I’m always excited to learn of new stylish, eco-friendly handbags! Hemptress™ was launched in January 2010, with the collection primarily made out of hemp with bonded leather trim repurposed from recycled leather and lined with a silk/hemp blend lining, (except for the vegan collection, which has a hemp/RPET lining).

The creators of Hemptress™ is design team Håkan and Arlene Nilsson. Håkan, originally from Sweden, comes from an advertising and marketing design background. Arlene graduated from New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and designed handbags for various companies since 2001. Hemptress™ is dedicated to “conscientious accessorizing”. Only factories that adhere to fair trade practices are used. Labels are made of hemp; hangtags and business cards are printed on recycled paper with soy ink, and shipping boxes are made from 100% post consumer waste. The design team focuses heavily on trend analysis, so these bags are both sustainable and fashion-forward.

Hemptress™ also donates a portion of the profits to an animal rights group as well as Vote Hemp.  Be sure to connect with Hemptress™ on Twitter and Facebook.  Also visit www.thehemptress.com to view the entire collection!

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Have you ever heard of the term “wearable art”?  The talented artist/designer Julianne Fuchs-Musgrave has a gift for creating beautiful garments and bags that materialize as unique pieces of wearable art comprised of eco-friendly materials.

Julianne combines her classical training in fine art with textile-construction skills, and uses reclaimed leathers, natural cottons and vintage textiles as the base for each design.  Abstract paintings are then created using acrylic paints, and finished with a permanent glaze before being constructed into bags, belts or apparel. Each work is meticulously finished, fully lined with hand-dyed natural textiles or French seam finished. Hardware and decorations are selected for both design and function.

She incorporates her love of color and textures with the challenge of using old techniques with new applications. The Spring 2010 handbags are vibrant and fun.  My favorite is the Petunia. Visit JollyJuli.com to view the entire collection of one-of-a-kind pieces.  Best of all, 5% of each purchase is donated to MADRE, an international women’s human rights organization that works to address issues of health and reproductive rights, economic development, education and other critical women’s issues worldwide.

Click here to connect with Wearable Art by Julianne Fuchs-Musgrave on Facebook.

Heliotrope shoulder bag, Price: $100 and Graffiti messenger bag, Price: $60.00

Petunia, Price: $60.00 and Atlantis, Price: $80.00

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I get so tired of seeing the same old bags, so I was thrilled to learn of JADEtribe! Kimberly Hartman worked for top New York City designers before deciding to fulfill her lifelong dream of exploring other cultures. Her inspiration for JADEtribe jewelry and accessories came from traveling through India and Southeast Asia. I love that she collaborates with local artisans to create beautiful handcrafted pieces. The Jaeb fabric clutch is hand-embroidered, features bead clusters at the edges and is made entirely of recycled materials. Price: $128.00 at Shopbop

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Mar y Sol is a socially & environmentally responsible company that offers an eclectic mix of colorful handmade accessories and handbags from Madagascar & Kenya. The collection incorporates renewable natural materials to create original clutches, totes and shoulder bags. Laurel Brandsetter, creator of Mar y Sol, used her background in community development, urban planning and public health work to improve the quality of life in Malagasy and Kenyan communities through the sale of handmade accessories. Mar y Sol works closely with their artisan partners to allow families to gain economic independence while promoting artistic expression and environmental conservation.

Visit www.madimports.net to check out the entire collection. Below is a video that shows more on how Mar y Sol has helped improve the Malagasy and Kenyan communities.

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Out of a desire to become part of the ‘green solution,’ Lori Rose, creator of Green Girl, designed a line of eco-friendly, sustainable accessories. Inspired by nature, colors and textures the Green Girl collection is a fresh mix of bright, earthy prints. As part of the company’s commitment to creating a cleaner, more vibrant world, Green Girl donates a portion of its net online sales to charities that help protect and preserve the environment. In an effort to reduce their carbon footprint, Green Girl has partnered with American Forests to plant a tree for every canvas, lightweight and children’s eco-tote sold on-line. Visit GreenGirlWorld.com to view the entire collection.

