What does 2011 hold for you? One of these cute new Fortune Cookie Coin purses from Diana Eng might not hold the answers, but it should ensure you get plenty of attention in the New Year!

Many purists argue that no leather purse is truly eco-friendly, but I admire the green lengths that Diana Eng has gone to. She makes each purse from recycled leather, including scraps cut out from furniture patterns, upholstery samples, and remnant leather scraps rescued from her local garment district. Each accessory is laser etched with an ID number so you can trace its leather’s origins.

At 4 x 4 x 2 inches, these purses won’t hold a fortune. But I love their quirky good looks, and think they’d be a wonderful way to transport subway fares, money for the parking meter, or spare change for Chinese takeaway!

These adorable Fortune Cookie Coin Purses are available for $45 from Diana Eng’s website. Would you carry your coins in a cookie?

[Source: Diana Eng website]

Fortune Cookie Purses on eBay

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Fendi is a revered fashion house, but its accessories have always been a little hit and miss for me. There are only so many signature printed purses one girl can handle after all. So I’m thrilled to see the Italian label trying something new with this Twins tote.

There are so many woven bags on the market at the moment, but by using suede Fendi ensures this one stands out. The weave reminds me of large scales, almost like the body of an armadillo! That’s a strange look for a handbag, but I’m really digging its uniqueness. As if that wasn’t interesting enough, Fendi uses complementary neutral tones to create modern, vertical stripes.

Personally I think this is all the Twins tote needs, but Fendi gives us a bit more with the addition of water snake handles and trim. They complement the woven body well, but considering how much they add to the price of this tote I think they’re a bit unnecessary. I really don’t think the Twins would have lost anything by using traditional leather, except of course a few hundred dollars!

The exterior is impressive, so I was a little disappointed to open this tote up. Canvas is a practical lining choice, but it’s also a bit lackluster. For such a high class accessory, I expect a bit more pizzazz. And it’s going to take much more than a single zippered pocket to keep a space of this size organized.

Fendi’s Twins tote shows some promise, but I think the designer needs to do more to justify that hefty $3330 price tag.

More Features of This Fendi Woven Suede Tote

• Polished gold-toned hardware
• Six metal feet at base
• Magnetic top snap closure
• Dual 14 inch top handles with a 5 inch drop
• A removable 46 inch adjustable snakeskin shoulder strap
• Measures 16.5 x 12.75 x 6 inches

Get this Fendi Twins Handbag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Fendi bags on BagBunch
• The Cole Haan Heritage Weave Logan tote bag, a great alternative to this woven bag.
• Searching for more Fendi bags on eBay
• Other woven suede tote bags on eBay:

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Many fashion labels have jumped on the eco-friendly bandwagon, but it’s rare to find green purses that are stylish, as well as sustainable. Aura Que gets the blend right with its natural purses made in Nepal.

Aura Que bags are crafted by Nepalese artisans working under fair trade conditions. They use a combination of post consumer waste leather and other eco-friendly materials, such as banana yarn and woven Nepalese Shyama fabric. The leathers are tanned using eco-friendly vegetable dyes to ensure they have minimal impact on the environment.

Nepal isn’t known as a fashion capital, but Aura Que founder Laura Queening says the decision to base her label there was a natural one.

“Many people ask me why I chose to develop my ethical fashion business in Nepal. Having visited Nepal for the first time in 2003, I was eager to combine my love for design, culture and adventure! As well as having the most fantastic people, Nepal is an inspiration of color, pattern, design and materials. Why wouldn’t I work there?“

Why indeed! We might not all be able to spend time in Nepal, but we can take a little piece of it home with the Aura Que bags. They’re available online through Equa London.

[Source: Equa London website]

Fair Trade Bags on eBay

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If studs really are on the way out, someone forgot to send DKNY the memo. This purse proudly shows its love of shiny metal, and how!

There are pointy pyramid studs, smooth dome studs, and even flat hexagonal ones. That’s a lot of studs to digest, and personally it’s too much for me to swallow, especially in combination with the silver clasp and trim. Ordinarily I’m disappointed when designers don’t continue their accents to the back of their purses, but here I welcome the blissful bareness. It helps us appreciate the delicate lizard embossing on the leather. What a shame it’s obscured by all the metal on the front!

