BalkAN Tango

Balkantango is the environmentalist perspective on a traditional craft.
Each of our upcycled products is a representation of the time and care we invest in creating the longest ever lasting accessories from bicycle inner tubes.

upcycled bicycle innertube for cyclists

Ever since the label’s founding in 2005, Balkantango creates black and gender-neutral bags and wallets.
Balkantango stands for sustainable local values that is reflected in our small-scale Europe-based fair production.
Being a pioneer of slow fashion movement, Balkantango’s product longevity and timeless design has ever been a statement for conscious urban style.

slow fashion for urban environmentalists

upcycled bicycle innertube for cyclists

Upcycling is the heartbeat of Balkantango.
IPek, the creative spirit behind Balkantango, began experimenting with upcycling bicycle inner tubes in early 2000s Budapest. As the environmentalist trend of fair trade and local fashion started to emerge in that decade, Balkantango's gender-free design quickly made the brand a pioneer of wallets and accessories upcycling. Since then, fortunately, both veganism and eco-conscious lifestyle have become integral parts of urban life, and Balkantango proudly stands for these values since the very beginning of this trend.

Read more about our story

gender-free vegan black basics since 2005

The most significant hallmark of Balkantango's style is its timeless and gender-neutral design. Some of our products, produced since 2005 with the original cut, remain in trend today. Just as respect for nature forms the ethical foundation of our continuous upcycling, respect for the black material we reuse serves as the visual backdrop for our minimalist design. As Balkantango stands for reducing fashion consumption and manufactures products for everyday use, we take great pride in receiving images of Balkantango wallets and bags that have stood the test of time.

Check our selection of well-used Balkantangos

slow fashion for urban environmentalists

Balkantango is all about slow fashion. Since we became a small local brand based in Basel, we have consciously adopted a slower approach in every aspect of our production and sale. Our wallets and bags are manufactured with the goal of extreme longevity, so we also take the time to produce them in a fair way. Balkantango has been standing for the same values for almost 20 years. Good work needs time, and as the saying goes, the tortoise not only wins the race against the hare but also lives longer. So let's learn from the tortoise and slow down.

Read more about our statements

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Bags & Gymsac

Over the last century only few everyday objects have kept their function and form: bag is one of these. A sack with a strap carrying our daily needs is something we always had and have on us. To communicate values with a fashion accessory dates back to old times as well. Here you can check our upcycled and gender-free statement bags for daily use.

Wallets & Purses

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We have a couple of variations of almost every fashion accessory we wear, but wallets are exceptions. Once a wallet fulfills our expectations we have it years long on us: neither do we change them seasonally, nor by following the fashion. That is why it is so important to choose the very one that serves you the longest possible time. Here you can check our collection.

Beltbag & Funny pack

The objects we have in our hands most frequently, are very important to be loved. Come to think how many times a day you take something out from your belt bag, and how many days of the year you have it on you.
You see, a belt bag is one of these objects. Here you find our ever-green designs to carry your most-importants with love.

Frequently asked questions

How does Balkantango differ from other bag and wallet manufacturers?

Balkantango differentiates itself from typical bag and wallet manufacturers through its commitment to fair and local production, as well as its emphasis on activism and diversity. Unlike conventional manufacturers, Balkantango’s accessories are crafted with a deep-rooted adherence to fair-made principles, ensuring that all products are individually cut and sewn either in IPek’s workshop in Basel or by seamstresses from a Hungarian association dedicated to integrating people with special needs.
Since its establishment, Balkantango's production follows the zero-waste principle, continually refining its processes to achieve the most efficient material usage. Year after year, the brand gets closer to its goal through the most effective cutting techniques of a carefully working craftworkers’ crew.
This localized production minimizes environmental impact by avoiding long-distance shipping, with materials and products confined to European borders. Neither the materials nor the ready-made products of Balkantango travel more than 1,000km, which is considered a very short distance compared to global fashion standards.

Here you can read Balkantango’s story and how these values have become its establishment pillars.

How long is the warranty of Balkantango products?

Balkantango products are guaranteed for two years. Reflecting our philosophy centered on longevity and durability, all our products are meticulously designed and crafted from upcycled materials and high quality accessories to last as long as possible. To ensure the longest possible lifetime, we buy our zippers from @YKK and our backside material is from @cordura. When stored appropriately and used as intended, our products should perform flawlessly throughout many years. However, should any issues arise, we are ready to repair or replace your Balkantango as soon as possible.

You can read more about our commitment to longevity and slow fashion and can also see some photos of well-worn products of ours here.

How do you post Balkantango goodies I bought in your webshop?

We ensure that your Balkantango goodies are posted with care. All items purchased from our webshop are shipped in an eco-friendly packaging to minimize environmental impact. We use local postal services to keep our carbon footprint low and deliver your orders as sustainably as possible. Once your order is dispatched, you will receive a confirmation email. However, tracking information does not come automatically, so if you have any specific shipping requests or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us. We post once a week, usually on Friday, so it might take time until you get your parcel. Slow fashion starts with a sustainable delivery system so we are thankful for your understanding.

You can see some examples of package-design co-operation from the last twenty years here.

Does Balkantango manufacture custom-made?

Balkantango does produce custom-made objects, but with certain conditions. If you are a brand, a designer, or an institute searching for eco-friendly collaboration, we are open to co-design objects using upcycled bicycle inner tubes. A beloved example is the ball dress created in collaboration with Aquanauta, which became a statement design object showcased across Europe. It effectively communicated our eco-friendly ethos at various fairs and exhibitions through its innovative design and material combination.
However, if you are an individual looking for a personalized wallet or bag, we regret to inform you that we only produce the ready-to-wear products designed by IPek, the founder and designer of Balkantango.

You can have a look at all goodies of the present collection in our shop here.

What do you mean by activism beyond demonstrations?

Balkantango redefines activism beyond traditional demonstrations by inspiring individuals to provoke change through their everyday actions, empowering those who cannot attend protests or engage in online debates to view their progressive daily activities as activism. As a fashion brand, Balkantango demonstrates that activism can manifest in numerous meaningful ways, whether through supporting ethical production practices, promoting diversity in all aspects of its operations, or empowering local initiatives. Balkantango's commitment to fair and environmentally conscious fashion production provides an ecological background for its inclusive approach, which has advocated for environmental justice for marginalized individuals for almost 20 years.

You can read more about our activist philosophy here.

Do you work with materials other than upcycled bicycle inner tubes?

Black is the new black with us. At Balkantango upcycled bicycle inner tube, used almost for 20 years, is our signature style and we create everything with it. This material we built our brand onto, is central to our commitment to sustainability and it gives our products a distinctive look. Occasionally, like with the Wien gymsac, we happily team up with others. If you have a material that you think would pair well with upcycled inner tubes, we'd love to hear from you!

Here you can see some of our favorite co-designed objects from the last twenty years of Balkantango.

Does Balkantango work with retailers?

Balkantango does collaborate with retailers, but as a small brand, our production capabilities are very limited. We have intentionally scaled down our business after previously operating at a larger scale, aiming to avoid returning to mass production. Since then, Balkantango's focus has been on raising awareness through a few partnerships in special venues frequented by open-minded visitors, such as pop-up design stores or museum shops. Additionally, our founder and designer, IPek, supports this advocation through lectures and workshops held at exhibitions, universities and conferences.

If you're interested in discussing a potential retail collaboration or you would like to invite IPek as a lecturer, please share your idea here.

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