Green America

five ACCESSORIES is Officially a Member of Green America
In August of this year, we went through the application process of applying to Green America to become a business member. “Green America's Green Business Network™ is the largest network of socially and environmentally responsible businesses in America. Membership is subject to approval.”

About Green America
“Green America is a not-for-profit membership organization founded in 1982. (We went by the name "Co-op America" until January 1, 2009.)
Our mission is to harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.”

Green America offers green businesses with a number of perks as a member. Things like being listed in their business directory and having the privilege to sell on World of Good on eBay and more as listed on their membership page.
Becoming a member of Green America was important to us because it gives five ACCESSORIES credibility to consumers in the market place and in being known as a sustainable business. So it is with great pleasure that we announce we have received word that we are now officially members of Green America!

CRAVE Chicago

Monday, November 16th 2009, five ACCESSORIES and our Interns had the opportunity to go to the CRAVE Chicago 'book launch' party, at The Arthur Murray Dance Studio.It was a great opportunity to mingle and network with other Chicagoan business owners, such as The Meatloaf Bakery, The Damian Group, Honey Cafe, Dry Soda, Solixir, Candyality, Busy Beaver Button Company, Chocolate Gourmet and NAHA! The night consisted of meringue dance lessons, good music, great conversation, and delicious samples! Best treat of the night had to be the gummy bears from Candyality! They definitely kept us going back for more!

Visit the Crave Chicago website to see what they're all about. You can pick up a copy of the book at the five ACCESSORIES retail location at 5247 N Clark St, Chicago, IL. Check out five ACCESSORIES on page 90!

Shop Glitter and be Eco-Friendly

Come join five ACCESSORIES this December 3rd from 11 to 8 pm at the Chicago Cultural Center and go green for the holidays with some fantastic gifts.

Join other designers and boutiques that are all apart of the Chicago Fashion Resource!! More info below:

http://www.ChicagoFashionResource.com

Find us on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/fashionfocus

Find us on facebook! http://tinyurl.com/fashionfocusfanpage

Guide to Special Values book! http://www.chicagoofficeoftourism.org/fashioncoupons/

Social Entrepreneurship

“Social entrepreneurs have existed throughout history. In fact, the rise of social entrepreneurship represents the leading edge of a remarkable development that has occurred across the world over the past three decades: the emergence of millions of new citizen organizations.”-- David Bornstein as taken from http://www.betterworld.net/quotes/entrepreneur-quotes.htm

In light of this, our founder, Christine Hutchison, has spoken on numerous occasions about this topic and has discussed how the companies eco friendly handbags have added to this cause. Five dollars is donated from each handbag sold to a charitable organization in the locale where the item was handmade. Below is a picture of a family from Bali, Indonesia that has benefited from our grants.

Other Resources:
http://www.pbs.org/opb/thenewheroes/whatis/

Best Seller at the Andersonville Galleria
It is with great pleasure to announce Andersonville Galleria (Chicago) best seller…drum roll please…
The Cambodia Recycled Plastic Bag!

Remember that this handbag is made from recycled black pastic bags, putting it to good use again when it is no longer effective as its original purpose – creating the perfect recycled eco-friendly handbag. One that many in Andersonville obviously love!

New Designs for 2010

We are excited to announce that we are working with our fair trade cooperatives to design new eco-friendly designer handbags. Be sure to stay tuned for more details in the very new future…

Chic Bamboo Handbags

Looking for a fun updated look for the holidays. five ACCESSORIES Chicago has updated their original best selling bamboo purses. The clutches are now adorned with jewels and some are updated with wrist lets or straps. Please contact 312.504.3483 or info@fiveaccessories.com to custom order your new fashionable eco-friendly bag.

Green Giveaway by The Alternative Consumer

The wonderful folks over at The Alternative Consumer are hosting a Great Green Giveaway until October 17th, compliments of five ACCESSORIES. The giveaway will end at 11:59pm (EST) on the 17th. They are giving away one of our eco-friendly designer handbags – A Cambodia Messenger Bag (the yellow one). To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment. You may increase your entries by doing a few extra things, but you will have to check out their website to find out what to do! So….if you want a new socially conscious handbag or desire to show your support for five ACCESSORIES, please visit The Alternative Consumer.

