Gallery: ESCAMA STUDIO: Recycled Alumi...

Being resourceful is definitely a virtue these days, and sharing your craftiness with others is perhaps the best way to sprinkle the seeds of good design. But an eco chic accessory that is crafted from 100% recycled materials while also promoting fair trade employment? Well, this is a brilliant scenario for advancing sustainable style while also reducing needless waste and litter.

We have been big fans of Escama recycled aluminum pulltab handbags and totes ever since we spied them on some of the savviest eco babes in town. We are excited to announce that our new online Inhabitat Shop will feature a hand-picked assortment of supercute Escama bags as a means to aid our gift-giving readers and the Brazilian women who handcraft these beautifully original designs.

There are a variety of cool recycled pull-tab accessory projects circulating the web these days, but Escama purses are unique in their impeccably crocheted fabrication and slinky, chic feel. The word “Escama” means fish scales in Portuguese, and these artfully designed soft chain-mail purses are as eye-catching as they are durable. The recycled aluminum pull-tabs from soda cans are individually crocheted and stitched by local artists who make the bags in two craft cooperatives in ’satellite cities’ of Brasília, Brazil. The cooperatives offer women a means to earn money through handicrafts and business training. Prices of goods are set by the artisan cooperatives and trained artists are paid competitively for their one-of-a-kind craftwork.

There were originally only 12 artisans producing bags for Escama in 2004, and currently there are over 100. Escama abides by fair trade principles as a member of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF) and offers a fair living wage for their products. In addition, over the past four years they have assisted the artist groups to establish bank accounts and have generously donated computers, furniture, educational training and a percentage of sales.

Each Escama bag is handcrafted by an individual artist and comes with a personal note from the woman who made it, connecting consumer and producer through a shared exchange. We could think of no better way to highlight the best of sustainable style than by featuring these exquisitely and ethically produced accessories for fashion forward women in all hemispheres.

+ Escama Studio

+ Escama Studio’s DIY Crochet with Pulltabs Tutorial

+ Inhabitat Shop

Escama Chica Rosa Clutch made from 200 recycled aluminum pulltabs – features zipper closure and high quality nylon lining – $40 from Inhabitatshop

Escama Francisca Bag made from 500 recycled aluminum pulltabs – features fabric nylon liner, padded strap, and external flap that covers the zipper closure – $80 from Inhabitatshop

Escama Socorro Bag made from 700 recycled aluminum pulltabs – features zipper closure, high quality nylon lining, and inside zip pocket – $125 from Inhabitatshop

Escama Luci Tote made from 1,500 recycled aluminum pulltabs – fully lined interior with two inside pockets and zipper closure – $228 from Inhabitatshop