For more, see my Eco&Ethical Handbags pinboard and follow for periodic updates.
Collina Strada bag, Made in USA
Matt & Natt blue vegan leather handbag with 100% recycled sand faux suede lining
Spring bags for the Eco Fashionista
Tag Archives: Recycled Leather
Recycling Fashion
How can this elusive and kinetic thing we call fashion be recycled? As Heidi Klum so often reminds us: “In fashion, one day you’re in; the next day you’re out.” So how do you reuse?
I’m not an expert stylist by any means but I’ve come across a few different ways to recycle clothing. The first and most obvious, of course, is to go vintage. Shop at second-hand and thrift stores, or expensive carefully-curated vintage shops. I bought this lovely little purse at a thrift store in Philadelphia last week (I believe it was at 4th & Fitzwater for anyone in the area):
Modernizing vintage Continue reading
Shoes that bloom…literally, they bloom
Though unfortunately not yet available in the US, these Dutch shoes are Oat Shoes and they are completely biodegradable! When you’ve worn them out, you literally bury them in the dirt.
The hemp and cotton will degrade within a couple of months in regular potting earth. The plastic has been tested to break down within 6 months in an ideal environment, but this varies with the type of soil, the temperature and humidity they’re buried in.
Not only will they break down in the soil, they’ll grow flowers. Continue reading
To be eco-friendly or not to be eco-friendly? The dilemma of my new boots
I recently stumbled upon the website of a fabulous, (also fabulously expensive) NYC boutique that sells eco-friendly and ethical lines. There was a gorgeous pair of black leather boots for sale, and given that my current black leather boots are about 4 years old and I’ve had to super-glue the soles shut 2 or 3 times, I figured it was time to invest in a new pair. Plus these were sustainable!
But hang on a minute, I thought leather was bad. I’ve also stumbled across some designers of “vegan” shoes that are quite cute, as well as a maker of gorgeous recycled leather bags. There’s even one that makes bags from car tires! But these boots were leather, and I didn’t hear anything about recycling. Continue reading