Many of us regard waste as a necessary byproduct of living in the modern world. But Akiko Oguchi rejects that notion with her eco-conscious accessories line 5th Season Designs.

Oguchi believes things don’t need to become waste; they simply need to be used to their full potential. She does just that with her accessories line which features bags made from the burlap from coffee sacks, cotton textile off cuts, cherry wood tree cuttings, vintage clothing, and more. Her range is diverse, with backpacks, iPad sleeves, makeup bags, and traditional day bags all represented.

Along with her regular bags, Oguchi is also happy to create custom accessories for her loyal customers. A bag made from a favorite too-small dress, worn pair of jeans, or the shirt of a late grandparent sounds like a perfect green keepsake.

Oguchi likens her design method to “playing god,” as it allows her to bring items back to life and chart their new destiny. She hand sews each and every bag, something she hopes to continue no matter how large her business grows. That attention to detail ensures that every 5th Season purse features quality craftsmanship.

You can find the 5th Season handbags at the 5th Season: Clothing Reborn Etsy store.

[Source: Feelgood Style]

Burlap Sack Bags on eBay

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In the past we’ve seen feathers adding a touch of glamour to evening purses, so I was disappointed to see what Kotur had done with the plumes. Sadly this Jensen clutch seems more bird-brained than beautiful!

The idea of using ostrich feathers for a clutch purse sounds luxurious. Their skins are some of the most prized around, so why not the feathers? Well, because they’re drab. Looking at them up close you can appreciate their softness and fragility, but from a distance they just seem like a big brown mass of boring.

The textured metallic leather frame is a lovely complement to the feathers, but it doesn’t really add any wow factor. The faceted glass clasp is a showstopper, but it can’t get me excited about this purse.

What you see is what you get here. There’s no chain hidden away for our carrying convenience and very little space for storage. This bag is really a statement piece, and one which for me doesn’t make a strong enough statement.

While I’m not impressed by this clutch alone, I concede that it could look lovely with the right outfit. Those brown hues might not excite me, but they are easy to work into most wardrobes. I’m not impressed enough to contemplate spending $745 on this purse, but I can see how a woman might be won over.

More Features of This Kotur Feather Clutch

• Silver-toned, engraved clasp setting
• Fully lined interior

Get this Kotur Jensen Handbag:

• Available to buy at Neiman Marcus
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Kotur bags on BagBunch
• The Kotur Jensen karung snakeskin bag, a great alternative to this feather bag.
• Searching for more Kotur bags on eBay
• Other feather clutch bags on eBay:

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Omaha based designer Chris Hughes takes handbag manufacturing back to basics with his fashion label Artifact Bag Co.

Hughes crafts every bag by hand using old-fashioned hand tools and the vintage industrial equipment he finds at estate sales, warehouse liquidations, and internet classifieds. Each one is made from superior American waxed canvas and leather. Hughes has such faith in his workmanship and materials he offers a lifetime guarantee on every bag.

His hands-on work represents a real change for the designer. Not too long ago he was creating websites for a dotcom company. But then the recession hit, his company downsized, and Hughes seized the opportunity to pursue his true passion.

His first bag was the Number 105 Utility tote, a sturdy and chic alternative to regular grocery totes. When he shared the tote with audiences through his Etsy store it sold out almost instantly. No wonder it’s still a key part of the Artifact Bag Co. line.

Today the Number 105 Utility tote sits alongside more recent functional additions including the Number 175 Tool/Garden Tote and the Number 215 Lunch Tote. These bags and more are available online from the Artifact Bag Co. website and the company’s retail partner, Denim Saloon.

[Source: Artifact Bag Co.]

Kooba takes the hobo from the flower power era to the 21st century with the Billie.

The modern fashion house seems to have beaten all the boho out of the style and replaced it with cool, contemporary details. Its shape is much more structured than a classic hobo, and the traditional crescent shape has been replaced with a more practical bucket silhouette. I really like the pop of color the golden pocket zips provide, and the contemporary angular stitching. They’re relatively subtle details, but they give the Billie just a hint of spice.

The Billie is a sizable bag, but its slender profile ensures it doesn’t look too ungainly. The interior is well appointed with its hardy twill lining and durable leather trimmed pockets. The long, wide shoulder strap provides the final functional finishing touch.

Kooba bags are always well priced by designer standards, and at $595 this one is no exception. That’s not exactly small change, but quite affordable for a bag of such substance and style.

