Celebrating Earth Day at five ACCESSORIES

Earth Day makes you think of using less and recycling more to help protect our environment.  At five ACCESSORIES, our core goal is to use recycled materials for our bags.  Here is a list of the reused materials:


Recycled Netting 

Netting material intended for use in the fishing and construction industries that has holes and rips in it is sold off at local markets. We recycle it for use in our bags.

Repurposed Motorcycle Seats

Over 80% of the population uses motorcycles. We repurpose the seats to make our purses.

Reused Black Plastic Bags

Plastic bags are cut, heated and crocheted into sharp looking accessories. 

Celebrating the Khmer New Year with our Cambodian Artisan Partners

The Khmer New Year is celebrated in Cambodia starting on April 13th.  Our artisan partners will have the entire week off through April 22nd to celebrate this majestical time.  The holiday usually signifies the end of the harvesting season, when farmers enjoy the fruits of their labor before the rainy season begins.  For an insight into the 2013 Khmer Song, please view the following YouTube Video.  

We are proud to support the traditions and value of the country where our goods are produced.  For more information about Cambodia and our fair trade labor practices please visit our website.

The beginning of a business inspired from a honeymoon trip around the world.

The founders of five ACCESSORIES, Christine Hutchison and her husband traveled to Bali in 2005. While there they met a Balinese man, I Make Kichen,  who told them how a gift of $5 a month from an American couple who visited Bali impacted his life in a big way. This small contribution empowered him to stay in school and improve his English, eventually allowing him to send his kids to college, proving that $5 can empower a parent and a family.

Over six years later, Christine brings the story from Bali into fair trade products from Cambodia.  Through her partnership with Smateria, she helps to support over 100 artisans from Phnom Penh, Cambodia .  Believing that the products made under fair trade labor practices empowers people by teaching them viable working skills is the surest way to fight global poverty.  Bringing the story from their honeymoon full circle and showing how just a small amount, even as little as five dollars, can have a change on someone’s life.  

As wedding season approaches, we remember the power of weddings and honeymoons to bring people together in new and unexpected positive ways! Our Must Have Clutch is perfect for any bridesmaid. An adjustable and removable strap can be worn as a wristlet or off the shoulder. Shot silk is handmade from Cambodia with design by La Vie Devant Soie. Who knows what will happen when a bridesmaid with our bright and colorful clutch shares her love for the bride with the beauty of five ACCESSORIES!

Global Activism Expo, WBEZ

Last year our founder, Christine Hutchison, had the honor of being interviewed by Jerome McDonnell on NPR's Worldview.  We discussed how we have grown our partnership with Smateria, a fair trade group in Cambodia, over the past four years to now offer stylish and fashion forward bags that are also using sustainable material in over 200 national stores.  We have seen Smateria grown from 15 artisans to over 100 artisans now offering a daycare center and school that is a free benefit to our artisans children.  

This Saturday, come meet Jerome McDonnell and Barbara Ramsey of WBEZ at the 6th Annual Global Activism Expo in Chicago.  The event will take place from at the UIC Forum, 725 W Roosevelt,  from noon to 6 pm.  Admission is free.   five ACCESSORIES will be among 100 socially conscious organizations making a global impact. Come support and learn how you can help make a difference in someone's life.  Through the purchase of one laptop sleeve, we are able to provide five meals to the children of our daycare center.