English Retreads
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Luxury goods, Sustainable fashion |
| Founded | January 1, 2001 in Nederland, Colorado, U.S. |
| Founder | Heather English |
| Defunct | December 31, 2014 |
| Fate | Ceased operations |
| Headquarters | Boulder, Colorado , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Heather English (Founder and Designer) |
| Products | Handbags, wallets, belts, laptop cases, keychains made from recycled rubber inner tubes and recycled PET fabric |
| Website | englishretreads |
English Retreads was a U.S.-based sustainable fashion brand focused on creating handbags and accessories from recycled materials. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, the company was known for its environmentally conscious, vegan, and artisan-crafted products.
The brand took its name from founder and designer Heather English, offering a range of items including handbags, wallets, belts, laptop cases, and keychains made mainly from repurposed rubber inner tubes and recycled PET (plastic bottle) fabric.
History
Established in 2001 by Heather English in Nederland, Colorado, English Retreads began with the vision to produce eco-friendly, non-leather handbags utilizing recycled rubber inner tubes. Over time, the product assortment grew to feature vintage-style rubber messenger bags, wallets, belts, dog collars, and keychains. The raw materials—used inner tubes—were collected from local truck stops, each typically having been driven over 60,000 miles before being reused.
English Retreads maintained an online presence through EnglishRetreads.com until it ceased operations in December 2014.
Material
The core materials consisted of reclaimed rubber inner tubes sourced mainly from trucks and tractors. These tubes were thoroughly cleaned and processed before being cut into patterns for handbag production.
The "Luxe" collection integrated rubber exteriors with vibrant linings crafted from 100% recycled PET plastic bottles. The final product offerings included handbags featuring PET outer layers complemented by inner tube rubber accents, available in various sizes from clutches to tote bags.
Industry
Operating within the luxury goods market segment, English Retreads specialized in environmentally responsible handbags.
Recognition
The brand earned media attention from prominent outlets such as The New York Times, CBS4 Denver, and The Rocky Mountain News.