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Yes, it’s true. Lo and behold, these bags are vegan. No leather was used in these products and they’re stylish. Excellent.

It started with a challenge, almost 2 decades ago, to forego animal products for thirty days. Unbeknownst at the time, a chain of events was set off culminating in the founding of MATT & NAT: a collection of design-centric, fashion-forward accessories that is also vegan…Spring 08 saw the launch of a nylon collection made entirely of recycled plastic bottles. For Fall 08, the recycled plastic bottles have been converted into felt.

100% vegan

bags start around $300 and smaller items like wallets are around $80. Buy it here.

Maybe if we all buy a whole bunch of these totes and wallets it’ll save the newspapers from going out of business. Or, (!) maybe newspapers should print the news directly on totes! (If you work for a newspaper, take note of this brilliant business strategy.)

Recycled Newspaper Market Bag (shown upper left, lower right), $52.00, Buy it here.
Obama Newspaper Tote, $64.00,
Buy it here.
Recycled Newspaper Bi Fold Wallets, $30.00, Buy it here.

In preparing for an upcoming snowboarding trip, I realized I needed to update/replace my carry-on luggage. What luck that this little guy was on sale. It’s a pretty compact size, yet it has such great organizational compartments that it seems you’d be able to fit in more somehow. My favorite part is the inside mesh zippered ‘halves’ of the interior; it’ll help with zippering it close when it’s stuffed full…looking forward to using it.

Volume-enhancing CRAM zones around the zippers allow for overstuffing when you pick up an extra magazine and snacks for the flight, and front pockets make it easy to access your wallet and boarding pass. Strap your daypack to the main compartment with the Hideaway Snakestack attachment. The Wheelie Flight Deck meets most airline carry-on restrictions, and a removable storage section lets you keep your essentials close at hand after you store the main bag in the overhead compartment. This product is available for US shipment only.

22.5 x 13.5 x 10in

$179.95 $134.00, Buy it here.

Check out these super cool tote bags from MoMA Store.

18L Gold Bag, $16.00 ($12.80 Members), Buy it here.

An alternative to using plastic bags, this gold-colored tote bag is easy to fold and carry around. The 18L graphic symbolizes 18 liters, the volume of the bag. Made of polyester.

Street Banner Bag, $6.00 ($4.80 Members), Buy it here.

Made entirely of materials gathered from collecting used street banners in Korea, these stylish bags are ideal for carrying groceries and other items. When not in use, they can be folded up easily and carried in a bag or pocket. Because every bag is made from cleaned, recycled materials, each one is unique.

[posted by katie]

This luggage collection looks seriously snazzy (in a good way).

dallas 6 trolley by bree, $395.00,
Buy it here.

zip closure, 2 handles, telescopic handle; inside zip compartments, drawstring bag, cross straps. comes in 2 colors, mocca and grey. dimensions: width: 18.5”, height: 26.8”, depth: 9”

dallas 5 trolley, pilot case by bree, $320.00,

velcro fastener, handle, telescopic trolley handle; inside front pocket and compartment, utility pockets, laptop compartment. comes in 2 colors, mocca and grey. dimensions: width: 18”, height: 15.7”, depth: 8”

[posted by katie]

If the vast array of normal totes are boring you, take a look at these alternatives by Kanazu Sen-i.

Kanazu Sen-i’s environmentally friendly bags are made using mostly plant- origin materials, which are 100%, biodegradable and do not produce hazardous gases when burned.
Materials include a base fabric of polylactic corn fibers, natural cotton threads and buttons made of biodegradable plastic. The fibers are pleated or scrunched to give elasticity, allowing the bags to be folded for easy storage.

Tate Pleats Tote, $50.00, Buy it here.
Kusha Tote, $50.00, Buy it here.

Talk about a versatile bag, this will extend when you need to carry more and fold over when you carry less.

Flag’ is a full-leather collapsible utility bag assembled from two flat panels and features a large internal cell with a smaller secondary pocket. ‘Flag’ may be worn off the shoulder or across the body, fully extended for maximum internal space, or folded in half for maximum portability.

Finest quality, genuine 1st grade New Zealand leather
nickel, stainless steel hardware
Handcrafted in Australia
14″ x 16″ extended
14″ x 8″ folded

$195.00, Buy it here.

