Ideal Bite

Guys: Think you're doomed to choose between style and sustainability for eternity?

07.31.2008

Submitted by tmeronek on Thu, 07/31/2008 - 12:13am.

The Bite:

That's just not the (brief)case anymore. Plenty of good-lookin', eco-friendly manbags are available to make sure your laptop, keys, and voodoo doll (just one more fart joke, Carrot Top...) go everywhere you go.

The Benefits:

Designs so cool, you'll think black magic conjured them.
Not jinxing the earth. Eco-materials such as hemp and recycled soda bottles steer clear of pesticides and keep trash outta landfills - more than you can say for your average leather or PVC carryall.
Bestowing good fortune on eco-designers. It's supply and demand: When you support trailblazing bag artists, more eco-friendly goods will follow.

Personally Speaking:

Jenifer liked her husband's spacious spare murse so much that she borrowed it for herself...permanently.

Wanna Try:

Takumi Shimamura Monacca Bag - cool, hand-sewn Japanese cedar and canvas (instead of chemically treated leather) briefcases; six styles (C$355/$351).
Freitag - design your own bag from reclaimed heavy-duty, vintage truck tarps ($220).
Timbuk2 Metro Bag - the original bike-courier bag-maker now offers hemp and recycled-plastic versions ($80).
Stefano Nati Briefcase - sleek, black case made by repurposing waste leather and mixing it with natural rubber ($69).

Cocktail Fact

Before it was donated to the Smithsonian, the alleged curse of the Hope Diamond resulted in misfortunes and tragic deaths by almost everyone who owned it.