Eco-Friendly Purse

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Some people rinse and recycle plastic bottles, but an Austrian Industrial Design had another idea. Miulein cut the bottoms off of two bottles, connected them with a zipper and made this sweet little green change purse. It's cute and you do your part to save the planet! When I think of this purse though, I remember of how easily plastic two liters are crushed.

Cops and Donuts

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This purse appears to be a part of a costume or gag (we hope). The handcuffs may not have been the best choice of handle for comfort, but cops and donuts definitely go together like pigs and mud. This bag illustrates that wonderfully by attaching a pair of handcuffs to a yummy looking strawberry glazed donut. And not to mention, the sprinkle beads are a lovely touch. No, really, who doesn't love sprinkles?
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The following array of 10 gadget-riddled handbags are so cool even male geeks will want their hands on one of them.

1. Purse with Built-In Nintendo System and Controllers

Amazing! This handbag is one of the geekiest I’ve ever seen in my whole life. It is a handbag complete with built in Nintendo Entertainment System including a controller that is attached to the outside with Velcro. It's a mod composed of an LCD from portable a DVD player and one of those NES on chip mods. The handbag certainly has a geek chic look about it.

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2. Internal Lights for Your Handbag

Often the contents of a woman's handbag is a mystery; even to the owner. However with this solar powered handbag finding what’s in the bottom of your bag is a doddle.

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Things seem to be going from bad to worse for European designer label Versace. Not even a month after the brand announced the closure of its Japanese stores comes news that 350 jobs will be cut.

The positions will be cut from Versace's international talent pool by the middle of next year. Just like the closure of the Japanese stores, the measure is part of the cost-cutting initiatives essential for the brand to stay afloat during the financial crisis.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Versace is expected to lose €30 million before tax on a revenue of €273 million. Compare this to the brand's €9 million profit on sales of €336 million just 12 months before.

The good news for fashion fans is that Versace remains committed to new runway designs. It will trim the fat in the areas of production, distribution, and logistics. Whatever steps the label takes, I hope they're enough to help it weather the financial storm.

[Source: Luxist]
[Image Source: Marek Ślusarczyk/Wikipedia Commons]

Versace Handbags on eBay

Every gal needs a good basic, stylish tote bag. It's an essential wardrobe piece and an addition that's ideal for those days when you've just got to grab-and-go while getting ready. We all have them, right?

There are also times when entirely practical has to accompany basic and stylish. That's where B. Makowsky got it right with this Lites Greenwich E/W tote. In my opinion, this handbag fits all three categories with a little edge on top of everything else.

It's a rather enormous size ringing in at over eighteen inches wide, but I don't know many women who couldn't fill it up on a busy day in less than five minutes. The superb interior organizational features make it a great option for work or play. There's even a zippered center divider inside and side slip pockets on the exterior for storing particulars.

Beyond the convenience of pockets, however, the Lites Greenwich tote bag has a pretty crinkled leather texture that looks fabulous in this toffee brown. The effect reminds me of the swishy broomstick skirts that were so popular in past years, but frankly I'm much more content to carry the texture around on a leather purse than wear it. The Greenwich E/W tote also comes in an equally basic black color as well as a not-so-basic orange.

More Features of the Lites Greenwich E/W Tote

• Measures 18.5 x 12 x 5 inches
• Twisted double handles with 9 inch drop
• Magnetic closure
• Crinkled leather material

Get this B. Makowsky Lites Greenwich Bag:

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

• Check the Buy's Internet Superstore on eBay to see if this bag is still in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More B. Makowsky bags on BagBunch
• The Matt & Nat Werner Japanese Paper Tote, a great alternative to this crinkled texture tote.
• Searching for more B. Makowsky Lites handbags on eBay

Luxury handbag brands may have fallen out of favor in Japan, but they're just as popular as ever in China. A new study shows the financial crisis hasn't dented China's enthusiasm for designer bags, watches, and jewelry.

The study by New York market research firm Pao Principle looked at the buying habits of 448 affluent people from mainland China. It found that nearly 90% of those surveyed had bought a designer bag in the past year.

Nearly two-thirds of men, and a third of women, also bought a luxury watch last year, while another 30% said they’d splurged on jewelry from designers like Tiffany & Co.

"The one-child policy has spawned a generation of more self-centered individuals whose primary goal is to differentiate themselves from their peers," the marketing firm said. "No longer content to be one of the crowd, this group looks to luxury goods to help achieve this goal."

A Chinese government stimulus package and record lending by the country's banks have helped China achieve 8% growth this year, by far the fastest rate of any major world economy.

[Source: Reuters]
[Image Source: ThisParticularGreg/Flickr]

Designer Handbags on eBay

Once Asia's luxury shopping epicentre, Japan seems to be losing its taste for luxury brand. Last year LVMH decided to can plans for a new Louis Vuitton flagship store in Tokyo's Ginza shopping district. Now Versace has gone a step further, announcing it plans to shut down its Japanese stores. The luxury fashion label currently has outlets in Osaka, Tokyo, and Chiba.

A statement from the company says that Versace's Japanese boutiques "no longer represented the brand image and it was felt to be more advantageous for the company to close them and start with a clean slate."

Experts say the Japanese are following world trends for discreet luxury, without the logos and obvious branding of many mass-marketed lines. Instead, the new breed of Japanese stylistas prefer to mix and match outfits with high and low-end fashion items. Whatever the reason behind the shift, it's bad news for a fashion industry already struggling in the face of the financial crisis.

