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December 22, 2008

The Woven Wood Handle Bag (Courtesy of Bazura)

What's the best designer bag for an outdoor girl?

— The Editors
Santa Fe, New Mexico

gear girl answer

I would not shy away from Prada’s Cervo Lux ($2,052) leather handbag if it fell out of the sky and hit me on the head, but I’d rather put my precious $2,000 toward something more fun and functional, like a new pair of Nordic skate skies. Besides, since handbags are all about status and making a statement, why not make an important statement with a Bazura Bag?

Do you have a question of your
own?

This new Canadian company designs and sells stylish and sustainable bags and accessories made by a Filipino women’s co-operative out of non-biodegradable juice containers and recycled rice bags (basura is a Filipino word for “garbage”). And don’t roll your eyes at “recycled.” Just because it’s made out of a plastic juice box doesn’t mean it won’t go with your Jimmy Choos.

My favorite, the Woven Wood Handle Bag ($48), is designed in a traditional box-weave pattern, has bamboo handles, and comes in a rainbow of colors. Just like a major label, it screams “look at me!”

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Stephanie Pearson: The Gear Girl
When it comes to gear, contributing editor Stephanie Pearson lives by one rule: What you own, owns you. That's why the skier, hiker, biker, runner, canoe paddler, and sometimes yogini is on an eternal quest to find gear and clothing that will enhance her life rather than make her a slave to dysfunctional stuff. During her seven-year stint as a travel editor at Outside, Pearson received three honorable mentions in The Best American Travel Writing series for stories on Guatemala, New Zealand, and Bhutan. Now that she's no longer in the office at Outside HQ in Santa Fe, Pearson hopes to be on the road more and is always in search of functional and aesthetically pleasing gear that's easy to use or clothing that's elegant to wear. Pearson is based in northern Minnesota and Santa Fe. Her latest adventure was on the fringe of the Amazon Basin in Brazil.