Celebrities are at the forefront of the green living movement endorsing hybrid cars, making films that create environmental awareness, and, lately, embracing eco-fashion. New York’s recent Fashion Week featured “green” fabrics as well as vintage and recycled clothing, and it’s no surprised that Hollywood celebrities are now toting environmentally-friendly handbags. Eva Longoria, Heidi Klum, America Ferrara, Kate Walsh and Serena Williams have purchased “Rebagz”, colorful bags in a variety of shapes and sizes made from recycled juice pouches and nylon rice bags.
Rebagz is the brainchild of Marty Stevens-Heebner, a human-rights worker from Buffalo, N.Y. and graduate of Cornell University. Her idea for an eco-friendly fashion company was inspired by her meeting with a group of women creating woven products with recycled juice packs. She knew she could provide fair trade prices for the women and ensure that the workers who made her bags would be operating under good working conditions.
The bright Rebagz™ products currently come in two different lines. The woven line is made from recycled juice packs that are cut into strips and woven together to create vivid visual patterns. These feature tote, shoulder or shopping bags and mini-bags, that can be used for cosmetics, phones or worn on the wrist.
The nylon rice bag line includes bags that can fit a laptop, or smaller pouches that are lightweight and good for traveling. The eye-catching designs bear logos from rice bags used in the Philippines, which are made to capture attention within the competitive marketplace.
Stevens-Heebner sells Rebagz™ through Poshmark and Amazon. Prices range from $24 to $90.
Photo: Poshmark