More Features of This Kooba Zip Pocket Hobo

• Zip closure
• A single shoulder strap with a 9 inch drop
• Measures 12.5 x 14.5 x 3.5 inches
• Made in China

Get this Kooba Billie Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon
• Available to buy on eBay (see listings below):

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• Check the Fashionquenn99 eBay store to see if this Kooba bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Kooba bags on BagBunch
• The Kooba Rae hobo bag, a great alternative to this hobo bag.
• Searching for more Kooba bags on eBay

As a thirty-something I tend to look down my nose at many youth lines. They often seem too cutesy, and too desperate to meet the approval of budding young fashionistas. Standing high above the the try-hards is Kensie Girl, a fashion house that makes me long for my younger days. This Babyface Grommet Crossbody is another fun accessory from the youthful fashion house.

The oversized grommets dotting this purse give it a fun retro feel. Using grommets of different sizes gives the Babyface a playful quirkiness that’s so appealing. These metal details are organized on a simply shaped cross-body, ensuring we focus on what’s really important.

The colorfully printed interior is packed with enough pockets to handle a cell phone, a small camera, and other teen essentials. These pouches are reinforced with synthetic to help them survive the punishment that any young girl dishes out.

Fashion snobs may scoff at the use of synthetic rather than real leather, but it’s actually a smart choice here. Firstly it’s a much cheaper material, which is entirely appropriate when you’re appealing to a teen audience. It’s also easy to take care of. Ordinarily I’d get nervous about a white handbag, but I’ve got no such concerns here as this one will simply wipe clean with a damp cloth.

More Features of This Kensie Girl Grommet Decorated Cross-Body Bag

• Zip closure
• Measures 2.5 x 11 x 11 inches
• Also available in aqua splash

Get this Kensie Girl Babyface Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock)
• Check the Ladyvolga’s Fashions eBay store to see if this Kensie Girl bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Kensie Girl bags on BagBunch
• The Kensie Girl Babyface Grommet satchel bag, a great alternative to this cross-body bag.
• Searching for more Kensie Girl bags on eBay
• Other Kensie Girl Babyface bags on eBay:

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We’ve always counted on Sachi Bags for stylish designer lunch bags. Now the label is catering for wine lovers with its new Sachi Vinto insulated wine totes.

There are two different varieties to choose from; the small two-bottle tote costs $23.99 while the larger three-bottle tote is a little more expensive at $26.99. Each variety is available in three color options: black, tan, and brown. These hues are classics but they’re also not very inventive. I’d have understood the choices if these were handbags that need to work in with a wardrobe, but that’s not the case here. Some more playful options like pink or purple would have really livened up the range.

While they might not set the fashion world ablaze these Sachi Vinto totes are very smartly designed with insulated linings to keep your favorite whites cold, and your reds at premium drinking temperature. Each one has an adjustable shoulder strap and a zippered pocket for holding a bottle opener and stopper.

The two-bottle variety comes with a removable divider, so it can double as a regular insulated tote. The three-bottle version also has a padded removable tray.

The new Sachi Vinto totes are available online from the Sachi website.

[Source: Sachi Bags website]

Wine Totes on eBay

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Kenneth Jay Lane gives a modern interpretation of Egyptian style with this Cleopatra clutch.

Honestly, I’m not sure I can imagine the legendary Egyptian queen carrying this purse in her hand. I’m sure any accessory of hers would be dripping in jewels and have a much richer appearance. Despite being made of real leather, this clutch seems pretty tacky. Patent leather is so hard that when it’s pleated it bunches awkwardly like a cheap synthetic. The snake decoration really doesn’t help its cause, even though it is studded with black and clear Swarovski crystals.

The chain strap doesn’t look all that exciting, but it’s smarter than it seems. You can wear it doubled up across your arm, or extend it out to use the Cleopatra as a shoulder bag.

The interior isn’t large but it’s big enough to hold most evening essentials. We’re even given a head start on packing for a party with the complementary etched mirror. A magnetic fastening underneath the flap keeps your precious cargo just where you left it.

Sadly this is a case of purse appearing far less luxurious than its materials are. It’s well made, but I don’t feel we’re seeing the best of Kenneth Jay Lane here.

More Features of This Kenneth Jay Lane Snake Clutch

• Satin lined interior
• Comes with a dust bag

Get this Kenneth Jay Lane Cleopatra Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Kenneth Jay Lane bags on BagBunch
• The Kenneth Jay Lane Isis bag, a great alternative to this snake bag.
• Searching for more Kenneth Jay Lane bags on eBay
• Other snake clutch bags on eBay:

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The Hermes International family shareholders are protecting their investment by forming a new holding company. The formation of this new collective will effectively thwart any takeover bid by LVMH, which currently holds a 21.4% stake in the fashion house.

