Eve Cork Blog

As a relatively new leather alternative in North America, you may be wondering how our cork purses actually stand up compared to other materials when it comes to durability. “How long will one of your handbags last?” is a popular question that we get. Our answer always is, “a long time”.

When cork comes to mind, most people think wine stoppers, coasters and cork boards. That said, there are absolutely no similarities between the between the material used for our cork handbags and the cork shavings used to make those items.

Compared to genuine leather goods, our premium cork fabric is lighter, softer and more durable. It’s soft and supple just like leather, but it’s scratch proof, stain-resistant and even resistant to flames!

The other advantage that our cork bags have over leather and other vegan alternatives is that they are waterproof. Although getting stuck in the pouring rain isn’t ideal, but if you have an Eve Cork bag at your belongings will stay bone dry.

“I live in Vancouver and it rains all of the time here. Luckily, this backpack is big enough to fit my laptop and my lunch while keeps them dry on my bike ride to work. I love the look of it and my co-workers could not believe it was made from cork!” - Sarah O (Grande Genesis | Black)

When it comes to aging, our cork purses and backpacks require low maintenance, are easy to clean and keep their shape. You may also notice that your bag will get more supple over time.

In addition to premium cork, all of our products are made with expert craftsmanship, high-quality Italian sourced hardware and YKK zippers.

Simply put, our stylish bags are made to last. Shop our collections of beautiful cork products to find your new favorite bag today!

Here at Eve Cork, we’re all about sustainability and products that fit into an eco-friendly & cruelty-free lifestyle. Aside from creating sustainable cork handbags, we’re always looking for other products that both our customers and ourselves would appreciate.

We recently came across a company by the name of Pela. They’re the World’s first creator of eco-friendly phone cases. Made from flaxstic (flax straw waste), these cases are 100% biodegradable and compostable. This means that when you're finished with your case, you can dispose of it in a way that actually helps the environment!

Similar to our cork bags, Pela cases are actually extremely durable and offer amazing protection from drops and scratches. Their products are BPA-free, safe for children and come in plastic-free packaging. In addition to all of this, donations are made to environmental initiatives from each sale.

Overall, we can’t recommend the Pela Case enough. With more cell phones on the planet than people in 2018, they're a great way to protect both your phone & the environment at the same time!

Shop their collection and find a stylish & eco-friendly phone case that suits you at www.pelacase.com

With Father’s Day coming up, it’s time to show your dad (or dads) some Father’s Day love by treating them to some extra special gifts and activities! A great dad deserves a great present, but sometimes dads can be hard to shop for. They are picky, and if they see something they like, they usually buy it themselves. So what do you get your dad for Father’s Day? Well have no fear, the master list of gift ideas for Dad is right here! We are going to share with you some of our top picks for gifts for Dad this year and some bonus activities you can do with him this Father’s Day!

For the Clean Shaven Dad:

For the dads out there who love a clean shave and deserve an indulgent little morning routine, Harry's Winston Shave set is the perfect solution for Father’s Day! Not only is it practical, but with the option to engrave the kit and personalize it makes it extremely thoughtful as well! Lots of men are still using disposable razors, so why not treat your dad to some nice new tools?

For the Tech Savvy dad:

Smart Speakers are all the rage now, so why not treat your dad to an Amazon Echo, or the echo dot? Not only can he use it to tell him the weather, give him news and sports updates and play music, but he can also use it as his office companion to talk to while he misses you at work! Smart speakers or any other speakers are a great functional gift for those tech dads.

For the traveling dad:

If you have a dad that travels a lot for work, he probably is constantly on the go, shoving things into his bags last minute and lugging his suitcase around. Why not treat dad this year to an amazing new duffle bag that is not only high quality but cruelty-free and ethically made? The Preston Duffle bag from Eve Cork is an excellent way to show your dad some love and have him think of you while he’s on his trips. 

For the professional dad:

In addition to a cork duffle bag or cork messenger, all dad's a good quality belt don’t they? So why not give him the gift of a beautifully ethically sourced vegan belt? Truth belts is an amazing company that offers an amazing array of belts that are great for the planet and your dad’s pants.

For the spicy dad:

Why deprive dad of making his very own hot sauce? That’s right, the uncommon goods Make your own Hot sauce kit is an amazing gift for dads who just can’t get enough heat!

For the over-caffeinated dads 

Is coffee running through your dad’s veins? If so, why not treat him to a beautiful stainless steel French press from Williams Sonoma this year. Whether he sees coffee as a necessity or a luxury, this French press will definitely amp up his morning coffee game. For a more affordable option, try this one!

For the Boozy-beer-drinkin’ dad

Why not a beer making kit? While beer can also make a great gift, why not have him make his own beer and enjoy the process of creating his own specialty beer? Not only is it a fun experience for him, but you can join in on the fun and bond with your dad while making the beer together!

