A list of the top sustainable handbag designers currently on the fashion scene.

Sustainably designed handbags have come a long way since their humble beginnings. From vegetable dyed leathers to recycled and organic materials, handbag designers have upped the ante on style, form and function. Here we offer you an extensive list of what we consider to be the top designers in the sustainable handbag field. We’re impressed.

Ampersand As Apostrophe, Seattle, Washington :Upcycled mailbags, recycled materials

Ashley Watson, Vancouver B.C.: Upcycled leather, recycled materials

Beryll, Los Angeles, California: Upcycled leather, made in the U.S.

Beth Springer, Venice, California: Organic hemp linen, plant dyed leather, made in the U.S.

Calleen Cordero, Los Angeles, California: Vegetable tanned leathers, handmade by artisans

Collina Strada, Los Angeles, California: Made in New York, vegan, recycled materials

Cri de Coeur, New York, NY: Recycled plastic, organic cotton, vegan, Made in NYC

Dama, Los Angeles, California:Upcycled leather, recycled materials, vegan

Ellington, Portland, Oregon: Award-winning environmentally responsible tannery that uses efficient processes to reduce water consumption, energy use and CO2 emissions.

Entermodal, Portland, Oregon: Handmade, vegetable tanned leather, will buy back leather after use for recycling

Erin Templeton, Vancouver, B.C.: Upcycled leather

Fleabags, New York, NY: Organic and vintage materials, vegetable-tanned and re-purposed leathers, all materials sourced in the U.S.,  silkscreens use water-based ink

GG2G, Stamford, Connecticut: Repurposed and recycled materials, vegan, made in the U.S.

JADEtribe, New York, NY: Handwoven, organic cottons, natural dyes, fair trade

Jess Rizzuti, New York, NY : Sustainable cork

Kim White, Los Angeles, California: Dead stock, never-used textiles intended for use in American automobiles: cars, trucks and vans, vintage fabrics

Lina Rennell, Northern California: Recycled leather

Lizzie Fortunato, New York, NY: Hand beaded, recycled materials

Love Mert, New York, NY: Upcycled leather, wood scraps from designer’s father’s workshop, organic cotton lining

Matt & Nat, Montreal, Canada: Made in Montreal, lining of recycled plastic bottles, vegan

Passchal, Richmond, Virginia: Recycled inner tubes

Push Pull Cambodia, Takeo Province, Cambodia:Hand woven by Khmer artisans, fair trade

Red Flag, Vancouver, B.C.: Alternative manufacturing, recycled materials

Rising Tide Fair Trade, Brooklyn, NY and New Jersey: Fair Trade Federation certified and Green America approved

Shannon South, New York, NY: Zero waste, recycled leather

Spencer Devine, Brooklyn, NY: Upcycled materials, supports textile artisans in developing countries.

The Sway, New York, NY: Upcycled leather, recycled cotton lining

Teich, New York, NY: Vegetable-tanned and chrome-free leather, vintage materials and fabrics, hemp, linen

Image: The Sway

The post The Ultimate List of Sustainable Handbag Designers (From A-Z) appeared first on EcoSalon.

Reusing? That’s a priority for GG2G founder Dayan Moore whose handbag line is created completely out of recycled restaurant seating vinyl, billboards, bicycle inner tubes, recycled glass bottles, P.E.T and other sustainable fabrics. All bags are even lined with organic cotton or salvaged fabrics to add to their sustainable design.

GG2G stands for Green Goods 2 Give and 2 Get and after visiting their online store, you might be gifting a lot from how inspired you feel. After all, who do you know that has a recycled restaurant seat or billboard bag?

Says the GG2G site: “All billboards are sourced locally (not shipped around the entire country) cut locally, washed locally (using Seaside Naturals non-toxic cleanerâ„¢, a local company) and sewn locally, thus reducing our carbon footprint dramatically. Our webbing is made in the USA, and whenever possible our notions are sourced in the U.S.”

Not only is the brand keeping viable material from entering the landfill, but GG2G is donating a portion of each sale to Farm Sanctuary, a hardworking group that works to end cruelty to farm animals and promote compassionate living through rescue, education and advocacy.

This little gem of a bag, the Gyoza clutch, is one of the pieces made from recycled restaurant seating vinyl, and if you’re feeling unlucky and don’t want to take the chance you might not win, you can go to the site and buy it straight out. There are also a few color choices – so if you do win, Dayan has offered to send you swatches to pick from and then she’ll send. Sound good?

Not to mention if you do purchase this beauty of a bag, GG2G has vowed they will give a percentage of all Gyoza clutch proceeds to Farm Sanctuary which means three things:

1. You just got a great bag.

2. You joined the vegan movement surreptitiously.

3. You helped a group of people who want to make sure animals are never made into a bag.

A trifecta indeed.

Just leave a comment below for your chance to win!

(Legalese: contest rules and FTC compliance.)

The post GG2G Vegan Gyoza Clutch Giveaway appeared first on EcoSalon.