Eco-Roundup: Handbags (Part 2)

By Suzanne Singer
April 27, 2010

These two handbag companies prove that great design and green design can peacefully coexist.

Find our profiles of three more eco-friendly handbag lines here.

Sakroots

Top Row: Lorae Russo and Sakroots handbags

Bottom Row, Russo's eBay Picks: New Hand-woven Wool Rug (buy it now price, $280.99), Native American Wool Rug (buy it now price, $1,950), Indian Folk Art (buy it now price, $92.95)

An eco-offshoot of handbag company The Sak, Sakroots features bags manufactured from materials such as as jute, 100% recycled cotton and recycled nylon. Through Sakroots, The Sak supports The Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees Campaign, an effort to raise money to restore and plant one billion trees by 2015 on 2.5 million acres of Brazil's Atlantic Forest. Sakroots offers a collection called the Artist Circle, a series of handbags with prints featuring original work from artists that "share in our philosophy of cultivating peace and harmony." For this spring, artist Diane Barcelowsky created a print called “One World" (pictured above) of which sakroots Designer Lorae Russo says, “There was an obvious connection between Diane’s artwork and the Sakroots brand philosophy sharing the very powerful message of unity and harmony among people, nature and all things.”

Russo chose two rugs on eBay that reflect the Sakroots design aesthetic. Of the hand-woven wool rug at left, she says, “I love the electric energy of the zigzag lines next to the stability of the solid straight and square shapes. This pattern is alive with vibrant colors, yet grounded, I like that balance. It’s similar to Sakroots and how the brand strives for that happy, joyful feeling.” Of the Indian folk art piece she chose, she exclaims Yum! She’s floating in a sea of happy colors, above the hills. This piece mixes prints, as seen in Sakroots Artist Circle, and is described as a celebration of the intimate union between humankind and the environment. The message of this piece also relates to Sakroots hopes of cultivating peace and harmony among all things.”

Teich

Top Row: Allison Teich McGowan and Teich handbags

Bottom Row, McGowan's eBay Picks: Old Photo of Flatiron Building (buy it now price, $9.99), New Norway Flag Belt Buckle (buy it now price, $9.85) “…because my color palette was red, blue and black. Plus, I love grids.” New Striped Top (buy it now price, $14.00)

Allison Teich McGowan started in the eco bag business in 2005 with her line Again NYC, a collection featuring limited-edition bags that were made from found and reused materials. In 2007, she launched a new line, Teich, with the same eco-focus, and in 2009, she opened a shop in New York's East Village. “I learned over these past few years that being eco-friendly can be more than just recycling," McGowan says of her philosophy. "It’s making fewer and smarter purchases and looking for quality over trend. With the Teich line, I aim to provide my customer with a beautiful, timeless piece that will last for years to come.” Teich bags are all made locally in NYC—“I have a deep appreciation of the manufacturing history of New York City, and it was important to me to keep production of my bags local and support New York businesses and artisans,” she says. She also uses eco-friendly fabrics like hemp and organic cotton and uses only natural deerskin leather (hunting leftovers).

McGowan found items on eBay that reflect the themes of her latest collection: an architectural photo of New York because she is so influenced by the city, a belt buckle that utilizes the colors and grid shapes seen on her bags collection, and a striped top because “I love stripes! All the bag linings in this collection are striped.”

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