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.