If you follow us on Insta and Facebook, you may have seen our recent birthday post… Paguro Upcycle is officially nine years old! 🎉 We’re so proud of everything we’ve achieved over the past nine years. Did you know that 20% of startups fail within the first year of business, and a whopping 60% don’t make it past their third birthday? 

Knowing these stats makes us even more proud and grateful for where we are today. And it’s not just the fact that we have survived the pandemic and various economic downturns, it’s the fact we are thriving. We have expanded our range of products from several handbags and jewellery to a vast array of fashion and homeware accessories while staying true to our brand ethos of upcycling, sustainability, and ethical processes that support artisans around the world.

We know there’s a lot of talk about Christmas right now (we are only 40 days away, after all), but we wanted to post something a little different this month. So, without further ado, we’re delighted to share our most popular products from the past nine years.

1. Bags: (where it all started, and one of our most popular products!)

All our handbags are vegan and made from materials that were destined for the landfill. Many of our products offer a customisable option, so for instance, with our Maggie Cross Body, you can choose contrasting zips and stitching from a selection of six colours.

Another example is our Anna Tote (a firm favourite), which is available in Black or Olive. Our Soldier backpack and Colonel Backpack are ideal for commuting and overnight adventures. They’re robust and offer a good amount of storage space.

Our Ando Backpack is ideal for fashionistas who want to keep up with the latest trends while embracing sustainability, and our Reina Handbag and an all-rounder – perfect for nights out, day trips, brunch with the girls, and everyday use.

2. Wallets:

We’ve got a wide range of wallets available made from various materials, including recycled inner tyre tube. We’ve got coin purses, card holders, some square shared and even a triangular coin pouch. Our most popular wallets over the past few years, however, are the Dody and Ben.

3. Belts:

Our belt made from recycled rubber motorbike tyre has been so popular over the years that we have diversified the range. For example, we now have three different options for you to choose from. There’s one with a large belt buckle, a slim design option, and our standard Recycled Rubber Motorbike Tyre Belt.

4. Bracelets:

We’ve got a real eclectic mix of bracelet designs available via the website, so we feel we offer something for everyone. However, our two most popular bracelets are the quirky Recycled Bike Chain Bracelet, which is the ideal gift for bicycle or motorbike lovers.

At the other end of the scale, there’s also the Autumn Recycled Rubber Bracelet, which, as the name suggests, is made from recycled rubber. This one is popular because it’s a chunky statement piece with matching earrings and goes with anything.

5. Chokers:

What might initially seem like a throwback from popular 90s culture (think Clueless, Never Been Kissed, and all those classic MTV shows) are super popular today. While 90s fashion has had something of a resurgence, chokers have been one of our bestselling products for several years. Two standouts are the Bella and the Wave.

Bella offers elegance, yet it’s also a statement piece that can help you standout from the crowd. Wave, while still elegant, offers an unusual design and is unique in how it looks once it is on.

6. Necklaces:

One of our most popular product choices! We’ve’ got something for everyone, from big, bold, statement pieces to subtle yet stylish understated pieces. Our necklaces are made from a variety of materials, including recycled wood, reused electrical wire, plastic, resin, inner tube, and skateboard!

Our Ocean Necklace (with matching earrings) is especially popular as it makes a great gift for those who love to be by the sea. As we’re based in landlocked Nottingham, we completely understand the appeal. Our multicoloured Upcycled Skateboard Bearing Pendent Necklace is handcrafted and quirky.

If you’re looking for a statement piece, look no further! Our range made from recycled tyre inner tubes is big, bold, and perfect for vegans who want a durable leather alternative. Our most popular items include the Flame, Star, Spring Leaf, and Orion. Which is your favourite?

7. Earrings:

If quirky, bold, standout jewellery is on your wish list, how about our Trixie Elegant Statement Resin Earrings? They are customisable in that you can opt for a wood or resin stud, and you can choose between a sterling silver or stainless steel stud. Each item is unique because of the materials used and these beautiful earrings will always make a statement.

Our Soni Handmade Skateboard Wooden Earrings are (as the name suggests) made from recycled skateboards, which makes the quirky and interesting in design. While reused skateboard might not sound like an obvious material for jewellery, it’s really popular! A completely original design we love is our Star Recycled Skateboard Wooden Stud Earrings (and there are other shapes available too).

These earrings dangle, and they’re multicoloured. Sticking with unusual materials and designs, our Lone Rider Bike Chain Stud Earrings (and dangle option) is super popular with cyclists and available in three colours.
As we’ve already explained, recycled inner bicycle tubes are a super flexible material for us because it is durable and an ideal alternative to leather. These are our most popular inner tube earring designs: Cubism Rubber Geometric Earrings (with matching necklace also available), which are perfect for lovers of the Art déco period, Vine Lightweight Inner Tube Earrings, and our Angel Rubber Feather Earrings.

8. Keyrings:

Does the perfect practical stocking filler exist? Yes, it does! Our keyrings are exceptionally popular because of their unique design, practical element, and the fact they make the perfect small gift or stocking filler.

We told you recycled skateboard was a popular material for us! Two of our most popular keyrings are our Recycled Skateboard Bottle Opener Keyring and our Zig Recycled Skateboard Bottle Opener Keyring. Our Recycled Bike Chain Vegan Keyring is perfect for cyclists and those with a passion for building things or engineering. It’s available in a multitude of colours and is 4cm in length.

Last but not least, we couldn’t write about our keyrings without mentioning our Milo 3D Charming Rubber Dog Vegan Keyring, which is one of our most popular products! It’s ideal for people who like cute things and dog lovers alike.

9. Home Accessories:

This is one of our newest product ranges and has been a great success so far. Homeware changes have changed significantly over the past few years, in part because of the pandemic and many of us spending so much time at home, but also because of Instagram and lifestyle influencers.

Our focus (as ever) is on ethical and sustainable products that reuse items that may otherwise simply be thrown away. We’re delighted our homeware products have been so popular, including our Nibble Bowls and Small Bowls and Measuring Spoons. Check our socials for new homeware product announcements!

Has anything caught your eye? What’s been your favourite Paguro purchase over the years?