Some of us are using this unexpected free time to complete our tax returns, finish that bathroom tiling, or working our way through Netflix’s back catalogue.

Manxwoman Anna Cottle, 36, mainly works in the events industry in London, but because of the coronavirus epidemic all her future work has been postponed until further notice.

Anna has decided to use this time to do something to benefit the planet, reducing the unnecessary waste of one of our natural resources by developing a small side-business - One Man’s Trash.

’I make large statement earrings from scrap leather that is otherwise destined for the bin,’ said Anna.

’It all started when I was sent down to a leather house in East London’s Whitechapel. I was there to collect some material for a designer who was working on a show for London Fashion Week, but while I was waiting I spotted a large pile of very nice leather offcuts. Some of the pieces were huge.’

Since an animal’s skin grows irregularly, natural leather does not come in an ideal geometric shape. Waste of genuine leather is generally high, despite all attempts to optimally divide the existing material.

’Leather cutting waste’ is what is left over after cutting away the desired shapes. When asked about the leather offcuts’ destiny, the man in the shop informed Anna that what she was looking at was his waste bin.

She knew there and then that she wanted to find a purpose for all these left-overs.

’As a fan of big jewellery, I began immediately to make a plan, and subsequently walked out with most of the bin’s content,’ she said.

Since then, making earrings has been a hobby for Anna. Often working in very corporate environments, she saw it simply as a creative outlet on her days off. But since the coronavirus crisis developed, she has had more time to concentrate on it and it’s really taken off.

’People might have to stay at home, but they still want to treat themselves or send little cheer-up presents to friends, and that where One Man’s Trash comes in,’ she said.

Anna’s creations are handmade at her kitchen table. They are light in weight, are only made of material that was going to be thrown away anyway and each pair is unique.

’None of those awkward occasions where you turn up to a party wearing the same thing as someone else,’ she said.

’In these uncertain times many of my customers have said they are purchasing from One Man’s Trash just to do something for our world.

’Everyone has a friend who is especially passionate about the sustainability of our planet and these earrings seem to be getting snapped up as birthday presents and the like, instead of people buying more generic gifts from big businesses.

’This creativity seem to be lifting spirits, which feels especially important at the moment.’

For more details go to Instagram @onemanstrashuk or Etsy store: onemanstrashuk