Fashionistas often look to the runway for the season’s colors and styles. We’ve poured over the autumn/winter issues of our fave fashion mags and rather than bring you the conventionally made (and often insanely pricey) pieces that all the other sites do, here’s a round up of gorgeous vegan handbags—animal-free versions of our favorite runway trends. 

Jil Sander sent this pretty teal leather envelope clutch down runways for Fall, but its hefty price tag would keep all but the most dedicated fashionistas away. This vegan bag from Matt and Nat shares the same trench ivy color and feel as the Jil Sander version, but it’s animal-free, not to mention a little more budget-friendly.

Valentino‘s sleek black and white contrast clutch with its bracelet-like chain detail for extra hold emphasized a sharp, smart, sophisticated look. Freedom of Animals Melia Lia vegan handbag handily equals the high-fashion runway clutch look, but one-ups it with 100% EPA-certified sustainable materials including recycled faux leather made from recycled materials that are vegetable dyed—and lined with organic cotton. Take that Valentino!

This fun pink Miu Miu walked last fall, but this vegan leather handbag by Angela and Roi donates $5 of each sale to a cause by color, and this cause goes to Breast Cancer research and prevention.

Ok, so this Dolce and Gabbana handbag is cute. It’s simple, chic and small, but we’ve seen it before. The vegan version, Lulu’s Black Handbag, has a bit more of a retro feel.

Proenza Schouler showed this fun, patterned look on the runway, but the vegan version, the GUNAS Emily #2, pops just as loud, don’t you agree?

All vegan handbag images: courtesy of the brands; main image courtesy Freedom of Animals. 

Related on Ecosalon:

Vegan Bacon Recipe: Healthy and Delicious 

7 Affordable Eco Fashion Brands That Won’t Break the Bank

The post 5 Vegan Handbags: On Trend for Autumn and Winter appeared first on EcoSalon.

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.

Forget the muted tones, embrace fall in all its splendor.

It’s going to be a red hot fall, at least inside our closets. Red, in hues ranging from dark rust to neon-bright, is one of the hottest colors right now, and will also carry nicely into the spring. If you want to be really daring and on-trend, wear red from head to toe. You’ll be guaranteed to turn some heads.

We love this genius convertible dress, which will work double or triple duty as it transforms into different shapes. The ladylike handbag, poncho, fitted turtleneck, cable knit sweater, and flat boot are all key pieces for the fall. Being fashionable hasn’t been this comfy and cozy in a long time.

Clockwise, from top left:

J.Brand Mid-Rise Skinny Leg Jean in Bright Red
$176, jbrandjeans.com

Vintage Fire Engine Red Wool Poncho
$122.33, WoozWassVintage on Etsy.com

Matt & Nat Clint vegan suede handbag
$95, mattandnat.com

Cotton Turtleneck from American Apparel
$30, americanapparel.com

Shabd convertible Shoreline Dress in fire
$545, shabdismyname.com

Covet Cable Knit Sweater
$125, shopfuturestandard.com

Swedish Hasbeens Chelsea Unisex Boot
$408, swedishhasbeens.com

The post On Trend: Red Hot Fall appeared first on EcoSalon.

These gifts are for the masculine souls in your life (the ladies were covered yesterday in case you missed it!). From flying squirrels to vintage bow ties, we have gathered some of the best eco-friendly holiday gifts for your gifting pleasure. Give him a two dimensional visual of his favorite tunes, a witty flask to contain his spirits, delight his inner sophisticate with a soft tie or crisp collar candle, wrap his iPad in wool, and then wrap his neck in vintage plaid.

Clockwise from top left:

1. Music Posters – The Small Stakes, $25 – 40 (Buy 2 get 1 free!)
2. Just Salve (Sweet Birch) – Just Soap, $5.50 (It’s pedal powered!)
3. Poison Flask – In God We Trust, $50
4. Sheep’s Tie (Brown) – Birkiland, $63
5. Haberdasher’s Collar Candle – Anthropologie, $15
6. XII iPad Case – Hard Graft, €55 (Covers for all your gadgets!)
7. Bow Tie (1940s Yellow Plaid) – Forage, $65
8. Bow Tie (1940s Green Plaid) – Forage, $65

Or give him a metallic place to rest his business cards, a flying squirrel to wear on his torso, a tie bracelet (in case he prefers a tie to be wrapped on his forearm instead of around his neck), a plaid duffel to hold his ephemera, and a striped scarf to take the edge off winter.

9. Skillionaire Engraved Card Case – In God We Trust, $60
10. Topo Tee – Green with Glamour, $19.50
11. Moller Wallet – Matt & Nat, $59.50
12. Tie Bracelet (The Suit in Navy Pinstripe) – JdvF, $175
13. Faithless – Matt & Nat, $171.50
14. Striped Fringe Merino Scarf (Brown Stripe) – Gap, $24.50

Click here to devour all of our 2010 Gift Guides.

The post 2010 Gift Guide: For Him appeared first on EcoSalon.

These gifts are for the feminine souls in your life. From gold to lip gloss and vegan leather to metallic pig banks, we have gathered some of the best eco-friendly holiday gifts for your gifting pleasure. Give her a necklace that always invites a wish, rescue your friend who still has cash swimming in the bottom of her purse, wrap her collar bones in sunshine, warm her hands, and then embellish her nails.

Clockwise from top left:

1. Wishbone Necklace by Vera Meat – Reform School Rules, $120
2. Cursive Vegan Leather Wallet (Rust) – Matt & Nat, $55
3. Get Spotted Scarf (Byzantine Brass) – Madewell, $19.99
4. Alpaca Hand Warmers (Grey) – Annie O Boutique, $48
5. 3 Free Lacquers (Rosie Lee) – Butter London, $14

Or show her that brooches can provide delicate edge, a four-inch feather can be entirely alluring, give her ballet flats to snuggle her piggies, surprise her with a glamorous way to save her pennies (after all, even the girl who has everything probably doesn’t have a chrome metallic piggy bank), or delight her forearm with this intricate cuff (and yes, there’s a hidden pocket).

6. Octave Pin – Green with Glamour, $74.25
7. As a Feather Necklace – Tilly Bloom, $26.50
8. Eco Friendly Vegan Cotton Flat Shoes – Extraseed, $38
9. Harry Allen’s Pig Bank, A + R, $198 (Other colors for half the cost!)
10. Leather Cuff (Lace) – ToviCorrie, $29

And finally, coat her lips in glamor or liven up her morning with eucalyptus.

11. Organic Lip Lustre (Coco Honey) – Nvey Eco, $24
12. Eucalyptus Bar Soap – Leap Organics, $5
13. Organic Lip Lustre (Cristal) – Nvey Eco, $24

The post 2010 Gift Guide: For Her appeared first on EcoSalon.

With technology accompanying us wherever we go, more and more companies are realizing that we need stylish protection for them.

Matt & Nat, known by many in the sustainable community for their vegan handbags and accessories, has collaborated with Apple to give us the techy style we so crave.

The inspiration behind the Apple collection is “hinged by both clean architecture and functionality,” says their site.

With four “design-centric shapes,” the collection is made from vegan leather and the lining is 100 percent recycled suede. Bags to suit your ever-connected lifestyle include laptop and netbook sleeves as well as shoulder and messenger bags to hold all your gadgets.

The bags also have custom pockets for Apple accessories, including MacBooks, iPods, iPhones, and in the larger bags, iPads. The bags are available in four different colors, including black, teal, red, and gunmetal.

You can purchase these items from Matt & Nat and from the Apple store.

The post Matt & Nat Take a Bite of the Apple appeared first on EcoSalon.