LUV in Bloom: How Recycled Airplane Leather Became a Work of Art
- Emily Hefta
- Jun 16
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 30
A few months ago, an email arrived in my inbox that — from the subject line alone — I knew would be a "yes." A Nashville-based nonprofit, Turnip Green Creative Reuse (whose mission is to prevent leftover materials from ending up in landfills), reached out with a commission opportunity for the Lane Motor Museum: constructing an original piece from recycled airplane seat leather. The leather? Sourced directly from Southwest Airlines.
The Origin: Southwest Airlines' Repurpose with Purpose Program
Southwest Airlines launched their Repurpose with Purpose program in 2014 to responsibly recycle airplane seat leather through their fleet renovation process — diverting what amounted to 43 acres of materials from landfills. Rather than letting those materials go to waste, Southwest donates them to organizations committed to giving them a second life. Turnip Green Creative Reuse is one of those partners.
The idea of transforming something discarded into something meaningful was immediately exciting — especially knowing the work would simultaneously serve the environment.
Why This Project Felt Personal
A member of the Turnip Green staff had seen my work at the Nashville Birkenstock store on 12 South and thought the project would be a natural fit, given my focus on the leather material. What he didn't know is just how deep my appreciation for Southwest Airlines runs.
A few highlights: a college final project that involved dressing as a flight attendant and passing out peanuts to the class (Southwest even mailed the peanuts — a detail that still makes me smile); four flight attendant applications submitted over four years, complete with a handwritten letter to HR in hopes of getting noticed; and I am a Southwest credit card holder. Needless to say, my reply email went out almost immediately: "Yes, I'm in."
The Design Process
My initial concept leaned on a familiar technique — molding and embossing leather — with a sketch that played off the Southwest LUV logo, creating a 3D design with layered color depths that mimicked an airplane wing. It was technically solid, but something was missing.
If this leather was being given a second life, the design should reflect that same spirit of doing something new.
That's when the woven floral concept emerged. I couldn't quite sketch it out digitally — I just had to build it. I designed a 2D pattern in Procreate, then brought it to life physically using my Bambu X1C 3D Printer to create precise, repeatable stencils for each floral element.
From there, I hand-cut each flower from the recycled leather and carefully mapped them into the larger composition.
The design came together piece by piece, and the vision slowly made itself known.
The Finished Piece: "LUV in Bloom"
I finished the piece a few weeks ago and documented the journey across my social channels in hopes of reaching admirers, fellow creatives, and the Southwest Airlines community. The response exceeded all expectations — shares, comments, and an outpouring of encouragement that pushed this work further than I ever imagined.
With that momentum, I held a poll to help name the piece. The title chosen: "LUV in Bloom."
The finished piece, "LUV in Bloom."
"LUV in Bloom" will be on display at the Lane Motor Museum, with the opening reception on July 16th, as part of an exhibition centered around Southwest Airlines' Repurpose with Purpose program.
The Bigger Idea: An Art Installation for the New BNA Southwest Lounge
During the creation of this piece, BNA announced the development of a new Southwest Airlines
luxury airport loungeat Nashville International Airport. That announcement sparked a larger vision.
What if this concept translated at scale?
Imagine a large-format art installation — created entirely from Southwest Airlines' own recycled materials — living permanently inside their new Nashville lounge. A piece that tells the story of the Repurpose with Purpose program every single day, to every traveler who passes through.
The response to this idea within the Southwest Airlines community has been overwhelmingly positive. My goal now is simple: get this concept in front of the right people.
Help Me Make the Connection
I am actively looking to connect with the decision-makers and designers behind the new Southwest Airlines BNA lounge. If you have a connection that could help bridge this project to its next chapter, I would love to hear from you.
Do you know someone at Southwest Airlines?
Do you have a contact at Corgan Architecture?
If so, please reach out. This is the kind of project that starts with the right introduction and you might just be the bridge that brings LUV in Bloom to a much larger stage.
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