I know that I’m never actually going to be a bike messenger (cutting cars at 45 miles an hour? yeah, right) but that doesn’t mean I can’t occasionally dress like one…or, more likely, pack like one.

I’m that girl that carries a giant purse full of stuff almost every day.  Right now I’ve got two magazines (Nylon and Outside), a book (F***ing Daphne: Mostly True Stories and Fictions), my makeup bag, a tiny moleskine…and that’s just the bulky stuff.  If I am carrying a handbag, you’ll almost always see me with a tote or crossbody bag, too.  One of my favorite investments is in comfortable, sustainable messenger bags.

That’s where Alchemy Goods comes in.  Their bold bags are interesting, totally durable, and completely sustainable.  The exteriors of the above bags are made from inner tubes and the straps are cast-off seat belt straps from junkyard cars.  (Everything is washed first, of course.)  These bags might sound a little “dirty hippie” but in person they look really modern and kind of bad-ass.  And check this out:

The Alchemy Goods logo was made to look like the periodic table, and the number in the upper right-hand corner tells you what percent of the product you’re buying is made of recycled material.  (Geeks: take note. I personally think this is wicked cool.)

The only thing holding me back from buying one of these sustainable messenger bags is that, for someone who has never owned a true messenger bag, they can be pretty pricey: the Urban Messenger (pictured) is 148$ and the original Messenger is 168$.  Those are some seriously sturdy bags, though, and from what I’ve heard, to get something high-quality from any retail store you’d pay at least that much. However, if you’re looking for something smaller (like a backpack-sized option) the 98$ Haversack is probably a smarter bet.

There are even smaller – but still just as sustainable! – options, if you’re not into giant inner-tube bags like I am.  Alchemy Goods makes wallets and totes, too:

When you include the Ad Bag, wallets (above, 35$ and 32$ respectively) and belts, Alchemy Goods seems to have something for everyone, at a wide range of prices.  (I’m still saving up for that messenger bag, though.)

[[Those first two photos are by Sarah Schlossman. (The third is from the Alchemy Goods website.)  Click here to see more of her work!]]

Tags: Awakened Options: Recycled, conscious shopping, eco-conscious, Fashion, indie