I awoke the other morning to what I assumed a usual, routine, start to the day. Get up, feed the dogs (you would think they have never eaten before with the way they whine and dance), make the coffee (ahhh), and look up the avalanche report for the day. Well…I guess the avy report routine has been a bit off due to the little/NO snow we have received this year. Therefore, the next step is to head to my office for a big, productive work day.

When my fiance approached me with this very serious face I new it was time to have a TALK. I sat down and braced myself for the usual life chat we have now and then. I never expected what he was about to tell me. I could have never been prepared….

“Jannine”, he says. “You have to stop with the Tote Bags. Don’t you think you have enough? I think you have a bag addiction.”

Wow, after the room stopped spinning I was able to squeeze words out of my mouth. A TOTE BAG ADDICTION? How can one have too many tote bags? A few for grocery shopping, one for the dog supplies, one for skiing, one for biking (Well maybe two, one for mountain biking and another for road biking), one for just stuff, and another for an overnight bag (you know…sleepovers at friends houses). What seems totally normal to me is seen as an addiction by my fiance.

What do I do now that he has cut me off? Well a few ideas come to mind. I could venture into Duffles and Handbags, but that seems a bit too excessive and wasteful. As an environmentally conscience person I do realize that simplicity goes a long way. To my credit, most of the totes I have have been won at races or given to me as a swag bag. I have not actually purchased a tote in a long while. Well that is until I discovered two amazing companies out there that are using recycled materials to create their bags. I know the “going green” card is not going to work enough to pull the wool over Scott’s eyes, but maybe…just maybe. If not, at least I can live through all of you who are going to fall in love with the following products! Happy tote hunting.

NAUTIGEAR

Nauti Gear by Ella Vickers is handcrafted in the USA with recycled sailcloth from yachts around the world. Cruising class white Dacron sailcloth to America’s Cup class Kevlar/Mylar hi-performance sailcloth. This collection is eco friendly, water resistant, marine quality, functional, innovative and gorgeous!

We used these totes at the Outdoor Retailer Show this past January to help us haul promotional gear around. These bags are super sassy and extremely durable. The recycled sails result in a fresh, colorful look. Considering my fiance is a sailing nut this was one tote that he did not give me grief about. Ah ha!
Be sure to check out her site for duffles, handbags, shower curtains, dog beds, and more made from recycled sails. Awesome stuff!.

Vy & Elle

Vy & Elle™ (a play on the word “vinyl”) was founded in 2002 by two designers dedicated to eco conscious products. Nicola Freegard and Robin Janson have been designing award-winning products for the past decade for use at home and for travel. Their products represent the blending of urban hip with a strong social awareness of the environment. The Vy & Elle philosophy includes the vision of renewal through reclaimed resources. By refashioning giant images produced by a disposable culture into smaller individual works of art, their products make a strong personal statement of style for their owners, and a stronger voice about sustainability. Their customers are all unique individuals and likewise, no two of our products are alike.

When my friend Stacy returned home from Napa Valley sporting a Vy & Elle handbag my jaw dropped to the ground. Yes, maybe I started with the addict shakes. Once you take a look at these bags you will see why. They are using recycled vinyl billboards to create their bags. Each one is unique and brilliantly colored. From computer bags and totes to wallets and handbags, these bags are serious eye candy. For now I have only seen these bags, I do not have my own yet….yet!

Vinyl billboards are used nationwide as temporary banner advertisements and are usually discarded into landfills where they create toxic pollution. Instead, the strength of PVC vinyl makes it an ideal material for reuse. And because of the different images printed on the vinyl, it’s even more interesting as a fabric. It offers colorful graphics that take urban art into everyday living. Each bag and accessory item has it’s own unique “one of a kind” look without the high designer price. With random colors and designs, every bag made is different, offering a chance to carry a piece of art on a shoulder, in a pocketbook or in the home.