2008 Woodie Awards
Fashion goes green
Crystal Burey
Issue date: 9/26/08 Section: A&E
The staple of any woman's wardrobe is a great handbag. However, with quality comes sacrifice, and the most fabulous bags can break the bank. Not only are our wallets suffering, but the growing environmental concern has crept its way into the fashion industry as well. Designers are now finding ways to create eco-friendly bags and set up bag borrowing systems to alleviate environmental and financial strain.
Bag Borrow or Steal, coined the Netflix for handbags, is the most popular way to snag a 100 percent authentic designer bag without giving up designer dollars. The website, bagborroworsteal.com, is full of all sorts of goodies from Marc Jacobs to Prada and Louis Vuitton. Borrowing can be done as a guest or as a member; rent by the week, month, or all long as you like. No matter how long or how much you borrow, there is never a late fee or shipping cost for returns. To return a borrowed bag simply print a pre-paid return label and bring the box to a local UPS drop off. The website also features trend guides, so you're never in the dark about the latest bag styles. And though the site is known for handbags, you can also borrow designer jewelry and sunglasses, as well as purchase gift cards.
"The reason women buy so many bags, shoes and accessories is because they want variety," said Daniella Colon '10. Bag borrow or steal allows women to look the part without spending full price for items that will soon go out of style.
If you have greener aspirations than Chanel, Rebagz--made by Half the Sky Designs-- is a fantastic line that specializes in handbags that are eco-friendly.
All of the uniquely designed bags are made from either recycled water-resistant juice packs or corn sacks that are cut into strips and woven together. Bags range in price from $27 to $90, so they are much more affordable on a college student's budget.
If you're interested in these environmentally friendly bags, but are concerned about fashion, look for bags that have modern shapes and interesting textures and patterns. The website is always coming out with new shapes, designs, and patterns that are interesting, artistic, and fun.
Not sold on the idea? Try following trend-setting celebrities like Gwen Stefani, Angelina Jolie and Heidi Klum who all sport different styles of recycled bags from the site. These leading ladies are not the only celebs spotted with these bags either. Tiger Woods and Dave Matthews have both been seen with their own eco-friendly messenger bags
The site, www.rebagz.com, based in California, also offers uniquely designed jewelry, made by the same women that design and create these bags. Each piece of jewelry is hand-made, and individually unique, perfect for the woman who has a desire for one-of-a-kind fashion.
If none of these ideas appeal to you, shopping vintage is also a way to get great bags for less, especially since lots of trends now revolve around styles of past decades.
Bag Borrow or Steal, coined the Netflix for handbags, is the most popular way to snag a 100 percent authentic designer bag without giving up designer dollars. The website, bagborroworsteal.com, is full of all sorts of goodies from Marc Jacobs to Prada and Louis Vuitton. Borrowing can be done as a guest or as a member; rent by the week, month, or all long as you like. No matter how long or how much you borrow, there is never a late fee or shipping cost for returns. To return a borrowed bag simply print a pre-paid return label and bring the box to a local UPS drop off. The website also features trend guides, so you're never in the dark about the latest bag styles. And though the site is known for handbags, you can also borrow designer jewelry and sunglasses, as well as purchase gift cards.
"The reason women buy so many bags, shoes and accessories is because they want variety," said Daniella Colon '10. Bag borrow or steal allows women to look the part without spending full price for items that will soon go out of style.
If you have greener aspirations than Chanel, Rebagz--made by Half the Sky Designs-- is a fantastic line that specializes in handbags that are eco-friendly.
All of the uniquely designed bags are made from either recycled water-resistant juice packs or corn sacks that are cut into strips and woven together. Bags range in price from $27 to $90, so they are much more affordable on a college student's budget.
If you're interested in these environmentally friendly bags, but are concerned about fashion, look for bags that have modern shapes and interesting textures and patterns. The website is always coming out with new shapes, designs, and patterns that are interesting, artistic, and fun.
Not sold on the idea? Try following trend-setting celebrities like Gwen Stefani, Angelina Jolie and Heidi Klum who all sport different styles of recycled bags from the site. These leading ladies are not the only celebs spotted with these bags either. Tiger Woods and Dave Matthews have both been seen with their own eco-friendly messenger bags
The site, www.rebagz.com, based in California, also offers uniquely designed jewelry, made by the same women that design and create these bags. Each piece of jewelry is hand-made, and individually unique, perfect for the woman who has a desire for one-of-a-kind fashion.
If none of these ideas appeal to you, shopping vintage is also a way to get great bags for less, especially since lots of trends now revolve around styles of past decades.
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