About Flotsam Flo

Founded by Kate in 2021, Flotsam Flo is more than just a brand—it's a movement dedicated to breathing new life into difficult-to-recycle materials. We create stylish, functional fashion items, including bags and accessories, by repurposing and upcycling materials that would otherwise be discarded. By embracing upcycling, we actively contribute, in our own small way, to addressing the environmental crisis of plastic pollution, which continues to harm our oceans, wildlife, and ecosystems.

Plastic pollution is a huge environmental challenge that we face today. Everyday items like wetsuits, life jackets, paddling pools, and marketing banners are often discarded. At Flotsam Flo, we are dedicated to giving these materials a new life. We carefully transform them into beautiful, high-quality products, each one made with passion and purpose, helping to reduce waste and promote a more sustainable future.

Our mission is to make a tangible difference by turning waste into something beautiful. We're committed to reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste while raising awareness of sustainable practices. Each item we create is a step toward a more sustainable, waste-conscious world.

Join us on this journey of transformation. Together, we can make a lasting impact, one creation at a time.

At Flotsam Flo, we gladly accept donations from the community and organisations with a simple guiding principle: the items must be broken or no longer in use. Our mission is to be the final stop before these materials are discarded, striving to repurpose waste and offcuts to prevent them from ending up as waste, in incineration or landfill.

Each item is handcrafted in Cornwall by me, Kate, and thanks to the unique nature of the materials we work with, no two creations are alike. The products in our shop are shaped by the materials we receive, so if you find something you love, it may be one-of-a-kind!

Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We source most of our packaging materials—such as cardboard boxes, brown paper, and fillers—from local shops and the community. We also use biodegradable tape and recyclable thank-you stickers. We encourage you to reuse our packaging and share your photos of our one-of-a-kind creations with us!

Although we strive to repurpose as much material as possible, there are some items we cannot use, such as thicker wetsuits, boots, gloves, bodyboards, and buckets. Additionally, while we upcycle as much as we can, components like zips and webbing straps may not always be repurposed. However, where possible, we incorporate recycled elements.

Thank you for supporting our efforts to reduce waste and create beautiful, meaningful products from what would otherwise be discarded.