From discarded tyres to timeless treasures - our journey, our impact, and 12 lessons we’ve learned along the way.

Twelve years ago, Paguro Upcycle began with one bold idea: that waste could be beautiful.

What started as a small experiment in upcycling - transforming discarded materials into something meaningful - has grown into a thriving community of makers, wearers, and changemakers across the world.

Today, we celebrate 12 years of creativity, craft, and circular design - and over 59,287 kilos of waste we’ve kept out of landfill along the way.

Waste saved over 12 years:

Total inner tube - 28,125kg

Total army tent - 9,400kg

Total tyre - 17,212kg

But more than that, we’re celebrating you: every person who has chosen to carry, wear, or gift something that once would have been thrown away.

Because every Paguro piece is proof that small choices can have extraordinary impact.

What We’ve Saved (and What You Can Carry Instead)

Over the years, our artisans have reimagined materials once seen as useless - the punctured tyre, the torn army tent, the worn-out motorbike inner tube - into pieces that carry both history and hope.

Instead of sending waste to landfill, we’ve turned it into:

Elegant inner tube handbags that outlast fast fashion

Upcycled army tent backpacks that travel with purpose

Bike chain bracelets and necklaces that reinvent industrial design

Reclaimed brass jewellery that tells stories of transformation

And so much more!

Every cut, curve and stitch reflects the skill of our artisans and the value of mindful design. These materials had a past - and thanks to your support, they now have a future.

12 Things We’ve Learned in 12 Years

Waste is only waste if we waste it.

Materials can have second, third, and fourth lives if we design with imagination.

Craftsmanship never goes out of style.

Handmade isn’t just slower - it’s smarter, more personal, and built to last.

True luxury is transparency.

Knowing who made your product, and where, adds a richness no label can replace.

Circular design is the future of fashion.

Every product should begin with the end in mind - repairable, reusable, recyclable.

Storytelling matters.

When people connect emotionally to what they wear, they value it more and waste less.

Empowerment is part of sustainability.

Our partnerships with women-led artisan groups have shown that fair wages fuel independence and creativity.

Small batches make a big difference.

Limiting production means less waste, higher quality, and more meaningful purchases.

Reinvention keeps us alive.

From inner tubes to brass, from army tents to teak wood - evolution is in our DNA.

Collaboration sparks innovation.

Working with universities, museums and ethical retailers keeps creativity flowing.

Sustainability is a journey, not a destination.

There’s always more to learn, refine and improve.

Community is everything.

Each order, each share, each kind message has carried us further than we could have imagined.

Gratitude fuels the future.

After 12 years, we’re still a small team - but our ambition has never been bigger.

Looking Ahead

As we step into our next chapter, our mission remains clear:
- to prove that sustainability and style can walk hand-in-hand - that creativity can change consumption, and that waste can become something worth treasuring.

We’ll continue expanding our artisan collaborations, introducing new reclaimed materials, and creating small-batch collections that tell stories worth sharing.

Because the world doesn’t need more products - it needs better ones.

A Heartfelt Thank You

To everyone who has supported Paguro - whether you’ve been here since 2013 or just discovered us - thank you. You’ve helped us build something real: a brand rooted in purpose, guided by people, and powered by planet-positive design.

As we celebrate 12 years, we invite you to join us once more:

🎉 12% off sitewide + free delivery
📅 24 October – 2 November
💬 Use code: Anniversary12

Let’s celebrate not just what we’ve made, but what we’ve saved - together.

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