This purse’s greatest failure is that its vision is confused. The ladylike flap design and fine lizard embossing are sophisticated and reserved, while the assault of studs is all rock and roll. Sometimes disparate elements can blend to create something entirely new, but I don’t think that works here.

It’s a shame, because DKNY has made some really smart design decisions. The chain strap can be worn extended or doubled up to change the drop. The accordion style design gives us some extra storage space, and the leather trimmed pockets are made to last.

Considering its quality, this bag is reasonably priced at $395. But if you’re suffering from stud fatigue, that price is still too high.

More Features of This DKNY Black Shoulder Bag

• Satiny lined interior
• A chain strap with a 10 to 15 inch drop
• Measures 7.5 x 12 x 2.5 inches
• Made in China

Get this DKNY Lizard Studded Handbag:

• Available to buy at Endless (limited stock)
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More DKNY bags on BagBunch
• The DKNY studded leather shoulder bag, a great alternative to this lizard bag.
• Searching for more DKNY bags on eBay
• Other studded shoulder bags on eBay:

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Hunter is famous around the world for its rain boots, but it’s recently made a move into the accessories world. Its Tall Original Rubber Tote is just the thing for keeping your cargo dry when winter showers hit.

This tote is made from the same rubber we’ve seen on Hunter’s wellingtons. Aside from the practical benefit, it also helps you coordinate your purse with your galoshes for a cute wet weather look!

The Vachetta leather trimmed handles add a bit of luxury to the tote, but they’re not the most practical accent. Leather never looks the same once it’s wet, so you’ll need to tuck those straps away under an umbrella! The lack of closure is also disappointing, so make sure you leave it home if storm clouds are brewing.

This Hunter tote might not be the ideal wet weather accessory, but its rubber body does make it more suitable for a rainy day than your average handbag. Get yours in a range of colors for $195 from Hunter.

[Source: Accessories Magazine]

Rubber Bags from eBay

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Donna Sharp gives us a purse that’s green in color only with the Jenna.

This shoulder bag has a neutral toned gingham pattern that the designer calls Earth Patch. It seems to suggest that there’s something especially eco-friendly about this shoulder bag, but that’s not the case. Instead it’s made from the same fabrics Donna Sharp uses throughout her line, simply sponged to create an earth-toned check finish.

My biggest problem is that in this world of eco-conscious individuals, the name Earth Patch seems a bit misleading. It appears determined to get the green dollar where it doesn’t really deserve it. Yes Donna Sharp uses fabric and shies away from leather, but we’re not told of the material’s green credentials. We don’t know whether the fiber is organic or sustainable, but some bagistas may spend up assuming that it is.

The misleading name aside, this bag is just what we’d expect from Donna Sharp. It’s generously sized and well appointed, comfortable to carry with its long, plush handles and impossible to fault on a practical front. It’s just not very fashion forward, but for $47 we shouldn’t really expect high end designer looks.

More Features of This Donna Sharp Jenna Shoulder Bag

• Zip top closure
• Quilted interior lining
• Zippered front pocket
• Dual handles
• Measures 4 x 13 x 9 inches

Get this Donna Sharp Earth Patch Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon
• Check the eBags eBay store to see if this Donna Sharp bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Donna Sharp bags on BagBunch
• The Donna Sharp Megan Earth Patch bag, a great alternative to this Earth Patch bag.
• Searching for more Donna Sharp bags on eBay
• Other Donna Sharp Earth Patch bags on eBay:

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This recycled street sign briefcase from North Carolina-based artist Tripp Gregson makes a fun, eco-friendly alternative to traditional office bags.

The case is carefully crafted from salvaged traffic signs, which are both tough and colorful. And don’t worry, they were all obtained legally! It’s important to make a statement amongst the office drones, but thankfully this briefcase is also well designed.

It features all of the things you’d expect to find inside a run-of-the-mill briefcase, such as file pockets, secure combination locks, and a compartment for your laptop. It also comes with a carrying strap, so you needn’t struggle on your commute with that tiny handle.

It might not suit the most conservative of offices, but I think this briefcase would add a bit of fun to many workplaces. Can you imagine how it’d work with your favorite three-piece suit?

