Laura Zabo is on a mission to transform the world and the fashion industry from a consumer into a creator. She wants to empower people to make the next world better and look good along the way. ZABO is for urban warriors who want to stand out and care for the environment. Here is Laura’s story My upcycling journey began two years ago while I was exploring the beautiful country of Tanzania. I was captivated by the wild open spaces, the vibrant colours, and the warm generous people. The moment which changed my life was when I caught sight of some handmade brightly-painted sandals at a Maasai market. These innovative sandals were made entirely out of repurposed car tires. I immediately fell in love with the idea that functional products could be created out of trash, and I knew that I simply had to share this brilliant idea with the world. Vehicle tyres are a rapidly growing problem on this planet, with over 3 billion tyres dumped globally every year. They take decades to break down and often pile up on landfill sites, taking up valuable space and clogging up our planet. We need to find imaginative and creative eco-solutions for the increasing amount of waste on our planet and transform it into useful and sustainable treasure. I hope the passion and joy i have for up cycling, will inspire others to follow by example, so we can help save the planet together. TYRE IS THE NEW LEATHER!! See the collection here
After returning from Africa I was inspired to begin crafting tire belts at home, going on to sell my handmade fashion accessories at the London markets. As my ideas and techniques developed, so did my business and I began creating even more items such as inner tube jewellery and dog accessories. German tyre manufacturer, Schwalbe, donated approximately 5000 rejected tires to me saved from a future in landfill, which I upcycled into an eclectic range of belts, jewellery, guitar straps, dog leads – and much more
We carefully clean and cut the tyres and inner tubes to create stunning accessories, which are high quality, long lasting and unique, no two tyres are identical. Our products are 100% eco friendly, 100% vegan, 100% fabulous.
I am delighted that upcycled tyres are taking the world by storm and that more and more people are becoming eco-conscious, choosing sustainable, ethical and vegan products. I simply can not wait to come up with even more wild ideas for my beloved tyres and hopefully inspire others to think big, create, and change the world!
