Archive review: This retrospective assessment uses surviving Hirst & Hirst records and contemporary press material. It is not a claim that the product is currently stocked or newly tested.
What was it?
Hirst & Hirst described Alkemi bags as fairly traded and made from old tyres, with a look and feel comparable to leather at a lower price. The product sat squarely within the shop’s aim to combine contemporary design with credible environmental and ethical benefits.
Design and usefulness
Inner-tube rubber is naturally water-resistant, tough and visually distinctive. Variation in markings and surface texture gives each upcycled bag character, though it also means buyers should expect less uniformity than a conventional factory-made accessory.
What worked
- Reuses a difficult waste material
- Leather-like dark finish
- Fair-trade positioning documented by the retailer
- Likely to resist light rain
Points to consider
- No surviving original photograph in this package
- Rubber can develop odour or tackiness
- Weight may be higher than a fabric bag
Buying or collecting one today
Inspect seams, handle attachment points and the condition of the rubber. Avoid examples with persistent surface stickiness or cracking.
Hirst & Hirst verdict
A strong circular-design idea, provided the rubber and stitching have aged well.
Primary archive source: view the surviving Hirst & Hirst record.
Archive & sourcing note
Retrospective archive review. Hirst & Hirst no longer sells this product and has not retested a current example.
View the surviving Hirst & Hirst archive source (opens original archive).