I recently wrote about Recycled Purses and noticed a great interest in it. It got me to delve a bit further into unique purse designs and without having to go too far, I ran into some information about the Star 50 Handbags by designer Amity Cooper. While not exactly recycled, they are novel. Everyone loves a conversation piece, and these are sure to get some conversations started. Her inspiration for the handbags came about after 9/11 with an effort to create a personal handbag from various states. These are handbags women can feel proud to wear. From the funky snake skin to the clean and sleek weave, the designs are refreshingly unique. Many come in a variety of colors and prices seem to have a pretty wide range, starting at under $30 to over $100.

One of my favorite movies of all time is the Devil Wears Prada, for many reasons including the fabulous actresses involved (Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep), the outrageous sense of humor as well as the intensity in the workforce. Oh! And did I mention fashion?

Prada is a high end Italian fashion label that specializes in designing clothing for men and women. It originated as a leather goods shop in Milan, in 1913 by a man by the name of Mario Prada. In 1978, Miuccia Prada (Mario’s granddaughter) took over the business and transformed it into the luxury brand name it is known for today.

A popular topic today is how to help the environment through our conservation efforts. From designers to homemade products people are incorporating recycled products into everyday fashion. Some materials being used for recycled purses, totes and wallets include:

• crocheted plastic bags
• license plates, keyboards
• reconfigured articles of clothing
• stitched inner tubes, record albums
• sewn on bottle caps
• woven box, books, billboards and paper products
• so much more…