While most people associate seat belts with safety while driving, the denizens of Southern California are compelled to turn even something this seemingly mundane into a fashion statement. Yes, I’m talking about the seatbelt bag. And what better way to celebrate the enduring nature of this iconic fashion statement than to open a gleaming storefront on Melrose Avenue, in the middle of an economic crisis. Harveys, the company that started the seatbelt bag craze from a little home in the O.C., has done just that, despite creator Dana Harvey’s promised, just a little over a year ago, not to go Hollywood.
Convertible Tote by Harveys
For the record, I love bags. I’m even a fan of seat belts. But wouldn’t this idea have been so much better if the bags were actually made of recycled seat belts? So, how pleased do you think I was when I discovered Harveys actually offers the Treecycle line of, yep, recycled seatbelt bags? Yippee. I can now officially jump on the bandwagon.
Treecycle Messenger by Harveys
To be honest, the bags are so damn cute, I’d already convinced myself that the company’s use of new seat belts could be the only thing preventing seat belt manufacturers from filing Chapter 11 now that the auto industry is in the toilet. The headline could be: Once Again Hollywood Saves the Day!
Baseman VENISON by Harveys
Alas, no. The creators of the seatbelt bag are not the only industrious souls to find seat belts strangely alluring out of context, or to devise ways of sharing their obsession with the easily-converted masses. Behold.
The hammock you wish you had:
Sling by Ting London
The perfect arm chair, for that perfect person over whom you’re surreptitiously drooling to lounge in, perfectly, while sipping a perfectly shaken Martini:
By Nuttapong Charoenkitivarakorn
The Brangelina version of your grandmother’s backyard bench:
By Peter Danko
The throw pillow you won’t really want to throw, from dead stock and recycled seat belts:
By Ting London
And, oh dear… Okay, so I’m breaking the rules a bit with this last one, but this is absolutely, hands down, the sexiest flooring on the market, made of recycled leather belts, and constitutes one of only three purposes for which to have a belt in your house:
Custom Designed by Ting London
Close enough to seat belts, right? And environmentally friendly. The cows are already long dead.
So, screw Heroes. Seat belts will save the world. What else do you think will?
egan
/ March 2, 2009My wife has a seat belt bag and it’s the bomb. It’s a pretty nifty bag and has held up very well over the past few years of heavy wear. It’s her primary purse and sure can take a beating. I can’t imagine the seat belt pillow being all that comfy.
egan’s last blog post..Chirp #1
Kat
/ March 2, 2009They’re not recycled? I guess I knew that since they’re so clean and pristine looking, but yeah, that’s not cool.
Kat’s last blog post..Must.Stop.Clenching.My.Teeth.Now
emmajames
/ March 5, 2009Egan: Since when are throw pillows supposed to be comfy? It’s all about look, baby, all about the look. Kidding. Sort of.
Kat: Ting London uses remnants, so that’s good. And Harvey’s does have that one Treecycle line. The more people buy that line instead of the others, the more likely they’ll get the message that recycling is the way to go.