For the caffeinated and boozy dad:

Why not combine both your dad’s love for booze and coffee with some bourbon infused coffee? Not only is it a uniques gift, but its definitely something he would never think of buying for himself. It’s the coffee he never knew he needed, but once he has it, he will love it.

For the dad you can never figure out:

You can never have too many socks…right? I have been telling myself that every year for the last 15 years, as I get my dad socks for every holiday and occasion because he is so hard to shop for! So why not get him another set of some fun patterned socks? This gift set by Happy Socks is the perfect Father’s Day set for you dad!

For the cheesy sentimental dad:

Most of us have some cheesy lovey dads who love personalized silly gifts for father’s day, so let’s feed into their love for your love and get dad a personalized coupon book for father’s day? You could always make the coupons yourself, but this Etsy seller creates custom coupon books for dad that look a lot more refined at an affordable price! Gift dad with the choice of a free lawn manicure, dinner made by you, a nap on the couch, you name it, it can be done!

Now that you have some great gift ideas, you have to have some great activities planned for dad!

• Take him on an outdoor adventure. Whether its a long hike, a bike ride, or some white water rafting, dad will love to spend time with you while doing some awesome activities!
• Take him on a picnic. Dad’s love when their kids put thoughtful activities together, and a picnic is the perfect way to get outside and celebrate dad with some delicious sandwiches and snacks, without breaking the bank!
• Take him golfing. Most dads love golf, don’t they? If yours does, take him for a game of golf and enjoy the day in the sun on the course!
• Take him to dinner. Original right? Well he will still love celebrating himself out at dinner, bonus points if it’s his favourite restaurant!
• Take him to the movies. If there’s a movie out your dad has been dying to see, take him to see it and spend the afternoon or evening in the theatre sharing popcorn, candy and enjoying a good flick.

The possibilities are endless this year for Father’s day so get creative, get inspired, and show your dad how much you love him! Let us know what you did this Father’s day and tag us on instagram if you get any of our suggested products on the list!

"There's a cork shortage!". "Aren't cork trees endangered?"

For many of us in North America, these are some of the first things that come to mind when people think of cork. That said, we can assure you that these claims are not accurate. 

Just to clear things up right away - there’s an abundance of cork. Although the majority of cork trees grow in a relatively small portion of the globe, there's enough cork on the planet Today to seal all the wine in the World for the next 100 years.  

So where did the myth come from?

You’ve probably noticed that most wine bottles now come with a screw cap instead of a traditional cork stopper. This for good reason:

Cork is hand harvested only once per year by skilled farmers, making it a much more expensive material compared to synthetic screw cap alternatives. It was for this reason that the wine industry saw a huge opportunity to cut costs. Recent studies also show that screw caps do a better job of preserving the wine itself.

That said, wineries needed a reason to convince you that screw caps were the way to go. And just like that - the misleading “cork shortage” rumor was born.

In the last ten years, the increase in screw caps has created a decrease in demand for real corks. The cork industry has become endangered because of this - not the trees themselves.

With the wine industry moving away from the cork, other uses for the amazing material are on the rise. Because it is impermeable, lightweight and moisture-resistant, cork handbags and wallets are becoming popular leather alternatives. You’ll also find cork being used for flooring, shoes and other vegan fashion accessories.

A Few Facts About Cork Trees:

• They can live up to 300 years old.
• You can’t harvest cork from a cork tree until it’s 25 years old.
• When harvested, the trees are not cut down, the bark of the tree is stripped away by hand.
• Harvesting the bark actually helps the cork trees grow faster and live longer.
• Once harvested, farmers mark the trees to make sure they aren't harvested for another 9-10 years. 
• Cork farmers are some of the highest paid workers in Portugal. 
• It's illegal to cut down a cork tree in Portugal. 

Cork harvesting is the process of removing the bark from the cork oak tree. Contrary to popular belief, this process actually helps the trees grow faster and live longer, allowing them to live 200 years on average. The trees also have to be a minimum of 25 years old before they are allowed to be harvested, and can only be harvested once every 9-10 years.

Cork harvesting is time-honored tradition and is an important skill often passed down from generation to generation. It’s an extremely difficult operation made to look easy by the expertise of skilled cork harvesters.

These experienced, and high paid workers use a machete and harvest the bark by hand instead of using any kind of machinery. They slice the bark into sections and then use a metal wedge to peel the cut out section from the trees. Although this is an intensive procedure, the harvesters are very careful not to damage the thin membrane between the bark and the tree’s trunk.

Once the bark is harvested, the farmers clearly mark the trees to ensure they are not harvested again for another 9-10 years. Thus, keeping the trees healthy and the sustainable resource in a renewable state.

Once the bark is harvested, it is dried out, boiled and compressed into thin sheets. Completely eco-friendly & cruelty-free, this wonderful material is then used to make cork purses, cork backpacks, shoes and other vegan fashion accessories. Cork can also be used for flooring and your typical wine stopper.