Kim White 1978 Ford Mustang Tote

Let me just say, I love Twitter.

Twitter is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you’re gonna get. Ok, so I’m paraphrasing. Or plagiarizing. Whatever. My point is, nearly every day, I find something interesting, informative, educational, or just downright kickass on that site. Someone tweeted a link yesterday that led me to a wonderful find. I thought it was already pretty awesome that there’s a company that makes handbags from seatbelts. Now there’s a company that makes handbags from vintage auto upholstery! Not only is there a cool factor depending on the vehicle the upholstery was meant for—Camaro, very cool; AMC Pacer, not so much—you gotta love that it’s an environmentally friendly way to produce some great looking accessories. This tote made from upholstery meant for a 1978 Ford Mustang not only pegs the cool meter, it’s the perfect color scheme for summer.

Apparently, Kim White stumbled across an entire warehouse full of automotive fabric that had never been used. All the fabrics were tagged with the year and make of the fabric, so it was easy to tell which car each fabric had been intended for. The fabrics were manufactured in the ’70s and ’80s when car interiors were even more colorful than the exteriors. And the best thing is, because it’s automotive upholstery, it’s durable, so the handbags will last for years. In fact, the site says the bags, “…in keeping with the tradition of the American car industry, are sophisticated, beautiful and built to last.” Well, the industry itself may not be lasting in this economy, but the handbags definitely will. This one is 16 inches wide and 22 inches high, so there’s plenty of room for everything you need to carry. It has dual handles and a zip closure. Check out the other bags available, and get this one for just $145 at KimWhiteHandbags.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 1

I can’t very well talk about handbags made from auto upholstery without also mentioning Harveys Seatbelt Bags, now can I? Harveys bags are made from automobile seatbelts, so they’re every bit as sturdy and long lasting as the upholstery bags. The cool thing about these is, they come in a wide variety of colors, and even patterns, stuff you’d never actually see in a car. This Posie Boat Tote is a perfect example. The fabric is a pretty watercolor floral pattern, giving a softer edge to a highly durable bag. It has dual shoulder straps that give it an 8.5-inch drop, a top zip closure, and a platform bottom. The interior lining provides a back wall zip pocket, and a few slip pockets. At 16 inches wide, 10 inches high, it works as both an all-around summer handbag, or a beach tote. Bonus features? The bag comes with a matching coin purse, and…wait for it…a water gun! Just remember to take it out of the bag before you go through airport security or you’ll spend an hour being strip searched. Unless, you know, you’re into that sort of thing. You can’t pass up all those features (and a potential strip search!) for only $142 at Zappos.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 2

Continuing with the automotive theme, I also love this Harveys Lemonade Large Tote. The color name alone is enough to draw me in, plus the fact that it also comes in Watermelon. This is a summer bag through and through. The pastel color gives a feminine look to the sturdy seatbelt feel. Dual handles give the bag a 10.5-inch shoulder drop, but it’s a bit smaller than the tote at just 11.5 inches wide and 9.5 inches high. It would be the perfect complement to a flowery summer dress. The logoed interior offers front and back wall pockets, and the top zips closed. Add it to your collection, and maybe pick up the watermelon one, too, since it’s just $118 at Endless.com.