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Rubber Purses Make a Splash!

Do you remember going to a water park as a kid (or even in recent years), plunging down numerous slides, all with uniques twists and turns? You probably at some point also sat on an inner tube on your way down to a lower-level pool, but I bet you never would have imagined that that very inner tube could be turned into a fashionable, eco-friendly purse one day. Neither did I until I came across the purses by a company called English Retreads.

 

 

English Retreads, based in Boulder, Colorado, was started by Heather English in 2001. What started as a desire to have a truly vegetarian purse has now transformed into a full line of fashoin-forward purses and accessories that are simultaneously trendy and timeless. It is the company's vision to both reuse and reinvent, helping the environment and in the process adding to your wardrobe.

 

 

The product line is fairly basic, but extensive in that it provides purses for women, bags for men, belts for men and women, and wallets for both men and women as well. All items are available exclusively in black, but the lined items feature materials in bold, solid colors such as pumkin, green apple, quarry blue and toffee.

 

One of my favorite designs is the Mini Luxe (lined), which comes in green, toffee, and chrome. The color choices can be a bit confusing with this, because the main material is black and the colors refer to the straps, which can be seen through the cut-outs along the sides of the purse. This purse is fairly small (13” wide, 6.5” high, and 2” deep with 19” straps), but is great for everyday purposes, such as shopping, going to work, or for casual events.

 

I also really like the Bentley bag, which is available in both Small (13” wide, 9” high and 2.5” deep) and Large (16” wide, 9.5” high, and 3” deep) sizes. Many companies don't cater to men and this is a great messenger bag that fits perfectly into one of the current fall trends. The design is also neutral enough that it could easily work for women as well.

 

Lastly, there is the Clutch (lined), which is available in green apple, pumpkin, quarry blue, and jet black. I think what draws me to this purse most is the wrist-strap, which allows it to freely dangle from your arm. It's a pretty nice alternative to your standard shoulder or hand straps. Its petite design (8” wide, 5” high, and 2” deep) means you won't be able to fit too much in the bag, but it's great on the go when all you need is space for your keys, a little makeup and a credit card or two.

 

 

So the next time you're standing in line at a water park or at a store in the mall, think of English Retreads, a great environmentally-friendly alternative to designers you're familiar with already. Take a chance and see how couture rubber can really be!

 

 

Until next time,

 

 

-A Sliding, Soulful Vegan

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