Many years ago in high school, I drew up a name with an image in a journal my father gave me and dreamt about having my own fashion line and label…

When I discovered recycling bicycle inner-tubes by turning them into functioning, fashionable accessories, all I could think of… at that moment, was the name and image I had drew up, and that I would use it: Cherry Bombin’ wear!  Interestingly enough this name has some irony today regarding my political standpoints and cycling lingo!

After watching a PBS episode where a duo was making clothing by weaving bike tubes together, I went into my garage where there was a heaping pile of used tubes waiting to be patched, and messed around with that idea.  After a bit, I lost all patience and simply gave up.  Some years later, while living in San Francisco I stumbled upon the ‘basic’ bike tube wallet and said to my partner at the time, “This is awesome…and so easy! I can totally make wallets… and even bags out of recycling bicycle tubes, giving them a look of their own, rather than just looking generic.”

Being an avid cyclist, environmentalist and vegan/vegetarian, I was so inspired to move forward with this concept.  I moved back to Phoenix from San Francisco some months later and started working on a few designs.  At this point I was hand sewing everything and had then begun introducing Cherry Bombin’ wear at art openings in Tempe. Shortly thereafter, I joined a local artist co-op in Phoenix and acquired an industrial sewing machine.  The response I was getting from my line and the recycled bicycle tube concept was phenomenal! Cherry Bombin’ wear was the first to introduce this concept into Phoenix!

In October of 2007 a dear friend, Cassie Rhodes, became my business partner and we turned Cherry Bombin’ wear into an L.L.C. We started a small production studio in an art gallery boutique, where Cherry Bombin’ wear would be sold.  Cassie and I worked on creating patterns and step-by-step construction for all of the designs. Cherry Bombin’ wear not only sold out of the art gallery boutique, but had accounts set up at fashion boutiques in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and NYC.

Some months later Cassie had went her separate way and Cherry Bombin’ wear production moved out of the art gallery boutique and into a private home studio.  Cherry Bombin’ wear began directing it’s focus, appealing to a larger market, specifically Whole Foods: Natural and Organic Grocery. The company applied for a line of credit and was able to purchase a larger industrial sewing machine, bar codes, and other merchandising tools needed in order to set up this more established and advanced account. 

Cherry Bombin’ wear began relations and built an account with Whole Foods in 2008, in Chandler and now has 3 accounts with them including, Tempe and Scottsdale stores.  Acquiring these accounts with Whole Foods and understanding their market specifically, not only has been one of the most challenging learning experiences for the company, but also it’s largest and most ecstatic accomplishment!

Amongst Whole Foods Markets, Cherry Bombin’ wear is currently representing in San Francisco at ‘Trunk’ artist co-op and boutique, in the lower Haight, NYC at ‘AuH2O’ in the lower east village, and in a bunch of local shops in the Phoenix area, including: Cartel Coffee Lab, Green Vegetarian Restaurant, Bicycle Haus, Sunset Clothing Exchange, and The Trunk Trading Co.  Custom ordering through email is also optional. Current designs include several different wallet styles, belts, wrist band/cuffs, purses, messenger bags and even clothing.

Cherry Bombin’ wear’s next step is going to be an SBA loan, which will allow for it to build a larger office and production studio, enabling it to expand into Denver, Portland, Austin and other progressive cities. 

Send any questions or comments to: angela@cherrybombinwear.com

Many, many thanks to all of you who has helped Cherry Bombin’ wear grow and succeed::

Chansamone Keovilayhong,, Rasheedah Mullings-Dagkiran, Cassie Rhodes, Megan Tracy, Vanessa Cianci, Mike Lopez, Jules Demetrius, Rene from Tempe Bike who has saved me hundreds of tubes, Katerina Encinias, Aedan, Jessica Jordan, Damen Brasch, Jason Silberschlag, Christina ‘Xappa’ Franco,,  Jen Woodland, Kate Goldwater, and Miranda July!