Nessar Backpacks

skateboardIng and goIng green have been two of the most popular trends of the 21st century. Today, there are more than 10 million skateboarders in the United States and efforts to make the nation more eco-friendly have extended to the Obama administration. With their label Nessar, Angela Greene and Vanessa Fore are combining both trends with their line of skateboard backpacks made from recycled tractor tires.

“Our yard looks like the junkyard on Sanford and Son,” Greene, who manufactures the bags at her home in Richmond, said. So far, she and her boyfriend, Ken Kobrick, have recycled over 56 tons of tractor inner tubes. The tires undergo a four-step cleaning process that takes a few days to complete and uses environmentally-friendly cleaning products. At first glance, the backpack could be mistaken for leather. The cleaning process makes the rubber feel silky and the stretchedout treads add texture and pattern. The backpack is fashioned after old military packs and features straps across the facing that can support a skateboard. Pretty impressive for two people who don’t come from design backgrounds -- Kobrick is a welder and Greene has spear-headed several projects including a toy and a hair extension process called Micro-Illusions.

Hair is also what got Greene in touch with Fore. After a shoulder injury left her unable to do

her own hair, a friend directed her to Fore’s salon in Richmond and the two soon became close confidants.

“When she told me what she was doing, I thought it was fascinating,” Fore, who works as a full-time hair stylist, said. “She invited me to jump on the bandwagon.”

It was a match made in heaven with Greene’s creative nature and Fore’s knack for business administration, the two quickly found success. In 2003, a big-time investor in Puerto Rico reached out to them to produce a line of handbags and purses called Passchal. The investor had access to celebrity events and allowed them to showcase on the Today Show, backstage at the Tony Awards and in the Neiman-Marcus rewards catalog.

Customers fell in love with the bags and their recycled materials set them apart from other brands. Things were going exceedingly well, until three years later, when the investor lost funding for Passchal in a divorce suit.

“We became the kids in a nasty divorce constantly being pushed around,” Greene said. But the end of Passchal only meant new beginnings for the Greene and Fore. Soon after, they found a manufacturer willing to collect the inner tubes at a reasonable price. They changed the name to Nessarr, an abbreviation for “necessary recycling” and Fore’s first name, “Vanessa.” Greene also made the decision to do backpacks instead of handbags.

“I don’t wear handbags,” Greene said. “I don’t even think I’ve ever bought one. I just don’t like them.”

She and Fore got an idea to market to skateboarders after noticing their growing presence in the downtown Richmond area. The skateboarders were more than just kids doing daring tricks on ramps; they had a distinct look composed of functional pieces strong enough to withstand a little wear and tear.

“That’s why we think these bags are so good for skateboarders,” Fore said. “The material is thick and long lasting. It’s also water resistant, which is good for rainy days... [and] the leather look is very in right now.”

While skateboarding is becoming more popular, it remains a white male-dominated industry. Fore and Greene may not look like typical skateboarders, but they are not letting their race and gender stand in their way.

“All marketing is virtually the same,” Greene said. “Knowing your target market and being able to reach them is crucial to success. As long as you’ve got a good product, that’s all anyone really cares about.”

Currently, Nessar is focused on backpacks and wallets with plans on expanding down the road. They are scheduled to introduce the backpacks next month on kickstarter.com, a crowd funding website. By next year, Greene and Fore hope that Nessar will be a recognized name in the skateboard industry.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRITTNEY BARBOUR