In this age of mass-produced clothing, it is not often that the clothes we wear go on to produce a meaningful story. One Korean social enterprise, however, is using discarded firefighting equipment to create fashion items that help wearers think of firefighters. In doing so, the company honors the service of firefighters while promoting sustainability by giving a second life to materials that would otherwise be thrown out.

“Hero’s House Keyring” made from firefighter clothing (Courtesy of 119REO)

119REO (Rescue Each Other) was founded by Lee Seung-Woo in 2016. He was touched by stories of firefighters suffering from work-related cancers and other rare diseases and lacking the means to pay for their treatment. Many of the disease-stricken firefighters Lee met with were denied assistance because their health problems were not officially recognized as having been sustained in the line of duty.

All of 119REO’s products use discarded firefighter clothing. (Courtesy of 119REO)

Determined to help, Lee began collecting discarded firefighting suits (by law in Korea, all firefighting suits must be discarded after three years), dismantling them one by one by hand and turning them into various accessories, including bags and bracelets. Half of his company’s proceeds go to help firefighters.

According to Lee, 119REO’s most popular products are tote, sling, messenger, eco and other bags as well as backpacks repurposed from firefighter turnout gear. It typically takes one whole set of firefighter turnout gear to make a single backpack. While making the bags, Lee collects the leftover pieces and makes accessories such as bracelets and wallets.

119REO’s work has attracted attention for several reasons. First, the company’s use of discarded firefighter clothing to create bags provides consumers with products that are lightweight, durable and fashionable. The aramid fiber used in turnout gear is noncombustible and five times stronger than iron. The turnout gear’s distinctive mustard color has also become synonymous with the 119REO brand.

119REO relies on upcycling to make bags, wallets and other products. (Courtesy of 119REO)

Second, the company has adopted an environmentally conscious approach to garment production, effectively reducing carbon emissions by recycling waste from firefighting clothing. Over the past seven years, 119REO has successfully reused 17 tons of discarded firefighter turnout gear, preventing 40 tons of carbon emissions. 119REO has established agreements with local fire departments in areas such as Seoul and Incheon to receive used firefighting clothing. These firefighting clothes would normally be incinerated and then dumped in landfills, and 119REO’s rescue of the firefighting clothes helps the fire departments reduce their waste disposal costs. It is a win-win situation for everyone involved. 

Finally, the company helps create jobs for the underprivileged by outsourcing the dismantling and laundering of discarded firefighter turnout gear to local self-help centers.

In these ways, the company continues to actively give back to the community. In 2019, 119REO supported the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among firefighters, provided fire rescue dogs to fire departments in 2020 and supported children affected by fire-related incidents in 2021.