This tool bag puts plastic boxes to shame, though I’d say this bag is probably best for larger tools rather than smaller items.

The tanned Leather Tool Bag is skillfully stitched and riveted to assure many years of rugged service. An American original, Klein Tools brings six generations of expertise to this sturdy Bag, which features reinforced ends and a double-ply base protected by steel studs. The rolled loop handles are triple-riveted to the sides of the Tool Bag for extra strength. From garden tools to power tools, this tote will keep things contained.

H 7″ W 15″ D 6.5″

$200.00, Buy it here.

A very inexpensive tote for your toting needs….

Japanese newspaper (shinbun) expertly folded and glued by hand in Towa Village by farmer’s wives. For the environmentally conscience.

$12.00, Buy it here.

These organizers from MUJI are simple and functional (of course).

MUJI Travel Organizer, $28.00 ($25.20 Members),
Buy it here.

Made of nylon, this travel case features removable zip pouches to store personal travel items. The case also features a detachable key holder, multiple pockets to organize travel documents, and a penholder.
10.25h x 5.5w x 2″d

MUJI Passport Case, $12.50 ($11.25 Members) Buy it here.

This slim, black passport case features interior pockets that allow you to easily store travel documents. Made of nylon.
10.25l x 5.5h x .25″d

[posted by katie]

It seems like there’s been a lot of items made from old or unused billboards recently…and that’s (of course) excellent.

Giant Recycled Billboard Bag (left), $60.00, Buy it here.

Handmade from recycled billboards this roomy tote is great for everything from laundry to storage, toys to groceries. Zipper closure and extra wide carrying straps to help make carrying large loads easier. Due to the recycled nature of this product, each bag will vary. 26″ L x 26″ W

Medium Paperbag (right), $20.00, Buy it here.

Paperbags are made of unused billboard posters that have been sewn together. Every time it is a surprise to see what design there is on the bag. The Paperbag can be assembled easily by unfolding the flat package by following the included instructions. 16″ H x 10″dia.

[posted by katie]

While I’ve never been particularly worried about RFID credit-card fraud, it’s nice to know that this would stop it.

Thin and lightweight, this money-clip wallet is made from leather-trimmed pliable stainless-steel cloth typically used in industrial applications. The material prevents credit-card fraud by blocking communication by unauthorized RFID readers. It has a slot for credit cards and a magnetic clip for currency. Made of stainless-steel fabric, leather trim, and neodymium magnets.

2.75h x 3.5w x .5″d

$55.00, ($49.50 Members) Buy it here.

How cool are these? And they fold flat for storage, which is just perfect.

The world in a bag. Sporty, casual and simple, the new KUVERT travel bags are the perfect companion for shopping, sports, weekends, parenting and travel. The unique look is the result of a ground-breaking use of custom-coated polyester fabric: each bag is cut out of a single piece, folded and welded along the edges. This allows the bags to fold flat for storage, yet the engineered expansion is inrivalled in spaciousness. The zippers run in both directions all the way to the base for easy packing and unpacking, and the carrying strap is removable. Kuvert bags are sturdy, water-proof and lightweight – sure to stand by you during your most exciting adventures.

$130.00-$300.00, Buy it here.

That’s right, all those times when you were low on battery life, just think of how this would have come in handy. Well, fret no more, you can now carry around your laptop and gadgets in your own personal solar-powered laptop bag.

Using high-efficiency solar cells, this bag charges a laptop, cell phone, and most other handheld electronics. The solar panel generates enough power to fully charge a typical laptop from a day of direct sunlight. It includes a battery pack, which stores the charge and automatically converts it to the required output voltages. Common adaptors are included, and other devices can connect via USB or a car charger. Holds up to a 17″ laptop inside a protective case.
Made of PET fabric, a water-resistant material developed from recycled soda bottles, with polyurethane-coated cotton trim, a silicone handle, and aluminum hardware. One Lithium Polymer battery included.

Size: 12h x 17w x 3.5″d

$598.00, ($538.20 Members) Buy it here.

Sure, lots of people are using reusable shopping bags, but how many of you can say your bags fit into a tiny neoprene grenade that can clip onto your regular bag and make you look super tough/cool?

“Reusable shopping bag. Neoprene outer shell and reusable polyester shopping bag within.”

$16.00, Buy it here.

(thanks Aaron!)