for a fashion house trading on its environmentally friendly approach to design.
There’s a wide range of Ressac Bags available, from large totes and backpacks to smaller cross-bodies, clutches, and wallets. They’re available from a range of Canadian boutiques and the label’s Etsy store.
