Beck(y)

Founded in 2003 and headquartered in New York City, Beck(y) is a shrewdly designed collection of handcrafted, one-of-a-kind bags and accessories constructed with recycled skateboards and plush, high-end fabrics. The brainchild of visionary designer Beck Hickey, Beck(y)'s product matrix currently features three women's handbags including a square mini-tote, curved mini-tote and clutch, as well as two unisex messenger bags and an assortment of belts, belt buckles and money clips.

Just like skateboarding, all Beck(y) products are functional art. The simplistic, raw beauty present in used and found objects is one of the initial catalysts that inspired Beck to launch Beck(y). By combining battered, discarded objects with pristine new materials, Beck discovered she was able to create a unique, fashion-forward paradox with stunning visual appeal. "The grittiness of used, beat up boards combined with something really posh like silk speaks well to my overall aesthetic," Beck says, "and the beautiful contradiction that results, fuels my creativity." Beck's long-time attraction to skateboarding and its surrounding lifestyle is another factor that motivated her to establish her product line.

"Skateboarding has always fascinated me because of its creative, individual nature," she continues. "From an artistic standpoint, I love board graphics, and when I was younger I'd spend hours at my local shop admiring every detail of artwork on the newest shipment of decks." Beck(y)'s aptly named sk8bags are hand made by Beck in her New York workshop. It's a very time-consuming, labor-intensive process and she counts her lucky stars that she still has all ten fingers. Although she washes the decks and removes the grip tape, Beck stresses, "I don't add anything to the decks and can say with a clear conscience that I'm simply reusing something that was already there." Altering the decks as little as possible throughout the production process is extremely important because she strives to always uphold the integrity of her source material.

Recycled skateboards are vital to Beck's operation, and she's fortunate to have a handful of generous supporters who send her used and warranty boards on a regular basis. Beck currently receives decks from 5boro Skateboards, Giant Distribution, Zumiez, Simi Valley's Skatelab Skatepark, Old Star Skateshop, ZJ Boarding House, among others. To keep the recycled decks coming her way, and to give back to the skateboarding community at the same time, Beck established the Boards 4 Bowls program. For every used board she receives Beck donates $3 to a variety of non-profit organizations dedicated to building and maintaining public skateparks across the country. Beck currently works with the Tony Hawk Foundation, Jeff Anderson Memorial Fund and Elemental Awareness.

Sooner than later, Beck plans to expand her progressive product offering to include more than just skateboarding-inspired pieces, but her attention to unusual materials will always remain at the core of everything she creates.

Beck(y) is situated in New York, New York, USA.
Click here to purchase cool sk8bags from Beck(y), available on Eco-Handbags.ca