salvage me this

moto jacket :: H&M (similar) | striped tee :: H&M | black skinny jeans :: maurice's (dying for this pair) | boots :: maurice's | orange scarf :: love culture (similar) | earrings :: c/o con-fused arts | orange clutch :: aldo (love this rebecca minkoff version) | fedora :: maurice's | black leather wristband :: c/o salvage west

I didn't realize what a hazardous occupation fashion blogging could potentially be until this shoot on the beach of the Great Salt Lake early last week. I pretty much expect to one day injure myself by falling off a log or fence while wearing my usual 4-5" heels, but last Monday night I acquired a spider bite (of unknown species) while climbing over rocks behind The Great Saltair. I'm not sure if it was an allergic reaction or just a nasty bite, but I suffered some pretty severe effects over the remainder of the week and had to go to the doctor for a rather painful shot and a pretty intense regimin of meds. The things we do for love and fashion.

Although skirts and flowy dresses rule my wardrobe for the length of spring and summer, as soon as the temperatures dip below 80 I break out my vast collection of knee high boots and skinny jeans. I generally avoid crisp black on dull black, such as the contrast of the tee against the jeans photographed here, but the acquisition of these artfully worn in leather cuffs from Salvage West has lead to an obsession with all things faded, flannel and familiar.

When these beauties arrived in my mailbox a few weeks ago, wrapped in brown paper with a handwritten note and photos of the boots they were made from, my sister immediately tried to swipe them for her own collection. Unfortunately for her, the fact that they've hardly left my wrist since opening the package has made her thievery a bit difficult. I've literally worn the black cuff nearly every moment since first laying eyes upon it (they're not waterproof - you get the picture), and I love layering the brown one over it for a bit of unexpected spunk (her idea, btw).

I'm not generally a fan of wearing real leather (all I can think about is a baby cow draped around my shoulders), but Salvage West is a locally owned Utah company that specializes in resurrected accessories - meaning everything they make is recycled and repurposed from older products. They use leather from old, worn out boots to make everything from hairbands for her to wallets for him, though the unisex wristbands are by far my favorite. Their unconventional process for sourcing and creating items means that every piece is 100% unique and beautifully handcrafted - and the boot number and name of the artist is signed on an included card with each piece (and usually on the inside of the piece, as well). The number of small, personal touches such as this definitely made their items stand out from most other packages I receive.

Their laid back vibe isn't to say these recycled wristbands can't be urbane - in fact, my obsession with them led me to don one with my LBD at Fashion Night Out. In my mind, they are the perfect back-to-school time accessory: the resilient but slightly worn in leather makes me think of old friends, bittersweet memories and Kurt Cobain. Perfection next to cuffed flannel sleeves while running through a corn maze or against a lace dress while snuggling with someone special in the back of a cozy taxi, leather wristbands are Cool accessorized, and Salvage West has answered the question of how to make Cool eco-friendly with an A+.

"Cool doesn't have to be new. 

Just, you know, cool."

-Salvage West, About Us

be social: 

Get to know Salvage West on their website, and keep up with their old leather obsession/eco-conscious goodness on Facebook and Twitter (@SalvageWest1).