Stewart + Brown has marked some of their coolest pieces down 50% for the weekend, including this amazing organic cotton wrap dress (now $78):
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There’s a new eco-boutique in town!!! ecolissa just launched and is offering Green Grechen readers an exclusive 15% discount with code “grechen15″ (valid once per customer, shipping is $5 in the US).
Check out their eco-friendly offerings from designers like Toggery, Indigenous, ecoSkin, Elroy, Smartglass jewelry & Second Eco Skin denim – my two favorite pieces are this jacket/dress/tunic (love that this can be whatever you want it to be…depending on how you feel like wearing it!) made from organic cotton by Indigenous, and the OWL NECKLACE!!! (sorry, I get excited about owls) by Kris Nations:
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I’m slowly getting my vintage “feet” wet; it doesn’t hurt that there are so many amazing vintage stores here in Austin. I will admit I still haven’t bought anything yet, besides my woven tote, but I know where to go when I’m ready to buy: Feathers Boutique locally, and Market Publique online. Besides the fact that I consider Pamela a friend, Market Publique is super-easy to browse & shop from for a newbie like me. And I am IN LOVE with the new vintage jewelry collaboration with Dirty Librarian Charms.
My favorite piece. I need it.
But every piece is worth looking at – seriously. I’m having a hard time keeping my credit card in my wallet…
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Is everything listed as non-leather, “certified vegan leather,” or faux leather automatically eco-friendly? Is faux leather (usually petroleum-based) eco-friendly just by virtue of that fact that it’s NOT leather?
Take for example Urban Expressions – a faux leather handbag company – and the title on their website: “Luxury, Vegan Leather, Eco-Friendly Handbags and Accessories.” In this case, “eco-friendly” seems like just a trigger phrase they’re hoping will entice people to buy; they give no evidence on their website that their company, products, or business practices are at all eco-friendly…
In my own opinion, not eating meat or consuming animal products of any kind is THE ECO-FRIENDLIEST way to live (although I do not live that way, nor is it easy to achieve), but substituting leather with plastic is the wrong way to go. In the short term, yes, faux leather is possibly less impactful than leather, but as a way to “be eco-friendly,” over time, I’ve really come to believe that 100% cotton canvas bags or fabric bags are preferable to faux leather. Even recently, there was a study that some faux leather bags contained trace amounts of lead (Urban Expressions made the list), which is absolutely known to be harmful.
What do you think? should faux leather bags automatically be given an “eco-friendly” pass?
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You will NEVER find me without a big bag – most of the summer I carried my huge, “vintage” woven tote – but last week I used a clutch, and I liked it. I know, weird, right? 
It was just too hot to carry a big bag on my shoulder last week, so when I tried out the clutch, I was really surprised that I didn’t mind using it. I was worried that it would be awkward to get in and out of (I needed quick access to my camera) or that I would find it strange to carry. But it wasn’t awkward, or strange. Now I feel the need to carry a clutch more often – perhaps sometimes even as a “main” bag *gasp!!* During the day!!
Some of my favorite eco-friendly handbags are made from recycled or upcycled leather; it’s always better in my opinion to use something that’s already been used (leather jackets) or something that would otherwise have been thrown away than to create something new…
So, check out the clutches below made by some of the best recycled leather handbag designers, and maybe a couple you’ve never heard of. Which one is your favorite?
ReMade USA Recycled Leather clutch – on sale for $90
Ashley Watson recycled leather wallet – so, this is technically a wallet, but I use my large wallet as a clutch periodically; just put your phone in the zipper portion and you’re good to go! (on sale for $107 at Atticus)
Lina Rennell recycled leather pouch (she also has a fabric version available) – $104 at Beklina
Claire Vivier remnant leather clutches (she makes these from the leftover leather created from her handbag business), ranging from $79 to $149:
Recycled leather clutch by Patkas – on sale for $60:
This recycled leather clutch by Cha Cha is small, but look how cute 
and only $15:
This upcycled (an old leather bag, transformed) clutch/wallet with handpainted peacock feather is gorgeous! I love the idea of taking something dull & lifeless and turning it into something interesting. By Kathryn Greenwald – $35
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