[Source: Luxist]
[Image Source: JaguarJulie/Flickr]

Versace Bags on eBay

Sometimes I think that Matt & Nat handbags are more impressive when you them in person rather than in photos, but this is one case where the purse stands out nicely in a photograph as well.

The Werner Japanese Paper Tote features Matt & Nat's signature crinkled manmade leather texture. Although some people might say that the brown is basic, it really brings out the nuances of the handbag's texture where it might otherwise be lost with a bolder or brighter color. Plus, the cognac color is not exactly what I'd call a run-of-the-mill brown. It's a rich, vibrant hue that catches the eye but wouldn't clash with much.

The tote has a nice a-line silhouette that typically provides a decent amount of storage space inside. The Werner is no exception to that. Its slightly flared sides and significant depth allow for tons of the kinds of things that women tend to stuff in their handbags. The size and shape of the bag isn't exactly user-friendly for the petite, but it's just fine for the average fashionista.

With its spacious interior, I would've liked to see a tad more organizational pockets inside or outside, but there's an acceptable amount present with one large zippered pocket on the outside and one on the inside. The interior is lined in Matt & Nat's famous faux suede made from recycled plastic bottles. The craftsmanship and attention to detail on the Werner is impeccable and what I'd expect from the brand. This is definitely one case where a faux leather tote is worth its price of $225.

More Features of the Werner Japanese Paper Tote

• Measures 18 x 13.5 x 6 inches
• Double straps with 8 inch drop
• Magnetic snap closure
• Signature logo plate

Get this Matt & Nat Werner Bag:

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

You may also be interested in:

• More Matt & Nat bags on BagBunch
• The Zed Tote, a great alternative to this vegan-friendly Japanese Paper tote.
• Searching for more Matt & Nat Japanese Paper bags on eBay
• Other Matt & Nat bags on eBay:

Comme des Garçons has come together with Apple Corps Ltd. for a rocking handbag collection. The London-based firm that manages the legacy and musical catalog of The Beatles has approved a purse line paying homage to the iconic British band.

Apple Corps Ltd. has signed a long-term deal with Comme des Garçons, so it seems likely that company head Rei Kawakubo will release other Beatles fashion items in the coming months.

It's a smart move for the Japanese fashion label, with The Beatles albums still selling truckloads long after the band called it quits. When you think of key figures in rock and roll history, they don't come much bigger than The Beatles.

The first purse styles are scheduled to hit Dover Street Market in London and Gyre in Tokyo in the middle of November. The bags will then be rolled out into other markets after that. Details are scarce at the moment, but with Comme des Garçons behind the line I'm not expecting the Beatles bags to be cheap!

[Source: WWD]
[Image Source: Kevindooley/Flickr]

The Beatles Handbags on eBay

I'm not sure why I've been in the mood to browse through briefcases lately, but I keep running across some great versions of this stereotypical work bag style. Matt & Nat's take on the handbag is quite the opposite of the Hobo International Barbara that I recently found but much more suitable for today's urban, on-the-go types.

Staying true to their signature contemporary look, Matt & Nat created a hip version of the briefcase in this Ando Streamline bag. Also keeping with the label's eco and animal-friendly philosophy, the Streamline is made only from manmade leather with a recycled material faux suede lining.

Though it is categorized as a briefcase and bears some of the bag style's usual details like short carrying handles and lots of storage pockets, the Ando Streamline would easily serve more than just a workplace purpose. The tall shape defies the standard east-to-west rectangular shape of work bags and puts a modern spin on the design. This unexpected shape makes it just as appropriate for every day, or even traveling when you factor in the handbag's detachable adjustable strap. This allows you to wear it on the shoulder or across the body.

Another great feature of this Ando briefcase is that it's simple lines and contemporary details make it an attractive tote for men or women. There's nothing particularly feminine or masculine about the design. Although many women might prefer a more overtly girly style, this version of the Streamline briefcase will suit plenty of others.

More Features of the Ando Streamline Briefcase

• Measures 13 x 17 x 2.5 inches
• Double handles with 3 inch drop
• Detachable strap
• Vertical zipper detail

Get this Matt & Nat Ando Streamline Bag:

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

• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Matt & Nat bags on BagBunch
• The Zed tote, a great alternative to this Matt & Nat briefcase-style bag
• Searching for more Matt & Nat handbags on eBay

Origami has been one of the most enjoyable trends sweeping fashion circles this year. From beautifully executed folded dresses through to paper jewellery, this Japanese paper art has hit all aspects of fashion face on. New technology means that origami style doesn't have to be made from paper, as this wonderfully structured hobo from Chinese Laundry has set out to prove.

The Chinese Laundry brand may not be very well known, but the art and design of this great looking origami tote show that they are definitely a company to watch!

It is rare to see such a conceptually unusual bag for less that $100 - and whilst the materials may not be top quality, this really is one of the best looking bargain handbags on the market. Available in a few bright shades, the clean lines and elegant structure only really work in pure gray or bone, when you can see the wonderful shadows the folds cast.

For such a large bag, this knotted hobo has very small handles. This is fine if you only want to have it purely for looks, but do bear this in mind when considering practicality.

An unusual and aesthetically wonderful bag, that hits the origami clothing trend perfectly!

More Features of this Chinese Laundry Origami Hobo

• Available in blue, pink, bone or gray
• Folded origami design
• Studded handle detail
• Spacious design

Get this Knotted Paper Art Tote:

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

You may also be interested in:

• Other Origami purses on Bagbunch
• The Hype Regina Hobo, a great alternative to this sophisticated bag
• Searching for more Origami bags on eBay
• Other Chinese Laundry bags on eBay;