On a recent jaunt through Boston, a great laptop bag from Helen Riegle of HER Design caught my eye.
Upon closer inspection I learned that it was made from Cradle to Cradle certified wool, a way for companies to credibly measure their achievement in environmentally-intelligent design and use of materials, reuse, recycling, composting, efficiently using energy and water, and instituting strategies for social responsibility.
Whenever possible, HER Designs also opts for eco-sensitive inks, glues and solvents, in the dyeing, bonding, and printing processes.
“There are easier and cheaper ways to a finished product, but they all come with greater costs than we are prepared to accept,” says Riegle.
Look for styles in:
Organic cotton – with Treetap “wild” rubber from the Amazon, and dyed using low-metal, low-sulfur, formaldehyde-free inks.
Recycled PET – made from soda bottles with PVC-free synthetic leather trim and handles.
Recycled Poly Microsuede – made from 100% recycled content and PVC-free synthetic leather trim, with recycled PET lining.
A native of the U.K., Reigle launched her first collection in 2004 and now lives in New England with her family. Find her bags throughout the U.S. and online.