Recycled Handbags
Fun, Chic and Green

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Looking for a fun way to add a little green to your wardrobe?
Think recycled handbags.

It is amazing how many different materials are being recycled and made into handbags. Who would think pop tops from aluminum cans, old record albums or rubber tires could be made into some very unique and creative handbags? In fact many recycled handbags can be considered usable pieces of art.

Leftover and discarded materials are everywhere. Recycled purses or handbags have been designed from remnants of fabric off manufacturers floors, discarded sails from ships, grain sacks or no longer needed vinyl billboards and banners.

This is creativity and being green at it's most fun. What woman does not like handbags? Most of us can claim more than one. And what better way to have a little fun and and help recycling efforts too.

An added benefit is to that many of these companies are as interested in finding a use for discarded materials as they are in making sure the handbags they create are made by employees being treated fairly.

Handbags From Candy Wrappers?

Ecoist is a good example. They create recycled handbags using discarded candy wrappers from manufacturers that were misprints or from discontinued candies, saving these materials from the trash. You've probably seen these bags. They have been featured in many popular magazines and have been seen on the arms of Hollywood celebrities.

This company actively searches for and works with manufacturers and suppliers who use fair trade and environmentally friendly practices providing much needed work for women in underprivileged areas.

Ecoist also belongs to Trees for the Future and plants a tree in various parts of the world for every recycled purse sold, further showing their commitment to the environment.

Vy & Elle

Can you guess from the name what recycled item they work with? You know all those vinyl billboards and banners we see advertising this and that, most of them have a very short life span before heading to the dump.

Vy & Elle picks these up from companies all over the US where they are prepared in California and sent to China to be made in to handbags by companies following strict guidelines for fair trade practices. They say their prep work on the vinyl involves them in community outreach programs in California. So far they have recycled forty tons of billboard vinyl.

Handbags From Car Tires

Vulcana Bags makes a very interesting and long lasting bag out of recycled rubber tires. They see it is a great replacement for leather. Through several technical processes they are able to grind the tires so finely that they can be mixed with other compounds into a sheet like material which is then used to create handbags.

They have particular interest in creating their recycled handbags in the U.S., by using car tires from landfills in the U.S. to employing U.S. workers and paying them following fair trade practices including compensation for overtime.

Where To Shop

These are just a few examples of many different materials being used to create recycled purses or handbags. They range in prices from the affordable to the very expensive.

Eco-Handbags, a Canadian website, that offers a great selection of many different kinds of bags in all price ranges. Very handy. In one place you can see, learn about and buy handbags made from a wide variety of recycled materials like recycled remnants, record albums, zippers, jeans, skateboards, movie billboards and more.

Both Ecoist and Vy & Elle, along with others can be found here. They provide great descriptions of the materials used and the companies that design the handbags. The handbag on the left and at the top of the page come from Eco-Handbags

Vulcana Bags Makers of recycled handbags from car tires.

Salvation Sacks Handbags from salvaged, vintage and recycled fabrics.

Naturally Knotty - Blue Floral Knotty Tote This company creates totebags from factory fabric remnants. This particular bag combines strips of beautiful blue silk in a design that looks more like art. An outer covering of recycled plastic provides real durability. Many totebags are purely functional and are often made with materials that can absorb spots and stains. I like these totes even though they are more expensive because they won't stain or get dirty and they look so pretty it would be easy to leave your handbag at home. Check out this design and others made by Naturally Knotty at Amazon.

The Greenloop Large assortment using different recycled materials.

Terra Luna Sol Recycled plastic bags made into mosaic designed handbags.

Planet Earth Handbags Big selection of handbags made by a variety of different designers from around the world who work with recycled and natural materials and fabrics. Since fair trade practices are followed some of the designers have been highlighted on this site so you can see who your purchase is helping.

As you can see there are many different companies and individuals who just happen to wonder:

"What happens to all that ....?"

And then does something about it.

Whether a designer is committed to recycling and the environment or just looks at objects being trashed and their creativity takes over and what do you know... A new handbag design from skateboards or old license plates.

Either way disposable or unused items find a new life as recycled handbags.