Heather English got the idea for English Retreads when she was floating down Boulder Creek on, you guessed it, an inner tube. “I needed a new handbag but I was a hardcore vegetarian. I wanted something that was fashionable and invincible—but not made from leather,” Heather explains. “I didn’t find what I was looking for, so I went to McGuckin's, [a favorite local hardware store] bought some tools and started my own personal sweatshop—with me doing the sweating.” After friends started asking for a bag just like hers, Heather knew she was on to something and English Retreads hit the road in 2001.

Truck stops in the Boulder area supply Heather with the used inner tubes—each of which probably has more than 60,000 miles on it before it gets reinvented. "Just think of all the places these tubes have been," says Heather. "Now it's your turn to add to their miles and adventures."

Founded on socially and environmentally conscious ideals, English Retreads believes in using only cruelty-free and vegan materials in conjunction with crafty ingenuity. English Retreads founder, Heather English, says her design philosophy is to create classic, one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted accessories that make a high-impact fashion statement and a low impact on the environment.

"Each new design begins with the idea of striving to keep more waste out of the landfill by creating fashionable, yet sturdy items out of recycled materials," Heather says. "And by turning recycling into a bold fashion statement, we at English Retreads can empower consumers with an ecologically sound alternative to animal products without compromising style or durability. It's a win-win situation for everyone. I love designing a unique product that I feel good about, and that people can feel good about buying."

Working with Native Energy, English Retreads is offsetting 100% of the carbon emissions from their manufacturing operations, shipping and employee commutes. At English Retreads is committed to fair treatment of their employees and workers, promoting healthy communities where they do business, preserving the environment, and delivering quality products to the consumer. These commitments have been validated by their approval as a Member of the Green America Business Network™.