*Take advantage of an exclusive deal on Green Girl totes! Visit PeopleStyleWatch.com for details on how you can save 15% off your purchase. Offer ends November 2.*

Green Girl Canvas Eco-totes, Price: $55.00

Green Girl Lightweight Cotton Tote, Price: $45.00

Green Girl’s eco-totes are fully reversible and washable. Enjoy two options for your fashionable, functional tote. It is designed for daily use — whether you need a reusable shopping bag, gym bag, or beach tote. When it’s not being used, simply roll up the eco-tote and store in your purse. The eco-totes are available in canvas, lightweight cotton and organic cotton made in the USA.

Green Girl Tiny Totes and Green Boy Tiny Totes, Price: $20.00

Green Girl Tiny Totes are specifically designed for little girls, and Green Boy Tiny Totes for little boys, aged four to nine. Each reversible, lightweight eco-tote features signature vibrant patterns, comfortable, adjustable straps and reinforced double-stitching. From library books to dance class to soccer, these Tiny Totes hold almost anything a little boy or girl needs for shopping, school or play.

Green Girl Eco-Jutes are durable and stylish with catchy, earth-friendly messages. These reusable totes are made of 100% jute, a natural, biodegradable fiber that continues to look better with age, and use only environmentally friendly, water-based ink dyes. Price: $28.00

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flip & tumble was created out of a need to provide the world with a reusable shopping bag that can be kept with you at all times. I have several reusable bags, but I always leave them at home since I can’t stick them in my everyday handbag. Designers of flip & tumble, Eva and Hetal, came up with the concept of designing a reusable bag that is compact, fits the needs and lifestyle of real people, and cool enough to carry anywhere. The bags are made of a durable lightweight ripstop nylon. What makes flip & tumble different from other reusable bags is its portability. The bag has a stretch pouch attached on the inside that works kind of like rolling up a pair of socks. It folds into a cute little ball that can fit into the bottom of most bags. There are so many vibrant colors to choose from and even a few prints. Visit www.flipandtumble.com to check out the entire collection.

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Among the finalist selected for the 2009 Independent Handbag Designer Awards, Linda Wong, designer of Canopy Verde, was chosen in the category of Best Green Handbag. Recently launching her first collection this past fall, Linda was determined to make it one of the greenest brands out there by examining every aspect of eco-friendly production down to the last detail. Everything from the lining to the stitching was taken into consideration. The bags are made of Organic Bamboo/Cotton which was dyed with special OEKO-TEX 100 Certified Dying Process. They are then finished with chemical-free embroidery, chrome-free leather and wooden hardware, which give the bags their signature look.

Given Linda’s Chinese roots and her upbringing in Taiwan, it is personally meaningful for her to have the opportunity to encourage Chinese manufacturers to be more environmentally responsible. All of Canopy Verde’s materials are sourced locally, which helps to eliminate the transportation impact and also spurs demand of Chinese-made eco-friendly materials.

At retail prices ranging from $90 – $295, styles include clutches, shoulder bags and weekenders, with color options available in neutrals and some pop colors like coral and plum. Canopy Verde handbags are perfect for anyone from the fashion forward teen to the environmentally conscious working woman. The new Dewberry Tote/Diaper Bag, is great for the mom on the go!

**Canopy Verde is offering HandbagReport.com readers an exclusive discount of 20%! Visit CanopyVerde.com and enter the code: ecolover at checkout. **

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Evolve45 was born out of a need for sustainable fashion in the form of stylish “green” accessories. Evolve45 has succeeded in making a natural handbag fashionable. The central theme of inspiration for designer Sara Marston was a belief that if everyone could evolve their consumption slightly, say forty-five degrees, the resulting contribution to a cleaner, safer, environment, would be enormous. But this forty-five degree change should equal progress, not compromise, in the world of fashion.

