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.

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.

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.

It is not uncommon to find that many of these companies are as interested in finding a use for discarded materials as 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 sells recycled handbags 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 album, 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. I am also enclosing links to other companies making recycled handbags. It's fun to look at and admire these designs whether you would buy them or not.

Vulcana Bags Makers of recycled handbags from car tires.

Salvation Sacks Handbags from salvaged, vintage and recycled fabrics.

The Greenloop Offers an assortment of handbags from different recycled materials.

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

CeeCee Was Here Individually handmade bags from bottle caps. Definitely unique.

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.