Kruk Garage is Kiev-based upcycling workshop. The idea of making something out of upcycling materials was born few years earlier through long time love of vintage things combined with desire to create handmade goods. So 2015 our workshop got started. Here we are inspired by vintage goods and giving new life to them in our items through carefully selected materials, excellent craftsmanship and high quality fittings. Our goods are handcrafted in limited series or one-of-kind and each of them is numbered. We use exclusively found materials - military duffle bags, belts, fabrics, hardware etc, some of them are dated back to the WW2 era. Items by Kruk Garage are made for those people, who look for unique piece. Every item by Kruk Garage has its own history and tell the story of its time. So we love to say, that you can find the history behind every our item. Story in details.
Please visit our second shop with goods made out using hand waxed canvas and genuine leather: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KrukGarageAtelier
KrukGarageAtelier is the next chapter of our story. We introduce bags/backpacks etc. made of hand waxed canvas and leather.
Our website: www.krukgarage.com
Social media:
Facebook.com/krukgarage
Instagram.com/krukgarage
Twitter.com/kruk_garage
Pinterest.com/krukgarage
We were interview for Etsy Featured shop.
How did using upcycled and military surplus materials come to be a priority for you in your work?
We love to combine new materials with rare vintage elements, and every item in our shop has a vintage military component. We make aprons from military tenting canvas, backpacks from army duffel bags from different countries and eras, and belts with buckles that date to WW2. They are all one-of-a-kind products, and each has a story to tell.
The look of the vintage elements we use — with marks of time such as shading variations, small scratches, wrinkles, stains and factory stamps — can only be achieved with age and use. All these elements make our items unique and valuable.
What’s the most popular item in your shop, and how did that design come about?
The most popular item in our shop is Backpack 2.011 — it’s made of British army duffel bags from the 1970s. I loved the original handle strap from vintage duffel bags, and one day I decided to place that strap on the front side of the backpack. It’s not just a decorative detail — it’s also practical because you can carry the backpack from the front handle strap, as well.
Can you tell me the story behind the name “Kruk Garage”?
Kruk — an old Ukrainian surname that means “raven” — is the surname of my granddad, who taught me so much: how to love working and how to be happy with the results of my work. The “garage” part signifies a place where I do what I like — where my creativity becomes a physical item. The Kruk Garage workshop is our special artisan space.
What is your workshop like? What do you love most about it?
Our workspace is, first of all, about the atmosphere — the positive energy that gives birth to creativity. It’s very important to be surrounded by the things you love. Sometimes, our workshop more closely resembles a museum of vintage military gear than a studio. We renovated the space and made the furniture with our own hands — we even made the lightning out of army helmets and gas masks. And of course, good music is a must: We always turn on our favorite music while we are working.
Will you walk me through the process of how you go from an idea to a finished product? Do you start with sketches? What’s your workflow like?
We always make sketches to visualize what the finished items will look like, but the most important part of our process is working hands-on with the materials. We create each item individually, and because every vintage bag we use is one of a kind — with its own distinctive markings and shades — I will often decide how an item should look at the moment I get the materials in my hands.
What inspires your design work? What stimulates your creativity and helps you develop ideas?
Our primary sources of design inspiration are our own lives and desires, our families and our hobbies. We work as a team, and anybody can bring a great idea to the table. Two months ago, I was inspired by the road, and we made a series of bags and backpacks from hand-waxed canvas and leather that we called Crossroad. Our last collection was called Getaway because we love to just pack up our stuff and go somewhere for a weekend in the summer.
Ultimately, every item we design, we design for ourselves. If we are satisfied with the result, we can introduce it to others. We don’t try to offer something that is popular. Every one of our styles was designed and made because we needed it ourselves. We make the items we love and use, and if other people love it too, that’s our greatest pleasure.
Read more here:
https://blog.etsy.com/en/featured-shop-kruk-garage/