grünBAG: A Little Green Bag With a Big Green Impact

This post was sponsored by grünBAG and I received an item for review. Opinions and editorial direction are my own.

Later this month I’m headed to NYC for a mini-adventure with my sister. She is a talented fine art photographer specializing in creating miniature worlds with scale figures and unconventional materials and her work is currently on display at a gallery in Yonkers.

I always get anxious about particular things when I’m traveling, especially when I’m going to a place I’m relatively unfamiliar with. And when I’m visiting a bigger city and know I’ll be doing a lot of walking and not have access to a “home base” during much of the day, I try to bring a purse or bag that I know will be sturdy and practical without weighing me down.

My collaboration with grünBAG was scheduled months before I knew I’d be heading up to New York. But past Leah was looking out for near-future Leah because I selected a bag for review that I think will be perfect for travel…

About grünBAG

Based and produced in Denmark, grünBAG specializes in making street ready backpacks and purses out of recycled lifeboats, banners, sails, and industrial tarps used in the trucking industry. These outdoor textiles are usually comprised of a cotton canvas or sturdy woven polyester that has been weather coated to make it water proof, making them well suited for re-use in utilitarian bags. The straps are produced with recycled nylon. Denmark’s labor standards are high (though they are not codified as precisely as they are in the US, the minimum wage is anywhere from $11-20 USD), which means grünBAG employees are being compensated well for their work.

My Review

The style I’m using here is the Small A-Bag in Green. It has a top zipper with a fold-over detail that provides extra room in the main compartment, which I’m hoping will prove to be an asset should I need to stow away a purchase while out and about in the city. The purse is virtually weightless on its own, which is great, and the adjustable crossbody strap makes it easy to go hands-free.

The one downside is that there aren’t very many organizational pockets. There is one interior pocket that will hold a phone or some cash. My purse things are fairly streamlined, but I’ll have to use this a bit more to see if the lack of pockets hinders the overall user experience. The A-Bag costs about $79 USD.

Overall, I’m very impressed with the eco-friendliness of this bag, and I love the rich green color and how lightweight it is. I’ll let you know how it fares on the streets of New York.

Shop grünBAG here.

P.S. If you’re wondering why there’s dirt on my ankle in one of these photos, it’s because I slipped and fell right before shooting. Luckily, the ground was damp and cushion-y and I didn’t end up having any injuries.

Leah Wise

Leah Wise is the founder of StyleWise Blog. She has been writing, speaking, and consulting on sustainable fashion, the fair trade and secondhand supply chain, and digital marketing for over ten years. An Episcopal priest, Leah holds a B.A. in Religion from Florida State University and an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School. When not working, you can find her looking for treasures at the thrift store.