bag swappers photo
Recycled fabric bags, by Laura Cristinzo.
in the bag
Local eco-crafter Laura Cristinzo loves creating quirky-cool accessories with recycled materials, and this season she’s fusing her interest in design with her passion for the environment. Teaming up with a small group of volunteers from Sketch (an arts initiative for street-involved and homeless youth), Cristinzo aims to sew about 200 recycled fabric bags (made from jeans & T-shirts) to be distributed Saturday along Queen Street West. Her plan is to offer shoppers one of her cool, re-usable totes for free as an alternative to using plastic shopping bags; inside each bag is a fact sheet about the perils of plastic.
Watch for the eco-bag swappers from noon to 5 p.m., identifiable by their beauty pageant-style sashes reading “Bag-Swapper.” They’ll be stationed by the Eaton Centre (at Queen and Yonge Streets); at the northwest corner of Queen and University; at the southeast corner of Queen and John (by MuchMusic); at the northwest corner of Queen and Soho; and at the southeast corner of Queen and Spadina.
holiday sale
The first-ever holiday edition of The Clothing Show is happening this weekend — a three-day stint, starting tomorrow, at the Metro Convention Centre (255 Front St. W.).
Expect to find oodles of stylish gifts by local designers and crafters as well as treats for yourself, including accessories, unconventional clothing, vintage collectibles and more. For more details, visit www.theclothingshow.com. Tickets are $10 at the door.
hot deals
Recycled fashion pioneers Preloved (613 Queen St. W.) are offering up some sweet holiday shopping deals that make gifting a little less of a pinch. Bring in a non-perishable donation for the Toronto Daily Bread Food Bank, and receive 15 per cent off any purchase through to Dec. 31. And, during Boxing Week, shoppers can count on saving 30 to 70 per cent off everything in the store. From Dec. 21-24, there are multi-purchase discounts.
For more details and photos of merchandise, visit www.preloved.ca.
Nathalie-Roze Fischer is an accessories designer, writer and DIY enthusiast. Visit her online at www.nathalie-roze.comor at her indie shop/studio in Leslieville (1015 Queen St. East).
