Green and chic – the recycled ring pull bag
Eco-chic meets practicality with this stylish recycled ring pull bag. Given the global popularity of brands like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, it will surprise no one to know that every year we throw out millions of soft drinks cans – most of which could be easily recycled.
One company has come up with a wonderful way of recycling the ring pulls from these cans – making these beautiful recycled ring pull handbags. A fabulously versatile accessory, the recycled ring pull bag’s unique ‘chain mail’ effect fits perfectly with the current taste for ‘fierce’ style, so would be ideal to bring a touch of glamour to a simple outfit of t-shirt, jeans and boots, or conversely to toughen up a night-time look of party dress and heels.
Produced in Brazil, each recycled ring pull bag is made of over 400 recycled aluminium ring pulls which are painted in a matt gold finish, and is fully lined in a matching colour tone. That’s a lot of ring pulls saved from landfill! A matching recycled ring pull coin purse is also available, or you can also buy the bag in silver, depending on the look you are after. Because aluminium is a lightweight material, these recycled ring pull bags not only look great, they are not heavy to carry, so they won’t weigh you down on a night out!
First published 27 December 2009. Please note that blog posts remain live, and any offers or information may no longer be current when you view this page.
Be eco-comfy with these bamboo slippers
These eco-friendly bamboo slippers from Totes are both comfy and stylish – easy on your feet and on the planet! Bamboo is one of the most eco-friendly materials around: unlike cotton, it does not need intensive farming or chemicals to thrive (non-organic cotton is one of the most chemical-intensive textiles to produce). A fast growing and sustainable crop, bamboo is being used more and more in clothing. It is especially ideal for footwear as it is breathable, deodorising and cool, as well as being naturally anti-bacterial. These bamboo slippers are machine washable and biodegradable, and are made from a bamboo-based viscose and polyester mix. The bamboo clog slippers are also lightweight, soft and durable, with a unique insole for added padding, which means extra comfort! Isotoner is a subsidiary of well-known brand Totes, so you can be assured that the slippers are well-made and of the quality you associate with the Totes brand – and of course, this means they last longer, which further reduces waste as they need replacing less often. Isotoner’s eco-friendly range is designed with ethical sourcing, sustainability and the environment as priorities – as well as using sustainable and eco-friendly materials for the slippers themselves, Isotoner also uses recycled cardboard for the packaging, further lessening the environmental impact. So when you wear these comfy, stylish bamboo slippers, not only will your feet be happy, so will the planet!
Love the planet with a Katharine Hamnett organic cotton tote bag
Ever since she encouraged us to Choose Life in the 80s, designer Katharine Hamnett has been passionate about political and environmental causes – and she remains true to those beliefs with this stylish Katharine Hamnett ethical bag. An oversized tote made from 100% organic cotton, this Katharine Hamnett ethical bag is big enough for everything you need – whether it’s to use for all your groceries (and reduce your plastic bag consumption) or just to carry round your everyday essentials in style. The bag is available in pink and black or black and white, and further sealing its eco and ethical credentials, it is printed in the UK with water-based, eco-friendly inks that will fade after the first wash to give it a fantastic, vintage look. Katharine Hamnett is one of the first – if not the first – to bring us slogan t-shirts (she famously wore an anti-nuclear t-shirt to meet Mrs Thatcher). As one of the UK’s most influential designers, the fact that she is putting the weight of her name behind a campaign to raise awareness of injustice in the clothing industry is helping drive demand for organic cotton. This helps small farmers – who earn up to 50% more for their goods when they are organic, as this massively reduces production costs – and the environment, as non-organic cotton is one of the most chemically intensive materials to produce. So you may have grown out of dancing to Wham!, but you can still enjoy some vintage cool with this chic and eco-friendly Katharine Hamnett ethical bag.
