Cute handbags with short handles are making a serious splash. Here are our top picks.

Remember those ginormous handbags we were carrying around just a few short months ago? You know, the ones that made you walk on a slant? I’m happy to report your shoulders can finally take a breather: Cute handbags with short handles are the new black, and the wide variety of styles available has left me all verklempt (in a good way).

There’s nothing I’m looking forward to more than ditching that awkwardly long shoulder strap that makes me feel like I should be delivering mail. Here are 12 cute handbags you’re going to lurv:

1. Ruth Satchel

The Ruth Satchel by Urban Junket is made with coated canvas, non-toxic dyes and features a signature blue lining made from recycled plastic bottles (a whopping 45 were used to create this bag!).

2. Verde Quadrato

Palloncino’s Verde Quadrato handbag is elegant in its simplicity – perfect for day or night. This vegan pick has a silvertone metal zipper closure and a roomy interior, plus two exterior snap pockets for all of your essentials.

3. Cork Satchel

This stunning Cork Satchel by Corkor is handcrafted by experienced craftsmen in Portugal and made of the finest quality cork. The exterior is soft, flexible, sturdy and durable, and its roomy interior includes a zippered pocket for your cell phone or keys.

4. Modern Autumn Handbag

Believe it or not, this Modern Autumn handbag is made of linked squares of coconut shell with a sleek mango wood handle. It contains an inner pocket and coconut shell trim on the zipper for that subtle finishing touch.

5. Triangle Handbag

The Sabine Triangle handbag by The SWAY is a black messenger bag made of reclaimed leather. Oh yeah, and it’s pretty.

6. Malone Dwell

This adorable Malone Dwell Doctor handbag by Matt & Nat is uber-versatile: You can enjoy the short handle trend, then when the jig is up it can also be worn as a shoulder bag or crossbody, thanks to its adjustable and removable strap.

7. Boston Satchel

This is one of those cute handbags that borders on irresistible: The Boston Satchel by Stella McCartney gives off a powerful vibe with its structured lines and geometric silhouette. Basically, get ready for everyone to be jealous.

8-12. ThredUp Satchels

There are so many gently used cute handbags on ThredUp, it took me forever to narrow down my picks (seriously, I went gray in the process). Check out these short-handled beauties by Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Jimmy Choo, Zac Posen, and Coach – and get ready to become as indecisive as me.

Which cute handbags are your faves?

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Image: Wonderlane

The post 12 Cute Handbags Sporting Even Cuter Handles appeared first on EcoSalon.

Finding eco-friendly handbags can be a real challenge. We present some fashionable solutions.

As a vegetarian who is also committed to environmental sustainability, I find that being fashion presents some difficulties for me. I enjoy fashion, but I also want to be a conscientious shopper.

One of my biggest fashion woes are accessories like bags. Let’s face it, the choices out at the mall (a four-letter word in my book) and those hawked in fashion magazines and catwalks just don’t fit the bill for concerned consumers like me looking for eco-friendly handbags.

It can be a challenge, but not impossible to find vegan and eco-friendly handbags to suit both our functional and fashionable needs.

There are actually a lot of alternative bag materials out there for us fashion and eco-conscious shoppers. Here’s a sampling of some of those materials as well as examples of bags that utilize them.

1. Organic Cotton Clutch – This clutch is a great choice for those looking for vegan and eco-friendly handbags. It’s made using organic cotton that’s certified by the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA), animal-free “leather”; it’s also free of harmful dyes and has chemical-free embroidery.

2.Pleather Shoulder Bag – Pleather, or vegan “leather” as it’s now called, has made real strides in quality lately. It’s now possible to find bags that appear to be actual leather. Just be careful, not all leather alternatives are eco-friendly. Read about the different types of vegan leathers here.

3. Cork Fabric Clutch – Cork fabric is made from cork, a natural, renewable and sustainable raw material and it’s also suitable for vegans.

4. Repurposed Coffee Bag Handbag – Repurposed bags made from burlap bags are awesomely eco-friendly handbags!

5. Organic Hemp Handbag – Hemp bags don’t have to be hippie and crunchy-granola. This sustainable organic hemp handbag is a stylish, chic and eco-friendly fashion statement.

6. Recycled Bottle Handbag – Matt & Nat bags are made with linings that are 100 percent recycled plastic bottles. They also are 100 percent animal free and they use the most sustainable options available.

7. Bent Wood Clutch  – Supplii offers gorgeous bent wood handbags using sustainable woods and utilizes a minimalist design that eliminates the need for extraneous materials.

Related on EcoSalon

Vegan Shoes and Handbags: On Trend

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Top Image:  CanopyVerde

The post It’s in the Bag: 7 Vegan and Eco-Friendly Handbags appeared first on EcoSalon.