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Volk! Bags
What it is Volk! Bags, a line of eco-friendly tote bags made from reused fabrics by Danny Volk. “I never intended to make green things,” Volk says, “it just sort of happened naturally.”
Who he is Volk moved to the city from Ohio (he studied theater at Kent State University) in 2006 and did what many new grads do: He worked in the restaurant industry. One day, while waiting tables at Crust in Wicker Park, Volk found a piece of fabric near the trash (“it was really nice and wasn’t dirty,” he adds) and decided to teach himself how to sew it into a tote bag. He liked his finished product and, suspecting he was onto something, went to local thrift stores to purchase used curtains, dresses and shirts. He made more bags in his Andersonville apartment, then took the totes to a handful of local boutiques (such as Elements, Grasshopper 510 and Green Genes) and convinced the owners to stock them.
Why we like it The bags ($55) are simple, and since Volk uses different fabric combinations (ranging from busy prints to plain corduroy to plaid), each is one-of-a-kind. He also accepts custom orders ($100), where you can supply your own pieces of fabric. Volk’s creative aspirations and green initiatives don’t end with the bags, either. On his website, he also sells scarves made out of sweater vests ($25) and whimsical mustard gags ($10), which are basically reused mustard bottles filled with yellow yarn, perfect for jokesters everywhere. “I hope these projects inspire people to think about resources differently and being creative,” he says.
Where to find it The bags are available at Elements (741 N Wells St, 877-642-6574), Grasshopper 510 (1944 N Damen Ave, 773-292-0510) and Green Genes (5111 N Clark St, 773-944-9250). This weekend, Volk sells his bags at the Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Sale.
