Meet the Maker
Mindy
Mindy Gibbs moved to the Pacific Northwest in late 2006 after spending most of her life growing up in Anaheim, CA. Already having a taste for craft beer, she quickly fell in love with Portland, OR, and its beer scene. Mindy was suffering after spending years in office cubicles and needed to find a creative outlet. She took several short-lived jobs during the first few years in Vancouver.
There was the outpatient mental health clinic, a collection agency, a flower shop, and then the most soul-sucking stamp collector shop job. Was something telling her to get out of the office environment? Not exactly. Something was telling her that working for someone else was not her jam.
Art, Decor & Stationary
Products
I primarily use old 6-pack beer boxes. I can also use labels peeled off cans and bottles. The boxes end up in the landfill, because, here in Clark County, we are unable to remove the interwoven plastic from the cardboard when recycling refrigerator boxes. In making my product, I protect the cardboard with a thin layer of vinyl. I do not use any leather and I minimize waste by keeping a scrap bin, which I pull from whenever possible. From a single 6-pack box I am able to make up to 4 items!
I have lived in Vancouver, WA for 15 years and do all the work from my home office. I collect boxes from my own consumption, from friends and family, from breweries themselves, and I have bottle shops save them for me.
Durable, functional, and unique wallets and accessories upcycled from used beer packaging.
— Mindy Gibbs
Mindy’s Beer Gear
Follow their journey & learn more about the brand!
Website:
www.mindysbeergear.com/home