What to Wear, Now through Fall

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BACKPACKS AND BAGS

If you can do only one thing green, steer clear of trendy but toxic PVC—especially when shopping for your children's raincoats, backpacks and bags. Soft vinyl products contain phthalate plasticizers that "offgas" into the air you breathe and can be ingested directly by chewing. Alternatives abound:

Adidas Tuttle ($59) or Cope II Backpack ($44.99), www.sportchalet.com, 818-790-2717
Corduroy Hemp Handbag, green or purple, Fair Trade handcrafted in Guatemala ($36), from Global Exchange, www.gxonlinestore.org, 800-505-4410
Green Gypsy Bag, woven in Guatemalan patterns ($29.95); Peruvian Rainbow Reed Picnic Basket ($39.93); sparkling red, embroidered recycled-sari Tote Bag ($49.95), all made and sold under Fair Trade regulations, www.worldofgood.com, 510-868-1016.
Messenger Bag of 100 percent post-consumer recycled rubber ($65) or Hemp Briefcase with strong handles, recycled foam padding, low-impact dyes ($61.75), www.greenearthofficesupply.com, 800-327-8449
Hemp Passport and Field Bags for travel (from $26); also the coolest, Annie Hall-style floppy hat ($22) and hand-crocheted beanie ($21), www.hempsisters.com, 866-465-4489
Solar Backpack ($229), made of nylon, generates enough power to charge small electronic devices such as cell phones, digital cameras and iPods, but not laptops; rechargeable battery packs cost $75 and last about 55 hours, www.voltaicsystems.com, 212-627-5012
Amazonas Purse ($95) and other bags made from wild rubber trees in the Amazon (www.jadeplanet.com)

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