Adorable Apple&Bee Eco Bags

Written by Olivia Richardson: 08-August-2009

We heart the Turtle Dove design makeup bags!

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So you want an eco-chic bag but can only find plastic-y, synthetic material ones in stores?

Thankfully, Apple&Bee make and sell stylish, certified organic cotton; bamboo silk, hemp and burlap/calico bags.

Means nothing to you? Here's the 411 on eco fabrics...

Organic cotton is grown without any chemicals and usually feels softer than conventional cotton; whereas non-organic cotton is sprayed with chemicals to grow and actually accounts for 10 per cent of the world's pesticides (almost 1 kg is sprayed per hectare of cotton field).

Bamboo grows up to a metre or more a day; and takes in and 'cleans' nearly 5 times the amount of greenhouse gasses and produces 35 per cent more oxygen than other similar-sized trees. It doesn't need any chemicals to grow and is naturally antibacterial and hypo-allergenic.

Hemp is grown without chemicals and with far less water than cotton.

Each Apple&Bee bag comes in a cute, calico (which is an unbleached, unprocessed form of cotton) dust bag with their philosophy written on it.

Gimme, gimme more

Apple&Bee is carbon neutral through Climate Friendly; 100 per cent Australian owned and donates 5 per cent of all profits from their new line ‘Honey by Apple&Bee’ (exclusive to Sussan) to the Bee Foundation, which is a non-profit organisation that raises money for research into the disappearing honey bee.

Apple&Bee also stack and push all goods to the local post office or courier service for delivery (yes, we mean with people power) to save carbon emissions. The packaging is 100 per cent post-consumer recycled paper or re-used packaging and they recycle any waste and office materials they can.

The range

Organic cotton: Bowling Bag $59.50; Carry-All Traveller $69.95; Foldout WC $49.95.

Organic cotton, and hemp: Pencil Case $29.95; Make-up Bag $21.95 (small) or $28.95 (medium); Nappy Bag, $125.

Organic cotton, lined with bamboo silk: Silver Clasp Purse $44.95; Wooden Handle Clutch $89.95; Overnight Bag $250.

Organic cotton babycare (bottom picture): Beach Baby Bag $89.95; Baby Change Mat $29.95; Baby Travel Bag $36.95; Baby Change Mat (coated with waterproof, recycled PET plastic) $29.95.

About the founders

Apple&Bee was created in Sydney by ex Marie Claire magazine Art Director Claire Morris and founder of natural skincare company bod and bod for bubs Brett Pattinson. Both share a passion for the best in contemporary design and a belief that it can and should be applied to pracitcal, everyday objects.

More

Visit www.appleandbee.com or call (02) 9130 4304 for more info and stockists.