Evolve45 uses refined 100% organic cotton linings and rich, natural fabrics, such as Genuine Italian Vegetable-Tanned Leather^TM Consortium. Evolve45 also offers “vegetarian” bags, made of environmentally responsible fabrics. Whether you’re out on the town or running a few errands, Evolve45 is an eco-chic way to carry the essentials. I love Evolve45′s concept which is bringing the “sexy little, black dress” to all of its bags.

Pictured on the right is the Bare Mary Satchel in butternut. It is designed for the professional businesswoman, constantly on the move. The magnetic closure at the mouth of the bag, allows enough space for the average sized laptop to be carried in style to the boardroom, along with a stowaway pair of stilettos and a makeup kit for an evening of play. Yet, it is small enough to allow you to easily maneuver through a crowded sidewalk or into a crammed elevator without bumping into anyone along the way.

The Urban Nature Satchel (pictured on the left) is a compact, sassy overnight bag for the woman who wishes to keep her agenda private. It transitions easily from day to evening. However, it’s the bag’s subtle details like its soft pleating and patterned borders which really make it stand apart. The Urban Satchel has an expandable zipper opening and two-side pockets, while the inside contains three pockets, one with a zipper. The price range is $500 to $800. Visit Evolve45.com for more information.

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I discovered RuMe Bags at one of my favorite online marketplaces, Nimli. RuMe strives to bring global-friendly products to meet the growing needs of environmentally conscious consumers. Based in Denver, Colorado, RuMe launched its line of reusable bags – the Macro, the Mini and the regular-sized bag – to simply and affordably incorporate use and re-use into our daily lives. RuMe offers a versatile, durable carry-all for the customer who is both conscientious and stylish.

The design and packaging follows a no-waste philosophy, and their bags are manufactured in a government certified fair trade factory in South Korea. The Korea Fair Trade Commission is  responsible for enacting and enforcing competition laws that protects consumers and workers. It also aims to enhance transparency in business activities and boost competition in the market environment.

Rume Bags come in three different sizes – the Macro, the Mini and the regular-sized bag. Visit RumeBags.com for the dimensions and details of each bag and to shop the entire collection.  Below are a few of my favorites.

Mini Boston Commons – Keyboard, $8.95 and Mini Spring in NY – Hamptons, $8.95

Fall in NY – 5th Avenue, $9.95 and Fall in NY – Greenwich, $9.95

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I took notice of Matt & Nat handbags recently while researching sustainable handbags for an article for Style Is So You Magazine on spring accessories and handbags.

Matt & Nat were one of the first companies to launch an eco friendly fashion line…before it was fashionable. They design their bags so you shouldn’t have to make a choice between being chic and eco-friendly/responsible. Matt & Nat has plenty of designs to choose from for women and men – shoulder bags, clutches, weekend bags, computer bags, and small accessories. My favorite is the Japanese Paper collection. Matt & Nat handbags are reasonably priced (most are under $300) and available in trendy boutiques including Fred Segal and Holt Renfrew, and in department stores like Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks and Bloomingdales.

If you’re wondering what eco friendly vegan bag means, here are a few Matt & Nat facts:

-Depending on the size, 15-55 recycled plastic bottles go into the material used to make their bags.
- The bags are 100% vegan, and don’t use any leather (According to the UN, raising cattle generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the world combined).
- They will be phasing out PVC by end of this year and will instead use PU. Their products are not Fair Trade but are “child labor free” and they visit all their factories 4 times a year to inspect conditions.

Matt & Nat are also involved with other programs – e.g. 4 times a year they go and feed the homeless in their hometown of Montreal, they help customers recycle their older bags by giving them to the charity Dress for Success (DressForSuccess.org) and Project Chance Resident (foundationprojectchance.ca)

Below are some of my favorite Matt & Nat handbags for men and women. Visit www.MattandNat.com to view the entire collection.

For women: Matt & Nat Portishead, Price: $275 and Matt & Nat Tracy Marrow, Price: $275

For men: Matt & Nat The Knife, Price: $285 and Matt & Nat Warhol, Price: 325

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