Cruelty-free silk scarves
Fair trade cruelty-free silk scarves allow you to enjoy the beauty of silk without any of the guilt that accompanies traditionally manufactured silk. In commercial silk production, silkworms are killed during the production process, either by the cocoons being submerged in boiling water or pierced with a needle, so that the silk can be unravelled in one long continuous thread, but no such methods are involved in creating these beautiful fair trade cruelty-free silk scarves. The cruelty-free, traditional production method allows the worms to chew their way out of the cocoons, and results in a gorgeous, tactile texture that is caused by the broken threads. As well as being kind to the worms, these cruelty-free silk scarves are kind to people, too. Available in Prussian Blue and Cassis, they are handmade in India using traditional methods of hand spinning and weaving that have passed down from generation to generation. Because the manufacturers are paid a fair wage for their talents, buying one of these stylish cruelty-free silk scarves helps you protect the livelihoods of traditional artisans, helping them build and maintain their communities. So as well as making an elegant gift (for yourself or someone else!), these cruelty-free, fair trade silk scarves enable small producers to thrive and prosper. So why not treat yourself to one of each colour?
Simple TOEst boots – eco-friendly footwear
If you’re a fan of Ugg boots, but you’re not that happy with the idea of wearing sheepskin, you will love these super comfy TOEst high knitted boots from Simple. Ugg boots have been a celebrity favourite for years now, and have raised the bar for comfortable footwear – but for many people, wearing sheepskin is an ethical no-no. If this is true for you, Simple TOEst boots are the answer to your – and your feet’s – prayers! Practical, durable and as comfy as a pair of Uggs, these TOEst boots have the eco-advantage in that they are made from hemp (coated in beeswax to make them more water resilient) with a hemp/organic cotton blend knitted shaft to pull up or down, depending on the look you are after, making these adaptable as well as eco-friendly. Stylish and contemporary, Simple TOEst boots use hemp because it is the ideal fabric for footwear – a strong, durable and breathable fibre that is also eco-friendly because, unlike non-organic cotton – which is a chemically-intensive fabric to produce – hemp doesn’t need chemicals and intensive farming procedures to produce. This means that as well as being kind to your feet, Simple TOEst boots are kind to the environment – so why not treat yourself to a pair? They’ll certainly make walking around doing all that Christmas shopping a bit more bearable.
Pants to Poverty Santa Pants – making Christmas sexy and fun
Pants to Poverty Santa pants are the latest style from ethical underwear manufacturer Pants to Poverty. Pants to Poverty was set up as an evolution from the Make Poverty History initiative and proves that fundraising can be both fun and serious at the same time. The Pants to Poverty Santa pants, like all Pants to Poverty ethical underwear, are made from organic cotton (so reducing their environmental impact, as standard cotton is a chemical intensive fabric) and are Fair trade, ensuring that producers are paid a fair wage for their goods and not exploited. On top of this, £1 profit from the sale of every pair of Pants to Poverty Santa pants is reinvested into campaigning for Trade Justice. The red and white Pants to Poverty Santa pants are available in male and female styles, and small, medium and large sizes. These sexy, snuggly eco-pants make a fun, festive and cheeky gift for the man or woman in your life – and at less than £10 per pair, they are an ideal stocking filler. Or you can wear them with stockings, the choice is yours! However you want to wear them, and whether you have been naughty or nice, why not put a pair of Pants to Poverty Santa pants on your Christmas list?
Eco-friendly outdoor clothing from Patagonia
Now that the clocks have gone back and autumn in truly upon us, a warm coat seems a vital investment – but it can be hard to find warm winter clothing with good eco-credentials. Step forward outdoor and technical clothing company Patagonia, who do a range of stylish jackets and coats suitable for the British outdoors and all that it can throw at us, without compromising on green ethics. Starting out as a one-man company that made tools for climbers, Patagonia remains a major name for climbing, surfing and outdoor apparel, but the simple, stylish lines of its clothes have won it a broader audience. Patagonia uses recycled polyester and organic cotton in many of its clothes; for example, its Isotope Parka is made from double-layered 50% recycled polyester, incorporating a wear-alone vest filled with 90% recycled Thermogreen insulation and has a 50% recycled polyester waterproof/breathable barrier – making it perfect for hill walking or just navigating a rainy city afternoon. Likewise, its lightweight stormproof jacket (available for both men and women) comprises a 2-layer fabric with a 100% recycled-polyester hanging mesh and 100% recycled polyester taffeta liner. The company produces a wide range of clothes for men and women: fleeces, organic cotton t-shirts, flannel shirts, trainers and walking shoes, organic cotton yoga pants for women, dresses made from recycled polyester and organic cotton, cord trousers for men and bright, stylish tops for women. All are made to the same high eco standards, reflecting the company’s Mission Statement: “Build the best product, do no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.” Given Patagonia’s strong ties to the natural environment, it isn’t surprising that the company donates time, services and money (at least 1% of sales) to environmental groups. So you can keep dry and warm this winter, without giving up your high eco standards.
