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We’re in Handbag Heaven with Ten New Eco Friendly and Vegan Discoveries!
By Bonny Osterhage
While waiting patiently for the fall eco fashion collections to hit the stores, we started to have retail withdrawal. So, we decided to search the web for a little something that we could buy now to tide us over — a girl’s got to shop after all! Lucky for you that we did, because just look at all the goodies we uncovered in the world of handbags! We’re loving these designers, not just for their commitment to the cause, but also for their stylish and innovative use of eco friendly and vegan materials. Turns out, this may be just the mid-season pick-me-up we were looking for!
Alejandra Dunphy Handbags
Simple, yet elegant, describes this collection from Alejandra Dunphy. Made from loomed Marino wool and using natural dyes, these colorful bags feature large and fully lined interiors. Lots of great colors to choose from.
Our Pick: the Orange
Square with Flower for its simplistic femininity. $100 at www.alejandradunphy.ecrater.com
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Cork Design
While it’s been plugging our wine bottles for years, cork has now hit the fashion world in the form of handbags and other accessories. In its new form, it has the texture of nubuck suede and is feather light and water resistant. The styles are pretty great too.
Our Pick: Sling Style for its simple sophisticated look that shows off the beautiful grain of the material. $145 at www.shopcorkdesign.com
Diana + Scott Collection
Married couples can make good business partners, as is evidenced by this stunning line of bags from husband and wife team Diana and Scott. Together, they traverse the globe, satisfying their love of islands and beaches and finding the natural materials so prominently featured throughout their collection.
Our Pick: the delicate mother-of-pearl Jamacia — perfect for a night out! $60 at www.dianaandscott.com.
Echos in the Attic
Beautiful fabrics are saved from untimely landfill deaths by the folks at this eco conscious company. They take the doomed remnants (500 pounds of them every two weeks) and turn them into “salvage chic” accessories that are as unique as the professional “mompreneurs” who happily stitch them up from home, and you can’t beat the prices!
Our Pick: the Big Old Bag Tote with its gold faux leather and mod print. $40 at www.echosintheattic.com
GG2G (Green Goods 2 Give and 2 Get)
The designers at GG2G do a great job of creating urban chic billboard bags, but their newest venture, incorporating one of our favorite eco friendly jewelry collections, Smart Glass Jewelry, is very cool. If you like your bags to compliment your jewelry, then you are going to love this collaboration. As part of their luxury collection, Fluxure, GG2G has elevated their billboard bags with accents and embellishments from Smart Glass.
Our Pick: the Rayne Wristlet that dangles from two Smart Glass bangles, which you can literally wear on your wrist. Too cute! $68 at www.shopgg2g.com.
Hoakon/Helga
Where do good leather jackets go when they die? To Hoakon/Helga, where they are reincarnated into really cool handbags. Vintage leather jackets, found in charity thrift stores, are upcycled in this clever line of one-of-a-kind bags. Recycled fabric and upholstery are incorporated for a true vintage appeal.
Our Pick: the Durian upcycled black leather bag with its of-the-moment lumberjack plaid. $135 at www.etsy.com.
Jane Marvel 
This is probably one of the happiest collections we’ve found. Made from laminated canvas, they are vegan, as opposed to sustainable, and there are many wonderful prints and styles.
Our Pick: the Hobo Handbag in Stars Night/Rust Trim. It’s the perfect bag to carry you into fall. To celebrate the company’s 5,000th order, you can get a free wallet with your purchase while they last! $80.50 at www.janemarvel.com
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NOAH Handbags
They may not be loading them into an Ark, but this NOAH is just as committed to saving animals. No Animal Harmed is the meaning of and philosophy behind this line of non-leather handbags. But, aside from being cruelty free, these bags are lightweight, stylish and incredibly functional.
Our Pick: the Safari from the Laser Cut collection, which (as the name suggests) features giraffes and elephants cut into Italian PVC and layered over canvas. $175 at www.noahhandbags.com.
ReFind Originals
One person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Discarded leather clothing, upholstery and more is repurposed into beautiful one-of-a-kind handbags that look and feel just like the real thing.
Our Pick: the brand new, traffic stopping red Arabella. $295 at www.refindoriginals.com.
RoZcoo Handbags
This is a collection that proves that you can indeed have it all. Luxury, durability, practicality, style and eco friendliness come together in these bags made from animal friendly vegan leather.
Our Pick: the Rosalind. With its large size, tons of
pockets and eye catching colors, it is the most
versatile bag you will ever own. $145 and available at www.greenwithglamour.com. See the entire collection at www.rozcoo.com