If you love this street sign briefcase and its green credentials, you’ll find it for $250 from Uncommon Goods.

[Source: Uncommon Goods]

Recycled Aluminum Bags on eBay

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We’ve all heard that the simplest things are often the best, and I think this Coccinelle handbag proves it. It’s a textbook hobo, with its slouchy body and crescent shape, but there’s something about it that elevates it above the pack.

Perhaps it’s those smooth, clean lines, which are only emphasized by the chic vertical piping. Then there’s the color; a navy blue, not quite neutral but certainly easy to wear. And then there’s the platform base, which gives the hobo some sophisticated structure and ensures it sits up when we set it down.

My joy continued when I spied the playful stripped interior lining and the leather trimmed pockets. The interior is just right for everyday use; not so big that it’ll swamp you, and not so small that you need to leave things behind.

Of course I can see its flaws. That beautiful leather base deserves protecting, yet there are no metal feet to assist. And while I like the look of the chain strap, with the leather woven through, it’s not going to endear itself at the end of a busy day.

But at the very affordable price of $375, I can overlook those minor niggles. Can you?

More Features of This Coccinelle Leather Hobo

• Magnetic closure
• A single chain strap with a 7 inch drop
• Measures 11.5 x 15 x 6 inches
• Made in China
• Also available in black and white

Get this Coccinelle Chain Stripe Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock)
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Coccinelle bags on BagBunch
• The Coccinelle Chain Stripe small satchel bag, a great alternative to this hobo bag.
• Searching for more Coccinelle bags on eBay
• Other navy hobo bags on eBay:

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You’d never catch the Miss Sicily at your local alley. This Dolce & Gabbana Bowling Bag is far too refined for that!

While bowlers were originally designed for schlepping your balls and shoes to your local lanes, bags like this give the style an up market makeover. But don’t think it’s forgotten its roots altogether. The polished sheen on the patent leather reminds me very much of a bowling ball!

The lustrous skin is made a bit more feminine with the addition of beautiful black lace. If you’ve always felt lace details were too fussy, this is the way to wear them. The gentle contrast of black on black is stunning but subtle. And by keeping the bag’s colors and accents in black, Dolce & Gabbana ensures its golden hardware packs an even bigger punch.

The looks have me gushing, but Dolce & Gabbana doesn’t let us down inside. The fully lined interior is generously sized, and kitted out with a large zippered pocket and an open pouch for your cell. The only practical limitation I see is the handle. While its short stature is stylish, it won’t be very practical when the bag is full. The addition of a larger strap might not have looked as chic, but I’d choose comfort over style any day!

At $1625 this lovely bag is probably overpriced, but that’s not likely to discourage Dolce & Gabbana’s legions of fans.

More Features of This Dolce & Gabbana Black Bowling Bag

• Protective feet on the base
• Top zip closure
• Dual handles with a 5 inch drop
• Measures 12 x 8 x 6 inches
• Made in Italy

Get this Dolce & Gabbana Miss Sicily Handbag:

• Available to buy at Saks Fifth Avenue
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Dolce & Gabbana bags on BagBunch
• The Cynthia Vincent Lace tote bag, a great alternative to this lacy bag.
• Searching for more Dolce & Gabbana bags on eBay
• Other Dolce & Gabbana Miss Sicily bags on eBay:

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We’ve all got those T-shirts hiding at the bottom of our drawers, the ones we love but can’t bear to wear, or part with. It might be the New Kids on the Block tour T-shirt, or that designer tee you swear you’ll fit again if you lose a few more pounds. Let’s face it; they’re not doing anybody any good at the bottom of your drawer. But they could make you and others a lot happier if you send them to Hello Rewind.

This innovative company turns your beloved T-shirts into sleeves for your netbook, iPad, or laptop. Best of all, monies raised from the sale of these tech sleeves help former sex slaves rebuild their lives. Hello Rewind helps provide training opportunities, English education, and employment for these trafficking survivors, all the tools they need to get back on their feet.

Hello Rewind supports such an important cause, and kits your technology out with a truly personal sleeve. That sounds like a great deal for $49.

[Source: Eco Salon]

Laptop Sleeves on eBay

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