Think outside the box.
This thought has always accompanied me and led me to what I do today. "Things outside the box" is not just the name of my company, but also a philosophy I live by every day. It began exactly where my creativity and my passion for upcycling met, raising the question for the first time: What more can I make out of what others would simply throw away?
Originally, everything was a bit different. My love for fabrics and textiles led me into the world of upcycling retro furniture. I am particularly fascinated by upholstering furniture, as it allowed me to breathe new life into old furniture pieces. Galeria Mimo was the first project where I put this passion into practice, reviving old furniture through creative design and new fabrics.
But then, in 2020, came the Covid pandemic. The world stood still, and many of my previous activities were suddenly restricted. At the same time, I only had remnants of upholstery fabric left. Old furniture, which I had previously found and repurposed, was hard to come by, but I didn't want to give up my creative energy.
I looked for a way to process the fabric scraps further instead of throwing them away, and to start new projects with them. That’s how I got the idea to sew backpacks and bags from upholstery fabric scraps. I transformed these fabric pieces, which were too small for furniture upholstery, into practical, unique accessories. Although there are now enough fabrics and furniture available again, for me it is still about creating creative products from residual materials that would normally be discarded.
A few years ago, another idea emerged: friends from the sauna industry asked me if I could reuse their seconds instead of simply disposing of them. The soft peshtemals from the sauna world were a perfect fit for this, which I converted into backpacks. This allowed me to continue the concept: materials that could not be sold due to various defects were given a second life with me.
And as it goes once you have started with the upcycling idea: the requests piled up. One day I was asked if I could also make bags for sauna ladles – a request I took on with enthusiasm. This made the "Things outside the box" project increasingly versatile.
Today, I offer a wide range of handmade products, many of which have one thing in common: they are created from materials that would otherwise end up in the trash. As a result, every piece is one-of-a-kind. Whether bags, backpacks, accessories, and decor made from fabric remnants – each of my products combines creativity and craftsmanship with the conviction that old material has not yet lost its value.
In addition, "Things outside the box" is also home to a brand that is particularly close to my heart: Hanzo Aufguss Art. Whether sauna kilts, T-shirts, hoodies, or caps – here, a passion for the sauna world and individual style combine to form a unique collection.
Questions and Answers
How did the idea for Things Outside The Box come about?
It all started with my love for fabrics and upcycling old furniture. When much of the world came to a standstill during the pandemic in 2020 and I was left with nothing but fabric scraps, I didn't want to give up on my creative energy. That’s how the idea came about to sew bags and backpacks out of the remnants.
What was Galeria Mimo?
That was my first project where I revived old furniture with new designs and new fabrics. Over time, this grew into Things Outside The Box.
Why do you sew bags out of upholstery fabrics?
When upholstering furniture, there are always fabric scraps left over that are too small for a piece of furniture. Instead of throwing them away, I use exactly those to make practical, unique bags.
What does the sauna have to do with your brand?
Friends from the sauna industry asked if I could repurpose their B-stock. The soft peshtemals were turned into backpacks, later joined by bags for sauna ladles, and eventually many products for the sauna brand Hanzo Aufguss Art.