Eco-friendly bags are boring.

At least, you'd be hard-pressed not to think so after a visit to any grocery or department store, where the eco-conscious dutifully tote dull, utilitarian green or beige bags -- all of which are roughly the same size and shape.

But style mavens take heart. There are actually scores of exciting new eco-bag producers out there. They're making bags for the elegant and for the funky, for the practical and for the wacky.

And a new online merchandiser in Calgary is your connection to this world of eco-chic.

Frustrated with their lacklustre eco-bags -- which they kept forgetting at home -- Ildar Sharafutdinov and his wife Irina Fazetdinova created ECOcentric Bags in early August to connect Earth-minded shoppers in Canada with stylish and functional bags.

The home-based company combed the world to find a wide range of reusable, recyclable and sustainable bags now available at ecocentricbags.com. The couple tries to source its bags from local companies, but most come from suppliers in the U.S. and Asia.

"There aren't many ecofriendly bag producers in Canada," Sharafutdinov explains. "But we're constantly looking for more."

ECOcentric has bags for almost every use: backpack, messenger, shopping, grocery, produce and lunch. They also have purses, handbags and wallets.

And -- shocking -- not all are made of cotton. Many are recycled from tires, seatbelts or juice containers. Others are from sustainable sources such as hemp and bamboo.

Their selection includes dozens of styles, prints, shapes and colour schemes. Best of all, the company sells only ethically produced bags made without any toxic materials in the manufacturing process. So with a few clicks, its customers can buy stylish, safe and conscience-approved bags.

tedwards@calgaryherald.com