Refashioned Bags: Upcycle Anything into High-Style Handbags is a new book that shows us how to turn almost anything into a fun, funky and fabulous handbags.

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Each year it seems more creative entrepreneurial types are coming up with new, irresistable ways to create gorgeous, durable bags with minimal impact on the environment. My latest discovery is OLovesM, a no-waste company that uses materials otherwise destined to take up landfill space.

Their material of choice? Yoga mats.

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Once upon a time, as the story goes, White just happened to stumble upon a warehouse full of unused vintage fabrics originally manufactured to upholster cars from the ’70’s and ’80’s. Unfortunately (or perhaps, fortunately), they never got their day in the sun due to the collective American realization that gaudily upholstered car seats were ugly. Whereas I might have looked at that pile and said, “Huh, interesting. Now where did I see that Dunkin’ Donuts,” White realized that what might have made for an ugly car seat could instead be transformed into a showroom full of gorgeous handbags, and so she purchased the entire lot. And made a bunch of gorgeous handbags. I, on the other hand, made no gorgeous handbags and gained 5 lbs from eating all those donuts. Life is so unfair!!

Rather than whine at length about my lack of artistic vision, I will share a link to Kim’s site so you can look at her craftswomanship yourself. I have seen and touched these works of art at Eco-tique in St. Paul, MN. They truly are awe-inspiring. Warning: If you are a purse-purchasing addict in recovery due to the economic downturn, do NOT click the following link to read the rest of this entry.

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Muumuu Heaven is a shop located on the windward side of Oahu, Hawaii. The family-run business got so busy producing eco-conscious and original women’s apparel from recycled Hawaiian garments, they decided to collaborate with another designer for bags to stock.

Kauai is a neighbor island, same state of Hawaii, where Denise Tjarks structures new life also from old muumuu, aloha shirts and fabric remnants. Word is spreading so fast, it’s impossible to share an exclusive not sold. But you get the idea from these two illustrations. Above is Maia, the pretty green plant print. Below that is the reverse side, an orange small floral print. Both reversible option sides are made from vintage mu’umu’us circa 1970.

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The company was honored to display their messenger bag beginning May 15th at the Sustainable Fashion Symposium in The Design Museum of University of California at Davis, which runs until July 13th, 2008. So exciting that a blog was created just for the event.

I’ve been told that artistic Seattleites in the Emerald City are famed for introducing grunge music, and that the craze made unkempt appearances a trend. This cool unisex bag can style you either way; vogue or grunge!

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Our design and business goals are one: to drive trends and create meaningful change in our world. A few years ago, we began asking the question: “Can a handbag save the world?” We weren’t just trying to be provocative. Our rationale remains that as consumers reflect on what makes our “high style, low impact” handbags different to conventional ones – the same kind of reflection they’re doing in larger and larger numbers at the whole foods market and “body and soul” store – the handbag becomes the gateway for more meaningful change.

So what makes our bags unique? Designs are based on objects found in nature – think poppy seed heads, iris buds, mushroom caps, and flower petals. We also have a penchant for innovation. We love using novel materials and have most recently incorporated into our designs both Cradle to Cradle™ certified wool flannel and EcoSpun®, which is made from recycled soda bottles. We have also featured Treetap® “wild rubber,” a sustainably made, fair-trade product from the Amazon, as a leather substitute.

Our commitment extends beyond making stylish and sustainable handbags. We also lead workshops that showcase the benefits of cleaner, greener living; contribute our products to fundraising events across the country; and pledge 2% of gross sales to youth and environmental causes across the globe. Among the organizations we have supported are local activists, groups with national influence, and global relief organizations.