In today’s world you no longer have to be an eco-warrior or hippie to grasp the socially responsible message of eco-friendly products, and the Harvest III collection from KEEN is a fun, modern upcycled twist on traditional, everyday products. Constructed from repurposed automobile airbags that would have normally ended up in a landfill, the Harvest III products offer durable and functional design that carry a message all their own.
Eco-Friendly Versatility…
Urban, suburban, school, and work adventures require a fair share of things that you can’t be without, and the KEEN Harvest III collection offers the eco-friendly versatility and one-of-a-kind look to transport those necessities in a socially responsible style. Even better than being constructed from repurposed automobile airbags, KEEN’s Harvest III products are built in the USA…. that’s what we call a win-win.
Featuring five different products, the Harvest line includes the Messenger Bag ($120), Harvest III Tote ($70), Harvest III Backpack ($120) and the Bi-Fold ($20) and French Wallets ($40). So whether you’re commuting to work on your longboard or chasing down the light rail after class, there’s a product in the Harvest III collection to fit your style and your needs.
The Process…
It has been said that difficult situations inspire ingenious solutions. When it comes to excess products flowing into our landfills, an ingenious idea arose from the creative minds at KEEN. When pondering the fate of left over, excess and obsolete airbags they realized the fabric is still perfectly suited to the rigors of hauling laptops, textbooks, and daily essentials.
So how do you go from airbag to messenger bag? First, the airbags are sourced from an airbag manufacturer to a recycler in Salt Lake City. Next, these bags are sorted and shipped to a factory in Chico, California where bags are separated out, dyed and laundered at a dye house.
Because of the unique overdye process, each product has it’s own distinctive color variations. So you can rest easy knowing that you won’t randomly run into a fellow urbanite carrying your doppelgänger bag—because let’s be honest, unless it’s Halloween or Sadie Hawkins, you don’t want to go the twinsy route.
The Critique…
KEEN’s Harvest III collection is a perfect fit for your daily urban-adventuring life. Silicon water-resistant coating helps shield the products from the lighter side of Mother Nature, but note that they aren’t designed to keep you and your gear fully protected from her more aggressive side. The only other note from our team was the suggestion that in future versions of the collection, we’d love to see padded, fleece-lined compartment/sleeve added to the Messenger bag to safely store tablets or other electronics.
Bottom Line…
Haven’t you heard? “Green” is the new black. And while she hasn’t told us directly, we’re pretty sure that when you pick up your new Harvest III goodies, Mother Nature will be very proud of your socially responsible decision.
*Gumption Gear Review received the product samples featured in this review from KEEN. The items featured were provided solely in exchange for testing the products and providing our honest views and opinions. We received no other form of compensation for this or any related review.