The Budget Ecoist- Eco Living on a Budget

Finding an eco-friendly bag can be tricky – especially if your purse budget is less Carrie Bradshaw and more Cheaper than a Prime Rib Entree. A little creativity is needed if you can’t spend hundreds of dollars on a bag unless that bag also mops your floors and runs your errands and takes a part-time job. Never fear: trawling Etsy opens up multitudes of possibilities for an environmentally-sound way to tote your stuff.

Etsy is a brilliant site brimming with handmade goods from craftspeople around the globe. A lot of these sellers create their goods from vintage cloth – which is a great way to recycle outdated pieces and avoid consuming more resources from our already overburdened planet. Simply plug “vintage,” “recycled silk,” “eco-friendly,” or any other terms you conjure up into the search box and watch as pages and pages of goods appear – most at very reasonable price points.

Here are a few of our favorite eco-conscious bag finds:

Flora (pictured above): This daisy-covered bag is made from vintage 1960s cotton and lined with retro chic orange fabric from the ‘70s. Roomy and sassy, it’s a perfect bag for spring. ($45)

Seed bag clutch: Handmade from smoky blue vintage canvas, sweet details include a decorative stripe made from a vintage kimono and two reused shell buttons. Sturdy and smart, this clutch is durable and snazzy. ($43)

Himalayan recycled silk handbag: Woven from recycled silk (hence the name), this colorful bag is functional and funky. Women in co-op groups in the Himalayan Mountains create this silk by cutting the ends off old saris and spinning it into new fabric. ($28)