Spring is playing hide and seek this year. It’s not uncommon for the highly anticipated season to play tricks on us. Needless to say that I am looking forward to warmer weather and will welcome spring with open arms when it finally decides to join us.
There was this one day though when spring decided to make a guest appearance in New York. On that sunny warm afternoon, I wore The Dakota, a fun Mona B up-cycled tote bag from their Fall / Winter collection. I’ve been wearing it throughout the winter. It is the perfect size for all my daily essentials. Check out my Instagram stories highlights for the receipts!
THE CONSCIOUS: Up-cycling at its finest
Mona B is a lifestyle brand with a conscience. They design up-cycled handbags for both men and women. Their pieces are eco friendly and one-of-a-kind because they are made from wedges of up-cycled trunk tarps and military tents from the Indian desserts and jungles. In addition, Mona B uses water-based dyes and is always looking for new ways to be sustainable.
They carry a variety of other fashion and lifestyle products including a new line of vegan leather bags.
What is up-cycling?
According to Google up-cycling is to reuse (discarded objects or material) in such a way as to create a product of a higher quality or value than the original.
To me, up-cycling and making the old new again is good common sense. I am glad companies like Mona B exist because by giving things that would otherwise be considered as trash a second life they are relieving the environment from a burden it can no longer afford to bare. They are cleaning the planet and creating value at the same time. It’s a win win!
THE CHIC
Mona B’s unique style is perfect for every day life. Their handbags are developed with an outdoorsy flair and unisex appeal. Their canvas bag collection includes backpacks, shoulder bags, messenger bags, crossbody bags, convertible bags, small accessories, handbags and tote bags like the one I am wearing.
The canvas bags are made from wedges which have been sunbaked, weathered, cured, hand stitched and screen printed in Mona B’s unique style. The aesthetic of their bags is utilitarian, rouged and adventurous! I like the edge that their pieces bring to my personal style which is also edgy but in a different way.
Mona B also carries apparel, jewelry, scarves, vegan leather bags, home furnishings and stationary. Note that those items are not up-cycled.
I paired the eco-friendly Dakota bag with skinny blue jeans, a delicate off-white blouse by Anna Sui, ethically sustainable booties by L’Intervalle, a Daniel Wellington watch and cuff, a black head warp, an 18K eco-friendly ring by Simply Nature Bio Goods and my favorite vintage sunglasses. The Dakota tote bag is available in two additional colors because of its popularity.
Here are my favorite spring-ready Mona B up-cycled bags.
I am actively curating my spring closet and look forward to the day it is here to stay. But until then, I will be getting as much wear as I can out of my favorite Fall / Winter accessories. The Dakota tote bag is definitely one of them.
If you have any recycled and up-cycled pieces in your collection, share them with me on social media Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest.
Read these stories next:
Ethical Online Shopping with Greater Things
6 Easy Sustainability Tips For Every Day Life
5 Reasons Why I Love Pre-Loved Fashion Featuring Vintage Winter OOTD
New York Fashion Week: What I Wore
Photo credits: Ashley Adele Photo.