Climate for Action: Can We Recycle for Fashion?
About the Author: Michelle Gugger graduated from Rutgers University in 2008. She is currently spending a year of service at EPA’s Region 3 Office in Philadelphia, PA as an AmeriCorps VISTA.
This bag is made from recycled juice containers and sewn together to make a tote bag. I was given this bag as a gift, but I’m sure you could find one you like by doing a search on the internet for “recycled juice bags” or some similar search term. You could also probably easily make this on your own if you’re good at sewing.
I wore this bag a lot last summer and so many people would stop me on the street and ask me about it. If you know of anyone who likes wearing things that stand out, this tote bag would be a perfect present for them. But more importantly than wearing this for fashion reasons, this bag is a great way to reduce waste through reuse. Think of all the waste that you and your friends create at lunch with your juice containers. Also, think of all the bags that you could be saving by using this tote bag to go shopping. These recycled juice bags come in different styles and they even make recycled juice pencil containers and back packs as well. I was hesitant at first about wearing something like this because it looks so different from what everyone else is wearing. What would you think about wearing something like this?
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
We’re doing a recycled fashion show here in Columbia, South Carolina – Runaway Runway. Go to columbiadesignleague.org for more info.
Dear Michelle Gugger ,
from your blog I am very sure it is very perfect .
since I do not have this kind of bag or something like that made from the waste articles. but i really want to take try .i think it is very different from the others .
that will be a kind of fation in the future .
I am Ann . i am a Chinese .
Good luck – if you have trouble sewing, you may want to try other recyclable materials like cloth
I have a recycled juice cans tote bag. I took it last summer and people on the street would stop me and ask from where did I got the bag from.
I have just come back from holiday in Cyprus and these bags made from recycled plastic containers are all over the gift shops – high fashion apparently
I love this tote and can’t wait to make one! I too have seen them everywhere and have been trying to find out more about them. Thank you.
This is very creative. Nice to use waste. Much better than plastic. Are these stable?
Thanks,
Shafagh
The idea to use recycle things are great. And I am sure that if we are truly caring to our mother earth we should start doing and open up more ideas on how we can recycle. With this we are not helping our environment but also using our creativity skill.