Reusable Shopping Bags

Eco friendly reusable grocery bags have seen their popularity surge in the past few years. They have a dramatically reduced environmental impact. So far this year over 370 billion disposable paper and plastic bags have been wasted and are piling up in landfills. Many countries across the globe are passing laws to tax or ban plastic bag usage and people are starting to act on the Earth's behalf. Together we can help save this planet with every bag we reuse. Seattle's bill for taxing plastic bags was just voted down, but it is just the beginning and a sign of change. Communities need to continue to strive towards a solution and be proactive about setting an example for others. Let’s work together to protect the earth, ocean, animals and our children by using reusable bags.

five ACCESSORIES has some great bags that can be used for resuable bags, if you wanted to double up the purpose of a new designer handbag.

Custon Orders- New from five ACCESSORIES

This week marked a new beginning for five ACCESSORIES as we received our first custom order for our eco-friendly Off The Street picture frame. Thanks to DePaul University!

Since our Off The Street vendors are hand designing these delightful picture frames out of refuse from the streets of Chicago, it will be easy for them to replace the triangle shape ticket stub in the middle of the top and bottom of the frame with DePaul’s custom logo.

Therefore, we wanted to let you all know that for those hard to buy for individuals in your life, our recycled picture frames may be the perfect way to personalize and give them a gift they don’t already own.
For more information, please contact us at info@fiveaccessories.com with Custom Frame Order in the subject line.

Greenwala- What's Your Story Contest?

Greenwala and Help a Reporter have joined forces to offer the What’s Your Story? Contest. They are - in their words - looking for “the most amazing eco-friendly, environmentally-conscious companies, products and services on the planet.” The winner of the contest will receive a $500 gift card from AMEX.

five ACCESSORIES has entered the Greenwala - What’s Your Story Contest so that more people may become aware of our fabulous eco-friendly designer handbags and accessories. You may read our story by following the link we have provided above. We would appreciate your kind support in our efforts to spread the word about our company, so please consider casting your vote and leaving a comment for us when you visit the story page.

Affordable Eco-Friendly Fashion Accessories

five ACCESSORIES is not only committed to giving back part of the proceeds of our sales to the artisans from which they come, but we also desire to provide affordable fashion accessories to fashion lovers everywhere.

Each of our accessories are eco-friendly and are gifts that women of all ages enjoy, especially the young fashionista. Our bangle bracelet goes great with any outfit. Our wood bead bracelet comes in a pair of 2 and combine well with any of our other bracelets.

All our wood bracelets are from Bali and are made from renewable resources such as wicker and bamboo. Currently, our whole collection of wood bracelets are on sale for only $10, regularly $15. Each of our accessories are eco-friendly and are gifts that women of all ages enjoy, especially the young fashionista. Our bangle bracelet goes great with any outfit. Our wood bead bracelet comes in a pair of 2 and combine well with any of our other bracelets.

five ACCESSORIES is not only committed to giving back part of the proceeds of our sales to the artisans from which they come, but we also desire to provide affordable fashion accessories to fashion lovers everywhere.

Shopping for a Cause

five ACCESSORIES , a Chicago online store, is supporting Bridge to Success on Wednesday, September 30th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at The Metropolitan Club in Chicago, IL.

Bridge to Success, a social enterprise program of Heartland Human Care Services, provides coaching coupled with high-end interview and work place appropriate clothing for low-income, hard-to-employ men, women and youth to build self-confidence through appearance, interview preparation and a sense of "belonging" at the workplace. More info. can be found on their website at The Bridge to Success .

five will be showcasing their accessories wood bracelets to support the charity. Bracelets will be on sale from $15 to $10 each.

Mosquito Netting Fashion Bag

Did you ever think of recycling mosquito netting? That is exactly what we are doing with a fair trade group in Cambodia. In Cambodia, the bugs are so bad you need to sleep under a tent. So, we are taking that material and making recycled fashionable purses. Be seen with an eco friendly handbag with a really cool bug story!! Above picture is from the five ACCESSORIES spring party.

Fair Trade Handbags

Fairtrade as described by the International Fair Trade Association (IFA) is a change in the way trade is conducted based on “dialogue” between producers and retailers, “transparency”, a clear traceable path between payment of goods and receipt of those goods and “respect” for both the efforts and lifestyles of producers, as well as the retailers and consumers of those products.

