Hemp seems to be one of the great natural textiles that doesn’t get much credit for all it’s awesome versatility: fabric, clothing, rope, twine, oil, and even body care products can all be made from hemp or the hemp seed. Hemp is also one of the most sustainable crops. Ready for harvest in a matter of months, frost tolerant, and only requires a moderate amount of water, hemp is an awesome wonder crop of sorts with all of it’s potential uses and forms. Not to mention the fact that hemp fabric is extremely strong and durable, resistant to mold (for those of you that live in humid climates) and has that great natural texture and color.

So that’s where Hemptress eco-friendly handbags come in. Founded in Los Angeles in 2010 these bags are made from hemp and recycled trims with sustainability in mind. Hemptress combines the fashion forward flair of up and coming trends with their eco-friendly mission statement. Designers Håkan and Arlene Nilsson both put extensive work into making sure every facet of their company is focused on the sustainable. It’s not just the organic cotton and hemp but also the recycled leather and recycled plastic zippers. Everything from their Hemptress labels, hangtags, business cards, and shipping boxes are made from either hemp or recycled materials and printed with soy inks.

Recently featured on Vogue.com, the Hemptress “Bailey” corduroy satchel (composed of hemp, organic cotton corduroy, recycled PET faux fur, and recycled-leather trim and piping) is not only fashionable and chic but also made from super sustainable and recycled materials. Transition it between fall and winter for a great everyday bag that’s easily dressed up or down. Plus the olive green corduroy is a great earthy tone that would look great with any outfit.

As we’ve mentioned time and time again, eco-fashion is really making a big impact on the fashion industry and it’s awesome to see a company like the Hemptress getting attention from Vogue and other big publications. With all the natural benefits of hemp as well as the message Hemptress sends out with it’s fashion forward accessories, Hemptress bags are definitely a purchase worth making. See the whole Hemptress collection here.