Community Connect: Re/TOTE

This week in our Community Connect series we are featuring a magnificent, woman owned, small business operating right here in Lantzville. Wendy Campbell of Re/TOTE is dedicated to repurposing materials set for the landfill and turning them into beautiful accessory pieces that will have many more years of life.

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Originally from Ontario, Campbell was inspired to create Re/TOTE after a visit to London England where she discovered a tote bag design by a passing traveler. She was immediately consumed by this design and needed to create it for herself, but with a twist: use only repurposed materials. A long way from her corporate working career, Campbell started creating Re/TOTE bags using her experience with basic sewing techniques. Paired with newfound knowledge of working with leather she researched and learned from experimenting with materials and designs.

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Working from a studio not far from The Foothills, Campbell draws inspiration for her designs from the world around her and is proud to say that no two pieces are alike, each unique visually and in design. Leather is the material used for most of these bags; it is all repurposed from couches she has saved from the landfill. With her husband, they deconstruct the couches at home, collect the materials for use on Re/TOTE bags, and then offer the foam and batting online for free to other makers or individuals with other projects. The goal is to keep as much waste as possible out of the landfill! Each couch saved is many more one-of-a-kind bags for customers to love for many years in the future. Campbell even does custom orders for folks who want a personal touch to their new accessory!

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For those of you looking to buy a Re/TOTE piece you can do so online on their website https://www.retote.ca or you can find her at upcoming markets in the spring! Upcoming market dates are posted on the website. The next markets they will be at are:

Craft Culture Kelowna Spring Market 2024

April 6 – 7, 2024

Kelowna Curling Club, 551 Recreation Ave, Kelowna, BC

https://craftculture.ca/spring-market/

A Handmade Spring Makers Market

April 26 – 28, 2024

Beban Park Social Centre, Nanaimo BC

https://ahandmadespring.ca

Be sure to follow their journey on Instagram (@retote5), Facebook (@retotecanada) and find them online or at the next market near you!

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