At five ACCESSORIES, we strive to source all handbags and fair trade gift items from fair trade producers in developing area. For example, the pictured sling made out of recycled mosquito netting was produced in Cambodia by an organization that is certified by the Fair Trade Federation. For more fair trade products and green gifts please visit our website at five ACCESSORIES.

Housewarming gifts are always a warm gesture as friends settle into their new home. It seems to make a day brighter to be thought of in the midst of hard work - unpacking and organizing.

We have a charming recycled silver picture frame that could double up as a back to school gift too as children get their school pictures taken this fall. The silver shown is the inside lining of a recycled potato chip bag.

This would be a three-way gift idea, as you give a useful gift for any home, for children's photos and plus you would be giving $5.00 to charity. What a wonderful way to spend $20.00!

Waste

Did you know that 80% of what Americans throw away is recyclable and yet our recycling rate is just 28%? And did you also know that approximately 20% of everything grown in the US is wasted?

This is why five ACCESSORIES is working so hard to provide products that are made out of recyclable items such as chip bags, bottle caps, pop can tabs, rice bags and leather. This reduces waste not only here in the US, but in the countries we are partnering with: Cambodia, Bali, Guatemala, India and Honduras. We are turning waste into fashion products at http://www.fiveaccessores.com/

Back to School Eco Friendly Supplies

Summer is nearly over and school is just around the corner. School supplies are on your shopping list to buy or perhaps to give. That's we wanted to share a great charity back to school gift idea! Did you know that our recycled sunglasses case would make a cool pencil holder? This bright, funky glass case...or pencil holder is made from recycled chip bags. It is sturdy, well made and water resistant. The best thing about for you is 15% of the sale would be a charitable contribution. You cannot beat that for a charity back to school gift. See here for more details.

Eco Friendly Rice Bags

Did you know that in 2006 6.2 million tons of rice were harvested in Cambodia? that 70% of the population of Cambodia lives in rural areas and that 50% of the population works in rice fields and marketing?

While Cambodia can command higher prices for its rice than Thailand and Vietnam because it is a higher quality rice, the average rice farmer still only makes about $135 per year. Farmers use very primitive harvesting techniques.The solution to this is not easy due to culture and education issues. Modern technology may fix the problem - however, not in the desired sustainable ways.

In a socially conscious effort, five ACCESSORIES is working with local Cambodian artisans to provide a way for them to improve the quality of education for their children. This gives them a brighter future hope as we recycle the rice bags the farmers have used to carry the rice to market into eco friendly designer handbags http://www.fiveaccessories.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPlYTx8wb2I

Eco Friendly Material in Fashion

Wicker is a natural material made out of different wood. The most commonly used wood is rattan, cane and bamboo. Rattan is more of a solid vine, unlike bamboo which is hollow and cane is actually the stem of the larger rattan trees. Because these trees are not not in scarce demand, it makes them a good eco-friendly resource.

Being socially conscious, five ACCESSORIES uses a wicker source from the country of Bali. Local Balinese artisans handcraft a number of wicker handbags for us, enabling us to provide an excellent eco-friendly product. Featured below are our four wicker handbags:

Coconut Oil as Sustainable Resource

Did you know that coconut oil is taking off among the Pacific islands as an alternative to imported, costly and polluting, diesel oil. There are many benefits such as: lower emissions and toxic fumes than petroleum diesel fuel; smoother running engines; availability to the producer in remote areas to run machinery and generate electricity when the roads are cut off in the wet or prices are too high. Thus, according to www.peopleandplanet.net coconut oil is considered a sustainable resource.

At www.fiveaccessories.com we have found another use for coconuts. Through our partner in Bali, we are creating handbags made out of coconuts. Thus, offering eco-friendly designer handbags such as our brown coconut clutch, pictured below, one can 'look good and feel good' about what they are carrying.

Fair Trade Co-Op in India

five ACCESSORIES offers handbags handmade in India by a women’s cooperatives and artisan group that practice fair trade principles. This means that our producers are paid a livable wage in safe and fair conditions, and do their work at home and in small workshops rather than factories.

Most are hand block printed with eco-friendly vegetable dyes, supporting an artisan based textile tradition existing in India for centuries. Others are hand embroideried as pictured above from our last model shoot.

Check out our India Collection at http://www.fiveaccessories.com/.

