A concept that took off: Bristol company creates bags using hot air.
Bristol-based streetwear brand Rerun is beautifully demonstrating its commitment to sustainability by creating messenger bags crafted from balloon fabric offcuts. This heartfelt initiative pays tribute to Bristol’s rich history as the European birthplace of modern hot air ballooning, celebrated annually during the Bristol Balloon Fiesta. The connection offers a unique homage, utilizing recycled textiles from the world’s largest balloon manufacturer.
“Our bag is designed with cycling in mind, and Bristol is well-known as a cycling-friendly city,” shared Rerun co-founder Toby Thorpe. “We’re hoping it’s going to soar!”
Rerun emerged from a friendship nurtured at Bristol’s skateparks. Faced with a lack of affordable and durable clothing that could endure the rigors of their sport, Thorpe and fellow skater Wilf Hastings began sourcing and reworking preloved workwear from the US. They soon shared their upcycled creations with friends before embarking on a thoughtful journey through the textile waste hotspots of countries like Indonesia and India. “It was illuminating,” said Thorpe. “The sheer volume of warehouses filled with secondhand clothing, discarded years ago, is astounding.”
Since then, Rerun has skillfully transformed old Carhartt cargo pants into stylish messenger bags, utilized deadstock fabrics for exclusive shorts and shirts, and collaborated in sewing and screen-printing workshops with iconic brands like Finisterre. Their latest project blossomed from a serendipitous reunion with an old school friend. “The younger brother of a friend from school worked in a hot air balloon factory and mentioned the excess fabric,” explained Thorpe. That factory was the renowned Cameron Balloons. “It turns out it was just a five-minute bike ride from our warehouse,” added Thorpe.
It reflects a spirit of resourcefulness, embracing what you have instead of yearning for limitless choices. “That’s the part that excites me the most,” said Thorpe. Rerun partnered with designer Theo Schaale to transform Cameron’s offcuts into a lightweight, durable, and above all, stylish 40-litre messenger bag. Schaale recalled, “While I was sewing one of these bags from some shimmering fabric in my little front room studio, I glanced out the window and saw one of Cameron’s silver balloons drifting by. It was a truly magical moment.”
He acknowledged that working with such lightweight fabric presented unique challenges. “But it offers more desirable qualities than difficulties,” he reflected. “I really appreciate its transparency; the light passes through it beautifully.”
“It’s been a bit of a fortunate surprise, in the sense that we might have 20 colors to match and create something appealing. It truly is about making the most of what you’re given instead of relying on new materials and endless options. That’s the exhilarating part for me.”
Photography: Rerun
