TUCSON, Ariz. — Eco-friendly bags and purses are a must-have in a green fashionista's wardrobe.

Last summer, the English fashion designer Anya Hindmarch made the "I am not a plastic bag" canvas sack, which was sold in collaboration with "We Are What We Do," a campaign to push people to save the Earth with everyday actions.

It sold out hours after being first introduced in London. Then, Americans snatched up the bag that promoted reusable bags instead of the 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic ones used worldwide each year.

Now mainstream stores are getting in on the eco-action.

While browsing the cosmetic aisles at Target, a pink and green purse with the words "This bag is made from recycled soda and water bottles" sits alongside an "I’m pink but I’m still green" canvas bag for about $10. And those are not the only ones.

At Victoria’s Secret, the Pink brand is pushing more than a half-dozen organic cotton bags for $19.50 or $10 with any other purchase. The slogans read "Save water, share a shower" and "Think green, live pink" while others are more simple with the recycling logo.

But for those who cannot shell out the green for the eco-friendly bags, one might already be hanging inside your closet or folded in a drawer. Here are two ways I've used to make last season’s duds into the envy of all green fashionistas:

Take that old pair of blue jeans out of your closet.

1. Lay down the jeans on a flat surface with the zipper facing toward the ceiling.


2. Make it into a skirt by cutting across the entire pair above the crotch.


3. Turn the jeans inside out.


4. Stitch up the bottom using a sewing machine.


5. Measure two straps using the scrap fabric.


6. With the jeans still inside out, sew on the first strap in the front


7. Sew on the second strap in the back.

Or take two old T-shirts out of the drawer to create a reversible statement.

1. Lay both down on a flat surface with the front facing toward the ceiling.


2. Cut both shirts into a square by cutting off the neck and the sleeves.


3. Put one shirt in the other with both insides facing away from each other.


4. Stitch up the bottom by sewing all four layers together using a machine.


5. Measure out two straps using the scrap fabric.


6. Place one strap between the top two layers of fabric and sew it on.


7. Place the second second strap between the bottom two layers of fabric and sew.


8. Then sew the two shirts together at the top.

The same concept used for the blue jeans or the T-shirts can be duplicated with almost any fabric around the house. And if you are good enough, your work could win a blue ribbon at the Pima County Fair like mine did during middle school.

Remember bags can be jazzed up by sewing on parts of other accessories. So make that old belt into a strap. Or use beads from an old necklace for some bling.