From car tyres to flip flops – reusing rubber to make stylish shoes
Discarded tyres are an eco-menace, taking hundreds of years to decompose, but around the world some manufacturers are recycling these old tyres into fashion statements, by turning them into stylish flip flops. With Brazil often considered the home of the flip flop, it shouldn’t be surprising that one of these companies is based in Rio de Janeiro. With an estimated 20 million tyres a year discarded in Brazil, footwear company Amazon is finding innovative ways to reuse old tyres. It collects, chips and reforms tyres into eco-friendly and fashionable sandals and flip flops, making these some of the greenest shoes around. Combining recycling and fair trade, Rebearth eco-friendly fair trade sandals are made by a collective of workers in Nairobi, Kenya. These workers take old tyres and cut and mould them by hand, combining with locally grown organic cotton and unworn recycled leather to create simple, stylish shoes that are easy on your feet and your conscience.
Of course, it’s not just rubber and leather that can be recycled in this way, and large manufacturers are also getting in on the idea. Take Levi, who now produce affordable, stylish and eco-friendly trainers made from old pairs of Levi jeans. As each pair of shoes differs slightly according to the source material, they are totally unique, so they’re good for the planet and good for your image!
Recycling car parts – from high fashion to life saving products
Handbags made out of licence plates may sound crazy, but company LittleEarth is turning old car parts into eco-fashion. Even with the rise of greener motoring solutions such as the Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius, motoring remains one of the least environmentally friendly – but generally most necessary – pastimes. But around the world people are making an eco-virtue of this necessity. LittleEarth was founded in 1993 to recycle old car parts to create beautiful and fashionable bags. They use old American licence plates to create beautiful, stylish metal bags that retail at around £100-200, and are perfect for a night on the town. They come in a range of styles, with some making a design virtue of their origins, while others – such as the ‘More Shoes’, ‘Lace Wallpaper’ or ‘Cocktail Time’ bags – are designed to be more high fashion. Each one comes with a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity, so you can be sure your gorgeous handbag really is made from recycled car parts. With party season fast approaching, they are the perfect winter accessory.
If all this sounds too frivolous, it’s good to hear that ethical design collective Design That Matters has been working on a way to use recycled car parts to build neo-natal incubators for developing countries, and has already delivered a prototype for further development. So from fashion to health, the by-products – and waste products – of the motor industry are being reused for eco-friendly purposes, and that’s something we can all get behind.
Green is the New Noir – Fair Trade fashion hits the catwalks
While ethically made, Fair Trade products are becoming increasingly popular, Fair Trade fashion still has struggled to shake off its slightly dowdy image. Some mainstream, high street retailers such as New Look and Marks and Spencer now stock organic cotton items alongside their main ranges, but for many people, the words Fair Trade fashion conjure up tie-dyed clothing, shapeless smocks and twee print dresses. This could be changing as, more and more, high end designers are recognising that there is a market for stylish, well-made clothing that is both fashion forward and ethically made. Set up by Peter Ingwersen and aimed strictly at the luxury end of the market, Noir is a high fashion brand that doesn’t compromise on either style or social conscience. Pieces include beautifully made shirts, tuxedo jackets and tops, proving ethically made doesn’t need to be ugly.
At the more affordable end of the scale, People Tree has done a lot to help shake off Fair Trade’s frumpy image, offering smart design at high street price. Fair trade jewellery, too, has moved away from its ‘hippy image’, with brands like Made and Fifi Bijoux making stylish, ethically produced and – most importantly from the fashion point of view – wearable pieces. Made’s design partnerships with celebrities like Peaches Geldof is also helping bring Fair Trade to a younger audience.
