I recently connected with a lady by the name of Laura Zabo on Twitter and just had to interview her. The most striking thing about her, to me, is how she uses old and rejected tyres to make fashion accessories. Find out how Laura started and enter her giveaway to win a £100 gift card
Interview with Laura Zabo
Q: Please tell me about yourself, what inspired you to start this business, how did you start it?
A: I am absolutely hyperactive and eco-conscious and I love working for myself and have my independence. 3 years ago I moved to Tanzania because I got fed up with the British weather and one day when I was walking at the local Maasai market I found some brightly painted sandals made out of car tyres. The moment I saw it, I knew immediately that it is what I want to do. I 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.
Q: How do you source your products?
A: Sometimes I just collect waste tyres from the local bicycle shops or I ask companies for factory rejects. More than a year ago Schwalbe gave me approx 5k rejected tyres which I used for my latest collection.
Q: How have you found the journey so far?
A: It has been two and a half years now, but it is still really challenging. But I love this mission, I enjoy to create fashion from waste and hope to inspire others to think big, create, and change the world!
Q: What advice would you give to other women who are passionate about something and are considering starting up their own business?
A: Start it, start to practice, even if it’s only a couple of hours per day. You can’t live a robotic and boring life; find the inner creator and your happiness.
Q: Tell me about your products
A: Belts: These belts are made out from Schwalbe rejected tyres. We carefully clean and cut them and choose the right buckle for each tyre. Tyres are very durable because they have been designed to spend their working life in rotation but now it’s their time to shine.
Jewellery: I use waste (rejected or worn) inner tubes for my jewellery. Inner tubes are also called the vegan leather because they look like leather. It’s a fantastic and cruelty-free material for accessories such as necklaces, earrings, bags, purses, and even clothing.
Giveaway
Laura Zabo has been so kind to offer my readers a chance to win a £100 gift card to buy any product(s) from her online shop LauraZabo.com.
All the best everyone!
EDIT 04.04.2018: The giveaway is now over. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part. It was lovely reading all your comments. Laura has been so kind to offer 25% off any products on her website using the discount code SEGI25.
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Thanks for doing conscious work
thanks for stopping by and best wishes 😀
Thanks for your comment, I am very happy that you like my items . 🙂
I think it’s meaningful and very resourceful. It’s very unique and first time I’ve seen this type of fashion.
I know exactly what you mean. I never imagined old tyres could be turned into fashion.
Thanks for stopping by
Hi, oh that’s great. And this is only the beginning, follow my social media and you will be surprised !
Great work for nature !
Thanks for your comment, I really hope to reuse huge quantities!
Great Blog. Lots of good information
thanks for stopping by 😀
Lots of information. Very informative. Great Blog.
Very interesting blog. Great Read
thanks for stopping by again 😀 glad you like my blog 😀
It’s great that you are keepers by tires out of landfills. Every little bit counts . Great work and awesome products . You should be proud
I’ll pass on your message. Thanks for stopping by Leanne 😀
Hello Leanne,
oh thank you very much. I really enjoy this process and love upcycle tyres. I hope to inspire other people to become more eco-conscious. Warm Wishes
Laura
I think it’s great what you guys are doing. It is very unique and the first time I’ve seen this type of fashionable products.
I was well impressed myself when I connected with Laura. I’ll be sure to pass on your message to her too. Thanks for stopping by
Great work! Amazingly unique!
I liked the information I learned from the website. It helped me a lot.
Keep up the good work
thanks, I’ll pass on the message to Laura. thanks for stopping by too 😀
Awesome Blog. Very well-written.
Great work Laura!
Thanks for stopping by, I’ll be sure to pass on your message
Excellent Blog. Very Informative.
I was looking at Laura’s site tonight. Her necklaces, earrings and bracelets are very cool and unique. My only recommendation would be if she could post photos of women wearing the different pieces instead of having just the photos of the items. My experience with ordering online is that sometimes when I put the item on it looks different on me than what I thought it would.
very useful comments Sarah. I’ve passed it on to Laura.
This is a great contest.
thanks, glad you like it 😀
She is doing good work for the environment and her pieces are unique and cool
Very good information. Very Interesting.
Conscious meaningful work!
So good to see things bring re-used. You should be very proud of what you do . Things are way to disposable nowadays.
Thanks for stopping by Leanne, I’ll pass on your comments to Laura
Great blog. Very good information.
Keep up the good work Laura!!!!!! I am inspired to be more eco-conscious 🙂
Excellent blog. Very good.
Great contest and site 🙂
thanks, glad you like it. Please consider sharing page with your network 😀
Keep up the good work Laura!
Great contest and great site!
Wow. Great site and great work!
Great website Laura!
great work!
I love the jewelry Laura! Very unique and fashionable!
Where did the twitter entry go? It just disappeared.
Great website Laura!
Not many people make money off of something that’s good for the environment. It’s nice to see
Unique jewelery and cool website!
I would like to be wearing one of Laura’s necklaces for my next photo shoot 🙂
Great site and contest!
I think the work she is doing is awesome . I love seeing things re-used instead of thrown out .
Great work . I like refinishing old wood . Love your products too.
I love the site Laura. Keep up the good work.
Love the work that you do. Beautiful, unique jewelry.
Great work and great products . Who knew something so beautiful could be made from a tire .
I especially love the tires. I think Laura hit the jackpot with them.
Great site Laura!