Take the inner tube from a tire, decorate it with soda can pull tabs, line it with fabric and what do you get? You get a chic, recycled handbag that can go from casual to dressy in the blink of an eye. When I first heard about these bags, I must admit that I was skeptical. I had seen bags made out of soda can pull tabs years ago when my mother and I were out shopping at the Palm Desert Swap Meet. Although we found them to be creative, we decided they weren’t for us, and moved on. Over the years I have seen many versions of this bag. I have remained unimpressed; that is, until I met Linnea Duvall, owner and designer of Glad Rag Bags, a super cool recycled bag that appeals to biker chicks just as easily as to stay at home moms.

Haute Hippie Jumpsuit, Gianvito Rossi Sandals, also seen here. Glad Rag Bags Handbag and Cuff, Oliver Peoples Shades.

Linnea’s background is just the opposite of where she landed today. Raised in a religious town in rural Pennsylvania, Linnea says she “grew up in a town where people were intimidated by fashion.” Straight out of college, at the age of 21, Linnea landed a job as an editor at Vogue magazine. As the youngest person on the staff, she eagerly absorbed everything she could about the fashion industry and wound up as one of the Make Over editors at Glamour Magazine. After retiring from the magazine industry, Linnea ran her own make over clinics around the country and moved to Los Angeles, where she now resides.

Me (in a CAbi Top and WORTH New York Belt) with Linnea (also in a CAbi top).

Linnea came across her new career by chance. While vacationing in Mexico a few years ago, she came across a handbag that was made from the inner tube of a tire and soda can tabs. The bag itself was basic, that is to say it did not have lining, pockets, soft materials or any hint of luxury that would appeal to her and her American friends. She approached the owner and asked him if he would agree to make the bag with all the bells and whistles she considered necessary to meet her standards. He agreed, and the Glad Rag Bag was born. These bags are optical illusions. They are decadently decorated in pull tops that make them sparkle and shine, but in a chic and cool sort of way. They come in numerous designs from a large tote to a delicate clutch. You will think that they are made from leather, until you pick them up, when you realize that the rubber makes them as light as air, and their price is a quarter of what you would pay for a designer leather bag!