Who: Hemptress – Los Angeles, CA

What: Mona Mini Hemp Bag

Where: La Terra Bella – $91.80, also available in Herringbone

Why We Love It: Not too big, not too small, this bag is just right for toting all your essentials. And it’s no wonder why, handbag designer Arlene Nilsson had over 10 years experience in the industry before launching her own line of fashion forward eco-conscious handbags.

What sets the bag apart is all in the details; the ruching details on the outside made of 100% hemp (feels like canvas) dyed a deep rich, stunning teal using low-impact dyes; the unexpected contrasting lining made of a bright purple silk and hemp blend; and, a ‘best in the business,’ heavy-duty zipper that will outzip any other zip on the market. And, of course, our favorite detail, the gold chain topped off with a leather shoulder strap made from “reborn” recycled leather that nestles comfortably on your shoulder. Perfect for the eco-conscious fashionista on the go.

teal

Who: Gina Michele – New York, NY

What: Whiskey Rock a Roller Bag

Where: Gina|Michele – $198 (also available in vibrant grape suede, on sale for $148)

Why We Love It: Skip black and neutral bags this summer and opt for a pop of tropical ocean, perfect sky blue with this deliciously slouchy tote – it’s pure joy. It’s your something old, something new, something blue, that’s likely to be something borrowed quite frequently….

Crafted entirely from upcycled fabrics – super soft vintage suedes and leathers recovered from old jackets, silks salvaged from vintage shirts – it’s topped off with a hand dyed rope strap for a touch of laid back beach style.

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite Spring Greening DIY Design project at Inhabitat.com. Deadline to vote is June 4th. And get inspired by the finalists ingenius ways of reusing materials.

Who: Dylan Gold – San Francisco, CA

What: Cornered Coffee Table

Where: Exclusively Home – $1900 with free shipping

Why We Love It: So, apparently coffee tables are on the mind, but when we saw this one we just couldn’t resist particularly with our penchant for coffee tables that can tame our towering stack of magazines… (hazards of the job). One leg of this ingenious coffee table has been transformed into a cozy nook for your favorite books or magazine. All while staying in profile with the rest of the table – magic (well that and geometry). Click to continue »

Who: down home amy – Vancouver, Canada

What: reusable snack pouches

Where: etsy – small $12, large $16 or a combo for $28. Spend $40 or more & receive a free
reusable produce bag!

Why We Love It: These are the cutest pouches ever! Amy’s adorably sweet illustrations make these reusable cloth bags so endearing that even the most devoted zip-lock bag users might just convert.

Choose from chickadees, bunnies, owls, pandas, trains, planes,  apples and pears, anchors in a variety of colors all silk-screened onto fabric made of recycled organic cotton and hemp. Click to continue »

It must be in my blood (my grandpa owned a bowling alley and my dad was, and still is, a big time bowler), cause I lo-ove the wood of bowling lanes. Manages to be polished and beautiful despite the beating it takes. I am dying to refinish our our bedroom with reclaimed bowling lanes or a gym floor (am sure my husband would have sweet dreams sleeping in the 3-point zone). In my search I stumbled across this magnificent table by Ryan Brown. Love the heavy welded legs and beam and the slick bowling lane top. It’s got a heavy industrial vibe, but also has the feel of an old barn table. Sadly, it’s not for sale, I asked…. Read more from Ryan Brown.

Who: Alkemie; Los Angeles, CA

What: Starfish Cuff

Where: eConscious Market – $190

Why We Love It: The detail and texture of this one-of-a-kind cuff is so lifelike that you can almost feel the delicate arms of starfish tentatively encircling your wrist. Reminds of us days at the beach and the magic of discovering an elusive starfish.  Love the way this oversized cuff manages to exude an organic, ethereal, art nouveau and rocker vibe all at once. Click to continue »

Have dreamed of salvaging retired lanes from an old bowling alley for the floors in our living room/dining rennovation, so no wonder that I love this coffee table from the Second Life exhibition of sustainable furniture design. Designer/artist/furniture maker, William Stranger’s collection of furniture is made from reclaimed pieces of hardwood from blown down trees, from construction sites and in this case salvaged from bowling alleys. Great example of what beauty can be created with wood and materials destined for landfills. Waste not, want not…

The “Second Life” exhibit can be seen at the Fifth Floor Gallery in LA  from October 24th – November 14th.

Who: Coclico; New York, NY

What: Kelp Clam Bootie

Where: Coclico.com; $350

Why We Love ‘Em: We are completely, completely obsessed with the entire fall collection of Coclico leather shoes. The collection is edgy, classic, fashion forward and timeless all at one time, if that’s possible. Was quite a challenge to choose just one to feature this week, but since it is fall we went with the lovely Kelp Clam Bootie. Love the creamy neutral color, the delicate perforations, the shape of wooden kitten heel and the detail of the curved footbed. A complete original.

Now you may be wondering how can we feature a leather shoe? Well, this is definitely a controversial issue for US. On the one hand, yes, there is no question that leather products are not animal-friendly and unfortunately in most cases the leather tanning process is incredibly toxic and wasteful.  But Click to continue »

Who: Peter Danko Design; Standardsville, VA &  J. Persing, Red Lion, PA

What: Arborline Benches

Where: Vivavi; w/back $1034 or backless $695; available in a variety of webbing & wood options

Why: Seat belts take on a whole new look with this pair of sleek, modern, minimalist benches designed by Peter Danko.

By design, the seat belt material is incredibly durable, fade-resistant and long-lasting, making it well suited durable and long-lasting furniture furniture. The webbed netting has been tested to hold up to 5000lbs without losing shape.

The use of post-industrial salvaged seat belts, PEFC certified european beech, non-toxic/water-based finishes and adhesives qualifies these benches for LEED points and serves as a great alternative for traditional urethane foam seating.

Click to continue »