Eco Friendly Designer Handbags

June 21st is the official start of summer. If you are still looking for the perfect summer bag to take to the farmers market, beach or dinner? Check out the new red and cream basket bag from the five ACCESSORIES India Collection. This well-sized bag combines traditional and modern style with great practicality.

Handmade by a fair trade co-operative in India. Natural-dye hand print in red and natural, lined in brick. One inside pocket. 100% cotton fabric. 14" h x 17" w at the top. http://www.fiveaccessories.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=0_21_41&products_id=119&osCsid=5f4dcbf1e8fabfd6da137f3a2594746c

The eco friendly designer man handbag

Father's day is June 21st. How about going green this year with

a yellow or silver adjustable strap messenger bag for Dad. Made out of mosquito netting in by a fair trade non-for profit in Cambodia. It has an inside zipper pocket and two open pouches for cell phones and money clips. http://tinyurl.com/kpcm3x

School's Out Celebration Trunk Show to Support Chicago's StreetWise

School’s Out! Come Play At SoKo’s Summer Party

Sip, Mingle and Linger in Style at SoKo Fashion’s FREE End of School Celebration

Start summer with complementary chardonnay and your best girlfriends

Thursday, June 11, 6-8:30 p.m.
SoKo Fashion
1925 W Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL
312.504.3483

Ditch the book bag and check out the trunk show from five ACCESSORIES, which offers handmade purses and jewelry from developing areas. five ACCESSORIES will be featuring items handmade by the vendors of Chicago's StreetWise. Our latest income generating program to help people back to self sufficiency.

Bracelets Made From Aluminum Cans

Did you know that recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a 100-watt bulb fro 20 hours, a computer for 3 hours, or a TV for 2 hours according to http://www.dosomething.org/.

at five ACCESSORIES, we are using the pop top of aluminum cans to make bracelets. This is part of our fundraiser with Chicago's StreetWise. The vendors of StreetWise are collecting items off the street and making jewelry and picture frames. You can view more items under the accessory tab at http://www.fiveaccessories.com/.

Chicago's Green Festival

There are 16,600 Homeless People. 66% are single adults, and of these,three-quarters are men, 11% are parents with children, 84% of whom aresingle women, 23% are children under 18 with a parent, 42% of whom areunder 5 years of age. fiveACCESSORIES is partnering with StreetWise and launching a line called "off the streets".

Their unique picture frames made by the vendors of Chicago's StreetWise can be purchased at http://www.fiveaccessories.com/ under the Accessory Tab/ Off The Street.

Earth Day Facts

Did you know that the average temperature in the US has increased by 4 degrees. The top ten warmest years on record have occured since 1990.

As an alternative to buring trash and thus, increasing the temperature, a fair trade cooperative in Honduras is recycling potato chip bags (such as Frito Lays and Doritos Bags) and turing them into picture frames. The silver shown here is the inside lining to the chip bag. More items can be found at http://www.fiveaccessories.com/ under the Accessories Tab/ Recycled Products.

From Trash to Treasure

Did you know that American companies toss out 7.6 billion tons of waste each year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Where does all this trash go?

At five ACCESSORIES, we are turning trash into treasure. For example, the two bags shown here handmade by a fair trade co-operative in Honduras, are made from recycled potato chip bags. Ladies are collecting trash off the streets of Honduras as an alternative to burning the trash and weaving it into clutches. Each clutch is signed by the artisan who made the bag. The silver clutch is the inside lining of the chip bag. The multi-colored clutch is made out of a variety of Doritos, Lay's and Fritos chip bags.

You can check out more recycled items at http://www.fiveaccessories.com/catalog. Let's support turning trash into treasure!

Bamboo is a Renewable Resource

People in US spend three to four times as much time shopping as Europeans
do"
"The impact of the average U.S. citizen on the environment is
approximately 3 times that of the average Italian"
Adapt an Eco-friendly European lifestyle to save the environment and your
wallet! fiveACCESSORIES offers a variety of global eco-friendly bags that
won't hurt your wallet or your environment.

"Bamboo is a highly yield renewable resource and is one of the strongest
building materials. Bamboo's tensile strength is 28,000 pounds per square
inch versus 23,000 pounds per square inch for steel"
fiveACCESSORIES' Bali collection uses bamboo to make handbags such as the
Night and Half Moon, hence are sturdy and long-lasting, as well as
renewable