Multi-award winning environmental entrepreneur and Young Global Leader with a background in venture capital and significant start-up experience.
After first meeting with the London Fire Brigade in 2005, Kresse launched Elvis & Kresse, which turns industrial waste into innovative lifestyle products and returns 50% of profits to charities related to the waste. Elvis & Kresse’s first line is made from decommissioned fire hose, 50% of the profits from this line are donated to the Fire Fighters Charity. The company now collects 12 different waste streams, has several charitable partnerships and is involved with collaborations across industries, from fashion houses to FTSE 100 companies etc.
Some might be hard-pressed to see how old hose could be beautiful, but this is exactly what makes Kresse’s passion extraordinary: her vision. ‘When you polish it and see the lustrous red rubber it becomes this fantastic material!’ Kresse and her business partner, Elvis, set about figuring out what they could make from it. ‘If a use couldn’t be found for the hose, most of it would go to landfill, which to me is simply uncivilised. Waste is a mix of inherently valuable materials. It’s shameful to shove it in the earth’.
Projects credited in
- Leaders with social heart: 100 creative changemakersCelebrating social responsibility is at the heart of what we do, so we've partnered with Squarespace – whose mission is to inspire people with creative ideas to succeed – to shine a light on 100 influential luminaries from art, technology, charity, design, business and more that are working tirelessly to make our world a better place. To highlight these organisations, we asked 10 creative changemakers to each nominate 10 people behind inspiring brands, products and movements with amazing social
- A founding UK BCorp and a Best for the World Honoree this yearElvis & Kresse have been reclaiming heroic materials ever since they fell in love with London Fire Brigade's decommissioned fire-hose. After a distinguished career fighting fires and saving lives the hoses were destined for landfill. They started to rescue the hose in 2005 and never looked back. More materials soon followed, Kresse has always had an obsession with waste and likes nothing better than discovering and intercepting something new. The challenge is the same every time - what can be do7
- Upcycling fire hose fashion duo Elvis & Kresse win top Charity awardKresseWesling MBE and James Henrit, founders of luxury bag and accessory company Elvis & Kresse, have been presented with a prestigious award at The Fire Fighters Charity’s Spirit of Fire Awards in London today, in recognition of their commitment to donate 50% of profits from their recycled fire hose range to The Fire Fighters Charity.3
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Work history
Co-founder & DirectorElvis & Kresse
London, United KingdomFull Time
Skills
- Creative Direction
- Business Development
- Entrepreneur
- Sustainability
- Manufacturing
- Product