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

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.

Who:

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).

Dylan Gold has a knack for taking the conventional and adding his own unique twist, and in this case, literally thinking outside of the box, but staying within it. His work is guided by three underlying principles: thought-provoking design, precision craftsmanship, and environmental awareness. Each table is hand-crafted from recycled MDF covered and an FSC certified veneer available in Maple, Walnut, Oak or Cherry

***$10.00 Off Modern Furniture with purchases over $100 at ExclusivelyHome.com Use Coupon Code:619001***

Who:

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. They are lined with waterproof nylon which makes cleaning a breeze.

And the beauty of these pouches is that when you open them up and roll down the velcro closure, you’ve got a nice little stand up “dish” to enjoy your treats from.

Who:

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.

Alkemie is the brainchild of husband and wife design team, Ashley Lowengrub and Dara Gerson. Their respect for the natural world is evident in both their designs as well as the way their jewelry is made. Using 100% recycled metals, each item is handmade in Los Angeles promoting fair trade, local living wage and eco-sustainable business practices without contributing to the resource depletion and pollution of traditional jewelry making methods.

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

Who:

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 what if the leather used was a by-product of the cattle industry? Salvaging hides that would otherwise be discarded. Although some might argue that the leather industry and the meat industry are so economically linked that leather can’t be considered a by-product but rather an integral part of the cycle.  What if the leather is treated in eco-conscious facilities and dyed with vegetable dyes instead of toxic dyes like chrome? And what if leather shoes last 10 times longer than canvas shoes? Does that make them eco-friendly? Is using petrochemical based synthetic materials really a more eco-friendly option? Would love to hear your feed back on this controversial issue…

Coclico has made a conscious effort to make their leather shoes more eco-friendly and to reduce the carbon footprint of their manufacturing process. In addition to using more leathers dyed with fruit, seeds and bark (they still used chrome dyed leathers but make sure that they are dyed in factories that are regulated for water quality maintenance, efficiency practices, and chemical sequestration), they also use FSC certified wood and cork, lead-free and nickel free hardware with a percentage of recycled content, and are trying to use more water based solvents in their adhesives.  To offset the production process they purchase carbon offsets that help finance a methane capture project and a trucking efficiency program.

And $350 isn’t too bad compared to the very Perforated Bootie from the Stella McCartney collection selling for $745, but hers are faux-suede….

Who:

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.

To clarify, currently the designs of Peter Danko are being manufactured by both J.Persing, the original manufacturer hired by Peter Danko and now, Peter Danko Designs has expanded and they to do their own manufacturing. That’s why you’ll see nearly identical product listings on both sites and while you will find these  benches listed as the “Aborline Bench” as made by J. Persing or the “Greenbelt Bench” as manufactured by Peter Danko Designs.

Both companies execute the designs using repurposed seat belts, water based finishes and adhesives and employ woodworking techniques that minimizes the amount of material used. This is particularly evident in the “ply-bent” technique used to design the curved chairs that are often crafted from a single piece of wood, ultimately using 87% less lumber than used in conventional wood furniture making.