London-based lifestyle brand Olli Ella has given its See-Ya suitcase range a makeover and is now making them from recycled PET bottles.
The label offers a range of homeware, toys, and apparel and uses ethical, fair-trade practices with minimised reliance on plastics while adding value to artisans and their communities.
See-Ya suitcases were part of Oprah’s list of favourite things in 2018, where the American TV personality found the bags as “sophisticated, lightweight trunks built for jet-setters with little legs”.
Previously, the suitcases were made from virgin plastic, usually made from direct resin produced from a petrochemical feedstock. Today they are now made with 100 per cent petrochemical-free, recycled plastic bottles.
The company shared its recycling process on its website. First, the used plastic bottles are washed, with their labels removed. Next, the bottles are recycled into small pallets, then broken down and spun into a thread. Finally, the threads are turned into a textile used to create the finished product.
According to the company, each piece of luggage is made from eight plastic bottles, saving them from landfills.
Launched in London in 2010 by sisters Chloe Brookman and Olivia Brookman, the brand’s vision was to create family-friendly products manufactured in a mindful, sustainable and environmentally responsible way.
Through the years, the sisters said that they made sure the business adheres to those principles and always evolved to do better. Today, the company is now recognised as a B-Corp certified business.
B-Corp certification is awarded to businesses that meet rigorous standards of verified social and environmental performance, legal accountability and public transparency to balance purpose and profit.
“We create our collection with the planet in mind, and we ensure a rich thread of diversity and inclusion – from gender to race – is woven throughout our designs, so all kids can be inspired to play and grow,” said Olivia.
Olli Ella operates e-commerce stores in Britain, Australia, the US, and Europe, sold through more than 1200 stores in 44 countries, including at Harrods and Anthropologie.
