Two stylish opportunities from the world of sustainable fashion:
ECOIST
Known as the candy wrapper handbags, Ecoist's bags (USD 28-58) are made from misprinted or discontinued snack bags, soda labels and candy wrappers. A family business based in Miami, the company believes that consumers should be able to enjoy a modern lifestyle, buying their favourite things, while also doing good to the Earth.
Material that would otherwise end up in landfills is folded into straps and woven into bags and clutches by Mexican artisans. Ecoist works with organizations in Mexico and Central America that help people use recycled materials to create a living.
Products are designed by Ecoist's international network of eco-fashion designers, and colours change depending on which wrappers are available. Partnering with Luna, a maker of energy bars for women, Ecoist is producing its first branded bag made from misprinted Luna bar packaging. Talks with other major snack brands are likely to lead to more limited editions.
The eco-friendly attitude doesn't stop at recycling: Ecoist also plants a tree for every bag sold. Their combination of fun, clever designs and sustainable approach is doing the company good – projected sales for 2006 are USD 1.5 million. Ecoist's bags are sold through their website, and are stocked by stores in the US, Japan, Puerto Rico and the UK. Candy wrapper belts are next.
RAG BAG
Meanwhile, in New Delhi, ragpickers are going after plastic bags that are littering streets and clogging sewage drains. Plastic bags are collected, washed, dried and sorted by colour. They're then thrown into a machine that presses them into thicker, more durable sheets.
The sheets are cut, lined with cloth and sewn or molded into stylish bags, wallets and organizers, designed and sold by Rag Bag, which is based in The Netherlands.
With organic foods currently leading the way in green becoming mainstream, there's an ocean of opportunity waiting for entrepreneurs who can match consumers' preference for sustainability with stylish products and services. Be inspired!
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Similar int the field of Fair Trade: have you heard about IDEO (ideo-collection.com), a French fashion clothing line made of organic fair trade cotton? This time it's real fashion: their designer is a Parisian stylist.
There is a crowd in Melbourne Australia called haul - the pop culture recyclers. They make photo albums from number plates, messenger bags from truck inner tubes and bags from billboards...pretty cool...pretty now.
Old soda cans are used to make colourful bags, photo frames, flowers and mobiles in South Africa. Vinyl records are made into bags and clocks. You can visit just about any market in SA and find a treasure trove of items made from recycled goods.
Here in the UK there's Doy Bags - a fantastic range of bags made out of recycled juice packs. They're made by a women's cooperative in the Philippines and the website is www.doybags.com. Well worth checking out for eco-fashionistas!
yes NATIVE BY NATIVE you can see there hrp bags on the web site www.nativebynative.co.uk thay are fashion bags made from recycled waste plastic bags.There cool and solve waste problem.
There is a US company producing cool bags out of used innertubes from large machinery. (Passchal.com) They have created some really cool designs.
Shameless plug, but check out Worn Again... we make cool shoes out of all sorts of odd and interesting recycled materials - t-shirts, military jackets, car seats, parachutes, coffee bags and prison blankets. www.wornagain.co.uk. Great to see there is a growing demand for creative new things made out of old stuff...
anyone know any minority eco-clothing designers in the States making cool stuff? help - I'm searching but can't fid any.
any one know of a khaki pant brand (or even slacks other than jeans) that makes eco friendly pants?
I am a first year fashion student at RMIT melbourne and looking for local designers to interveiw regarding eco fashion/design. Caring for the environment is one of my passions, and I am so excited to see so many people getting involved in the eco fashion movement. Anyone interested please drop me a line!
Years ago I bought a bag in Portobello, London, made out of japanese snack/candy wrappers. A woman form East Europe made it.
I am interested in manufacturing bags for public service in large scale and iam trying to bring awarness of plastic bag usage, so could u pleast advice me if any? regarding the types of bags, and the materials which can be used, and any well other advices
Talking about eco-friendly handbags, I would like to mention a designer from Sardinia (Italy). Antonello (the designer) uses eco-friendly hand-woven fabrics produced in local villages to create his fantastic handbags. Check his website at http://www.pibiones.com, check other comments on this designer handbags
on:
http://www.thisnext.com/item/3A69AA42/Pibiones-by-Antonello-luxury
Sorry, following my previous post Pibiones correct link is http://www.pibiones.com
Great products out there but what is the best way for transport around a pedestrianised city centre, apart from rickshaw? Any ideas?
..and of course recycling doesn't stop with fashion accessories. I have recently bought a beautiful cushion made out of recycled vintage scarves from a London based designer: www.ulrikamay.com
I love these pocketbooks they are really ute and orginal... I Love um...
I love Ecosandals.com,a fair trade company that makes great sandals out of used tires.
Have just started stocking these in my ethical boutique in London.
http://www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Shopping/Jane_Goldsmith/e08a/
Have just started stocking these in my ethical boutique in London.
http://www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Shopping/Jane_Goldsmith/e08a/
Frietag is a wicked company out of Switzerland that uses highway truck tarps that you can customise, bicycle tires and car seatbelt to make the hippest bags going.
jon freir | June 7, 2006 9:24 PM