Within days of being hired by GreenDaily, I had a larger-than-life lesson in the meaning of "greenwashing." While wandering through a consumer expo, I looked at presentations from a "green" private airplane service, a "green" latex paint manufacturer, and numerous other companies whose commitment to the environment began and ended with their marketing department. As I've continued to follow green business, in fact, I've started to wonder if there are any manufacturers that actually care about the environment, or if they are all in it for the money.

On the other hand, just when I'm convinced that the whole thing is a joke and that big business is absolutely hopeless, I sometimes come across a company that surprises me with its commitment to making the world a better place. Even if their goals are modest and their product line is narrow, the fact that these manufacturers are serious about improving the world gives me hope that change is happening, even if it's taking place in teeny tiny little baby steps.

On Tuesday, I got a look at SakRoots' Spring 2009 "Eco Harmony" handbag line and had one of those hopeful little moments. The bags themselves are colorful and playful, with designs that hearken to the Sak's other signature totes. While I don't know all that much about handbags, I thought that the samples were wonderfully tactile, constructed from soft, yet densely-crocheted fabric. The bags' designer, Lorae Russo, has married The Sak's handbag traditions with native materials and artistic techniques, producing sophisticated, urban styles that have surprisingly thoughtful details. Some of the bags feature playful batik designs, while others are more serious, with rich, solid colors. The wooden tags have nailhead-style writing and hand-painted mandalas, while the metal hardware is entirely hand-crafted.