+44 (0)1142041541
info@ernestwright.co.uk
£ GBP
  • £ GBP
  • $ USD
  • € EUR
£ GBP
  • £ GBP
  • $ USD
  • € EUR

TRANSFORMING 'JUNK' INTO HIGH-END BAGS

FROM WASTE TO USEFUL ITEMS

Millions of tonnes of waste are sent to landfill each year. But what if we could turn that junk into useful, everyday items? That’s the mission of Neil Wragg, founder of Ragsto and resident artisan on BBC1’s Money for Nothing.
THE STORY

THE BIRTH OF RAGSTO

Ragsto was born from a means to an end. I love being outdoors for camping, travelling and cycling but my expensive kit just kept on breaking. When you’re on the go, it’s frustrating when equipment fails. It should be durable. The solution for this dilemma came from customizing my own kit, and soon all my bags were designed from scratch. Every bag is handbuilt to last and made from durable materials. What some people might call “junk”.

Neil Wragg founder of Ragsto
Ragsto workshop
Ragsto salvaged materials

UPCYCLING DURABLE MATERIALS

The process of turning “junk” into new products is called “upcycling”. Nowadays in our consumer society, so much of what we use is discarded. But items like tents, tarpaulins, advertising banners and yachting sails are all designed to put up with serious wear and tear. They are built to durable. If this stuff gets sent to landfill, the material takes 100s of years to decompose. So, when a tent gets mouldy or an advertising campaign ends, I exploit a textile’s durability and turn “junk” into bags that can take a beating.

Salvaged materials are great for making bags. And you’d be surprised what can be crafted from one item. Take an old leather sofa. The seat cushions are well-worn and give a beautiful, aged look; perfect for leather holdalls or a messenger bag. On the other hand, the back of the sofa is immaculate, almost as if it had just come out of the shop. From one item, I can harvest material to fashion a range of durable bags.

CREATING NEW MEMORIES

Upcycling doesn’t always start with rubbish. It could be a prized leather jacket that hasn’t been worn in 10 years, or a family chesterfield that you no longer have room for. Memories come from anywhere and it’s a wrench to get rid of some possessions. Upcycling creates the opportunity to convert heirlooms into everyday items. And when you buy a bag that has been upcycled, you reduce waste and you get to wear something new.

Ragsto work bench
Ragsto hold-all style bag

WORKING WITH DIVERSE MATERIAL

Salvaged materials are tricky to work with. It’s not like plain fabric that comes straight off a roll. In BBC1’s Money for Nothing, presenter Sarah gave me an old inflatable boat to transform into several bags. It was a challenge because such a boat is layered and made from thick vinyl plastic. But by approaching every project with an open mind and a readiness to be adaptable, I’m able to use skill, wisdom and creativity and give old items a new lease of life.

My workshop is full of everything you need to work with tough textile. So, my Ernest Wright Tailor’s shears fit right in. All my other scissors need regular sharpening because the salvaged material is so durable. It’s simply not designed to be cut. However, the Tailor’s shears are faultless. They put up with anything that’s thrown at them and just stay sharp. This allows me to cut in small and intricate ways; saving every last scrap from going to landfill.

Neil Wragg, founder of Ragsto 

STORIES FROM ERNEST WRIGHT
A birds eye view of two watchmakers at work. They are sitting opposite one another.

The undervalued joy of craft

We explore the irreplaceable joy of making things by hand – and how this enjoyment leads some craftspeople to undervalue their products.
READ MORE
A large marquee illuminated with fairy lights, sat beneath a dark and starry sky.

The marquee-maker’s craft

Marquees have sheltered and embellished our celebrations for centuries. They are aristocrats among tents – but precious few craftspeople retain the skills to make a ...
READ MORE
A vibrant collection of crystal rose hard candy. The centre of the circular candy features a red rose and the outer is clear.

Flavour & Art

We interview Tallahassee candymaker Greg Cohen to learn about the history, skills and science behind traditional candy.
READ MORE
John is leaning over a cutting table. He is cutting out a piece of suiting using shears.

A life on Savile Row

Savile Row is synonymous with classic tailoring – but that doesn’t mean time stands still at London’s sartorial heartland. We spoke to John Davis, Owner ...
READ MORE
yarn-hero-image

Last cut is the greenest

The Last Yarn collective is saving fabrics from going to landfill by giving designers access to excess stock. We spoke to co-founder Deborah Lyons to ...
READ MORE
article_book1

The Honoured Word

From the monasteries and palaces of the Middle Ages to present day libraries and private collections, hand-bound books continue to enshrine the words we hold ...
READ MORE
Drag Queen in Lizzie Biscuits costume

Fit for a queen

What makes a drag costume slay, why do winning RuPaul’s Drag Race looks differ from the best costumes for live performance, and how do drag ...
READ MORE
Using shears

Work and play

If you’ve visited our workshop lately, you may have left thinking the putters are looking a lot smarter. This is all thanks to chorewear specialists ...
READ MORE
Falcon

With leathern wings

An estimated 25,000 people in the UK practise the ancient pursuit of falconry, in which a trained bird of prey is flown at bait or ...
READ MORE