The Harvey couple from California created the first seatbelt bag in the late 1990s, which has now become a big business with a design studio in Santa Ana. The bags come in many styles and colors, and the company also sells limited edition bags. Other companies use seat belts to design furniture, and the fashion industry has introduced clothing belts made from seat belts.
Who would have guessed that those boring gray seatbelt straps would start a fashion trend? Dana and Melanie Harvey, a couple from California, first came up with the seatbelt bag idea in the late 1990s. While installing the seatbelts in a restored 1950 Buick, Melanie suggested that Dana use the material left over to make a seatbelt bag. Since then, the bags have become big business for the Harveys, who built a design studio in Santa Ana. By 2004, the company was a US$3 million (USD) business.
The Seatbelt Purse comes in many styles and dozens of colors that are more appealing than the standard gray, including pinks, black and white combos, metallic hues, purples, greens, and more. Some colors stay with the car theme, for example Cadillac Pink and Pontiac Purple. A collection of bug print seatbelt wallets inspired by green and tan camouflage was sold in 2006. The Harveys also make briefcases and backpacks with seatbelts.
The company guarantees its seatbelt wallets and other products and offers free repair or replacement. It’s little concern that the bags will hold up, though, since the material meets government safety standards for use in vehicles. You can buy a genuine seatbelt wallet online or at major retail stores in the US and Canada.
Harveys also sells limited edition bags, which are produced in small quantities, in the $125-135 range. Carriage’s collection of seatbelt bags ranges from a smaller hobo bag to a massive hauler bag. The Classic Collection includes diaper bags, laptop bags, clutches, and backpacks. The company also makes cases and wallets with seat belts. As with most trends, other companies and individuals have jumped on the seatbelt wallet market.
In addition to the seat belt bag, other companies use seat belts to design furniture. Seat belt chairs and bar stools are popular, especially in the restaurant and bar industry. Schools and libraries often rely on strong seat belt material due to its durability. The original proponents of seat belted furniture also touted the products as eco-friendly, since much of the product used would have ended up in landfills. The fashion industry also introduced clothing belts made from seat belts, some with car brand buckles.
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