Green Cotton

Candy wrapper handbags are increasingly popular–with their bright colors, high quality designs, and very appealing eco-friendly characteristics.

While some are made locally in the US, most come from overseas including parts of Mexico, the Philippines, Indonesia and elsewhere. The two I am most familiar with are Nahui Ollin and Ecoist. Both of these companies are fair trade and work closely with local indigenous populations to make hand woven, high quality designer bags. Each company fairly employs local workers, supporting them to weave while also providing greater access to education and health care. Ecoist even plants a tree for every bag purchase. All wrappers used are diverted from landfills and/or incinerators directly at factories, which makes them attractive environmentally but also from a consumer point of view since there will be no chocolate or cookie crumbs found in any of the bags.

Despite what some internet bloggers may suggest, these bags are not easy to make. They may be fun to make, but not super fast. The techniques used to weave these bags are similar to what many of us did growing up– making necklace chains and other adornments out of Juicy Fruit wrappers and other gum wrappers. However, while making gum chains is a piece of pie, as you will soon see, making entire designer purses out of candy wrappers is a much more challenging feat. This is why many interested parties rely on skilled artisans to do this intensive work. Triple bottom line companies seems to be the newest and hottest trend in retail: helping the environment, helping communities and artisans worldwide, while also being very stylish, modern.

Nahui Ollin bags for example, are woven inside and out and contain no other materials other than the buckles and handles (which are also recycled) aside from the candy wrappers. Even the smallest bags (coin purses) contain approximately 150 wrappers. Zippers and other attachments are all hand-sewn (not glued) adding more handi-work  to each piece. Probably the easiest way to make a handle is to wrap two candy wrapper “threads” together and make a handle but this is also perhaps the least stylish way to finish the bag.

We’d like to share with you some resources we found on the web about how to make these purses out of candy wrappers so that those inspired can try it at home—or if you have more information to share to the discussion, please chime in!

Mylinda has kindly gone into great detail on her blog with instructions on how to make the bags – step by step (thank you Mylinda! Your bags are great!):
In addition, we can see a Nahui Ollin professional weaving in action through this short, light hearted video on You Tube:

Tell us about your experience in making candy wrapper bags.

Chances are you are going to celebrate the holiday this year in one green way or another and that’s great. Reduce, reuse and recycle. Tell us what you are doing.

Just giving thanks for what we have  – the people in our lives, the roofs over our heads, our health, our well-being, our communities, our food, and whatever else it is in your life that you are thankful for, is where it is at.

In fact, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays from the green perspective. We are asked to stop and think about what we are thankful for, and whether or not nature is on your list, it seems that no matter what way we spin it, Mother Nature is at the heart of it. All the things we can and should be thankful for somehow boil down to Mother Nature– our natural resources including our land, water, air, mountains, desserts etc. In fact, where would we be without these critical elements? The very act of appreciating Mother Nature and all her derivatives by definition provokes environmentalism, and an urge for conservation, so that is why I like this holiday.

Perhaps more so that ever before (given our economic climate), we are more prone to pause, reflect and appreciate that which we have. As such, we are prompted to also think about ways in which we can conserve, reuse and recycle. This is good news, and even better that we are doing it en masse, moving toward greater sustainability and a more long lasting future.

I therefore would like to give thanks right here and right now– for Mother Earth, all our natural resources which we currently have: our waters, lands, mountains, air (those of which are still uncontaminated), our people, animals, communities and hope that we can together, do what it takes to preserve a natural and safe environment for our grandchildren to live.

In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught.

- Baba Dioum, Senegalese conservationist

This weeks round up is in. Check out the latest on the eco-chic runway:

Eco Chick introduces us to Dr. Alkaitis Therapeutic Skin Food.

Fig+Sage 60 Natural, Organic, Eco-Friendly Stocking Stuffers $6 And Under (LOTS of affordable eco-beauty buys!)

Green Glam Girl posted a vid recap of the 2008 Be Eco Chic New York fashion show!

GreenGirls.tv has the scoop on a fab internship with Summer Rayne Oaks–model, writer, and eco-fashion icon!

How Eco-Friendly is Faux Fur? A look at how faux faux fur is…

Neon Collective for vegan-only fashion
New online boutique features ethically made shoes and handbags for the fashion-focused female

Fashion, Evolved.
Fashion, Evolved invites all eco-fashionistas to participate in our virtual fashion show!

Green Cotton ‘From Somewhere’ Grabs Designer of the Year at RE: Fashion UK