Custom Photo Tote bags and Wearable Art
Designed and produced in Burlington, VT
About Flashbags
Flashbags are designed and built to attract attention - her favorite pictures edge to edge, inside and out. We craft all our photo tote bags and wearable art in Burlington, Vermont. Each unique bag is made from recycled Seven Days newspaper and feature decorative stitching and hearty construction. Flashbags can carry up to 45 lbs of weight, are water resistant and wear like your favorite pair of jeans. Choose from our selection of art, collage and benefit designs or upload your own photo!
Carry a Conversation™
What's yours?
Who knew that a handbag would carry a conversation? A Flashbag is a walking billboard to showcase what you honor most and prompting conversation of your values, stories, and creativity.
It stops men, women, and teenage boys in subways, grocery lines, airports, and sidewalks. "Where did you get that bag?" Suddenly you are speaking with a stranger about what you cherish most.
A Flashbag creates a connection and brings us back to the things that matter most - what we love - art, a child, an organization, an experience, a mission, hope, compassion.
Before Flashbags, founders Ali Marchildon and Laura Cheney were rooted in careers and experiences in education, volunteerism, and community. In 2005, the "Flashbag", a hobby started in Ali's living room, began to take a life of its own. But it wasn't just a handbag or a fashion accessory. It started conversations...a walking billboard.
In the spring of 2006, Ali and Laura were busy drafting a business plan and attending the Women's Small Business Program, in Burlington, Vermont, searching for the perfect tagline. And it came to Ali on her living room couch- Carry a Conversation...
Perfect. It spoke to the heart of Flashbags and the reason why Ali and Laura felt drawn to this business- it made connections between people, sparked creativity, drew conversations out of strangers, and made people smile and engage. It made a difference in people's lives. Now that is good.
- A print, laminate, newspaper, some stitching, and then a FLASHBAG!
Flashbags are handmade tote bags and accessories made out of recycled newspaper
Every one of our unique eco-friendly handbags begins with premium color copies on regular paper. We laminate the images and then reinforce them with multiple sheets of recycled newspaper. Each panel of these sustainable handbags consists of 12 layers of new and recycled paper to ensure strength and durability.
Our eco-friendly tote bags and accessories have images on every panel—inside and out. We custom embroider each custom handbag with colorful swoops and swirls that compliment the composition of each image. Our sustainable tote bags, eco-friendly handbags and accessories represent true eco fashion.
- The Book Worm Buzzbag - a request from a customer for a graduate!
Form that you will find nowhere else ...
At the Flashpad in Burlington, Vermont, we handcraft every one of our sustainable handbags with images that run edge to edge, inside and out, and incorporate decorative stitching that matches the composition.
Vermont is tough on handbags, so we make sure Flashbags are extremely durable and water resistant. These are not just paper bags.
Shop our line of custom art handbags or design your own personalized tote bag by uploading a photo and become a part of the creative process.
- Vinyl binding to protect corners and edges
Sustainable Recycling
While we make every attempt to use recycled materials, we believe long lasting durability is perhaps more important than being "green."
We strive to make products that will last, allowing you to carry a longer conversation. The outside layer of all Flashbags is a laminate- ensuring water resistance and color quality after exposure to the sun and the elements. We add vinyl on most edges to prevent tears and fraying. As a result a Flashbag can last for a long long time, retaining structure, image quality and functionality. If you find otherwise, we'd love to see what has happened!
- From coast to coast, beach to snow, airports and taxis...
What happens with wear? This bag, art by Elizabeth St. Hillaire Nelson, carried a laptop and a lot more stuff for 8 months. It traveled across the country, carried wet towels and drinks to the beach, was stuffed under airport seats, and took it all like a champ. And it was the coolest looking bag on the beaches of Miami.
The heart of a Flashbag is the image.
Whether it is in the beauty of a child, the serenity of a scene, or the artistry of composition, Flashbags are based on images. We are privileged to work with accomplished artists and photographers from around the nation. We have selected our artists and photographers because they demonstrate a sense of timelessness. We may not consciously follow the trends, but we believe in the integrity of each piece of work that we put forth. We may capitalize on innovative function at Flashbags, but we depend entirely on images that speak to you. A portion of every sale of our featured art goes back to the artist who created the image. Flashbags are walking pieces of art.
The art of stitching
The decorative stitching on every panel serves both form and function. It quilts the 12 layers together, while adding an element of human creativity to each piece. There is no template- every stitch is the work of a seamstress and an expression of creativity which we hope speaks to you, without compromising the image that touches you. Sometimes a swoop, a swirl, a spiral, a zigzag, a wave, a loop, but always impressive.