Review

Reference. Recap. Reason.... Reefer

We don't make sails, jackets or joints, but we like to think we have a great idea.

Re-engineering old sails and wings was a concept we had been thinking about since the 1990's and in late 2008 we founded Reefer to do just that. In 2010 we're now at the forefront of 'upcycling' sails and adventure sports equipment into a diverse range of lifestyle products.

Mark has sailed and flown since a child and both of us have sewn since our teens when as students Emma made clothes and Mark designed hang gliding equipment as an alternative to counting bricks. He subsequently side stepped from a surveying career in London to run a successful paragliding equipment loft and fly for the British hang gliding, paragliding and paramotor teams at an international level. Our garden shed quickly filled with kit that wasn't worn out but had been rendered obsolete by technological improvements. That and the general accumulation of prototype gear, redundant wings, blown out kites and worn out sails started us thinking that maybe the materials could and should be reused in some way.

A decade and family later we found ourselves struggling to source genuinely recycled sail products for our sustainable lifestyle and it seemed logical to design and make our own, especially as we had plenty of material for prototypes!

We live in rural Devon a few miles from the World famous Jurassic Coast, with a house constantly full of children, friends, pets and mud. With that in mind we have designed every one of our products not only to withstand the rough and tumble of family life but also with attention to clever design and an elegant colour palette.  We test all our designs both at home and on the move and you will find Reefer products are ruggedly built to withstand the rigours of a modern lifestyle.

Reefer is growing slowly and we now employ local outworkers to make much of our range. We're always on the lookout for new people to join the team, whether sewing, marketing or helping manage the business. Do drop us a line if you think you have skills to offer.

Whether you sail, fly or simply lounge we hope you have time to enjoy a Reefer product.

Emma and Mark Turner