A French court approved the family shareholders move. They currently own more than 71% of the company, and will create the holding company with more than 50% of the company’s shares. They can happily do this without buying out the minority shareholders.

Under French stock market rules, a group controlling more than a third of any company most launch a bid on the shares it doesn’t own. In January the country’s stock market regulator, Autorite des marches financiers, exempted the Hermes family shareholders from this requirement. This angered Adam, a group of minority shareholders, who appealed to have the decision reversed. The court ruled that a holding company could be viewed as “a reclassification between people belonging to the same group, without any impact on control of the Hermes business.”

The fashion house’s chief executive officer Patrick Thomas said the decision ensures Hermes independence for the next couple of decades. He added that is also sends a signal “to the house’s employees and to the outside, including LVHM, about its unity.”

The holding company will be formed within weeks to “provide lasting comfort to the Hermes group’s independence, the continuing of its strategy of creativity and hand-crafted excellence and the respect of its values.”

However it might not be over just yet. Colette Neuville, the head of Adam, has expressed her disappointment at the decision. Her group is apparently deciding whether it will appeal to the French Supreme Court.

Personally I can understand why the family shareholders are working so hard to protect their investment. Which way do you hope this case goes?

[Source: Accessories Magazine]
[Image Source: Ray Kim/Wikipedia Commons]

Hermes Handbags on eBay

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Kenneth Cole delivers a fun take on patchwork with this Easy Piecey Satchel.

It looks almost as if Kenneth Cole took pieces of bronze metal sheeting and nailed them to this purse. I’m not ordinarily a fan of metallic leathers, but the color does so much for the illusion that I can’t complain. The finish is delightfully quirky, one that’s not meant to be taken too seriously. And in the fashion world that sort of playful personality is a real find!

So often such unusual styling comes on novelty purses, but this one isn’t so easily dismissed. It’s made from real leather for starters, and features the sort of quality craftsmanship and attention to detail we’ve come to expect from Kenneth Cole.

The interior is generous without being unwieldy thanks to the array of pockets. These are trimmed in leather, a touch that ensures their longevity and makes us feel a little more pampered. The metal feet on the base are another great addition that points to the handbag’s quality.

We pay a small premium for all those little touches, but at $348 this satchel certainly isn’t unreasonably priced. Has its unusual look won you over?

More Features of This Kenneth Cole New York Patchwork Satchel

• Zip top closure
• Logo print lining
• Dual handles with a 7 inch drop
• Measures 10.5 x 16 x 5.5 inches
• Made in China

Get this Kenneth Cole New York Easy Piecey Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock)
• Available to buy on eBay (see listings below):

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• Check the Leongus2 eBay store to see if this Kenneth Cole bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Kenneth Cole bags on BagBunch
• The Kenneth Cole Wavy Train satchel bag, a great alternative to this satchel bag.
• Searching for more Kenneth Cole bags on eBay

KC Malhan gives leopard print another try with this Leopard Clutch.

We first saw KC Malhan experimenting with the animal print with her sequined flap clutch. It was a fun purse, but all those sequins made it very flashy. This Leopard Clutch is like that original purse’s more sedate sister, with beads adding glamour without the gaudiness. Leopard print is never shy and retiring, but it also doesn’t have to look cheap! I like the way the metal frame, with its kiss-lock clasp, brings some vintage charm to the design.

We’ve seen purses with similar styling throughout fashion history, and opening this one doesn’t give us any real surprises. The zippered pocket makes a convenient change from the tiny slips we often receive, and the chain strap is always a nice bonus. The metal probably won’t feel very forgiving on your shoulders, but it’s a nice compliment to the silvery frame and clasp.

It won’t set the fashion world ablaze, but this Leopard Clutch is still an attractive proposition for girls watching their dollars and cents. Its $78 price tag is very reasonable for any clutch, but particularly one that will look just as good during the day as it will when the sun sets.

More Features of This KC Malhan Animal Print Clutch

• Polyester lined interior
• Measures 4 x 8 x 1 inches
• Made in India

Get this KC Malhan Leopard Handbag:

• Available to buy at Endless
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More KC Malhan bags on BagBunch
• The KC Malhan Leopard Flap Clutch bag, a great alternative to this framed clutch bag.
• Searching for more KC Malhan bags on eBay
• Other leopard print clutch bags on eBay:

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