BUENOS AIRES , Argentina ( CNN ) -- Argentina 's economy is in a perpetual state of uncertainty . As a result , Argentines have learned to live with what they 've got -- and make things last . Lukas Desimone of Baumm cuts out a new bag from an old billboard advertisement . This resilience and resourcefulness has resulted in a wonderfully creative culture , where innovation and ingenuity are ever-present . In the wake of the country 's 2001-2002 economic crash , many Argentines could n't afford to travel abroad to forge new business relationships and absorb foreign ideas , so they did what they 've always done -- they looked within for inspiration . In particular , Argentine fashion and designs have come to the forefront in recent years and gained worldwide accolades . These days , whenever I walk down the streets of Buenos Aires , especially in the trendy bohemian neighborhoods of Palermo and San Telmo , I see scores of boutique shops selling cool furnishings and hip clothing . Watch Brian Byrnes ' report from Argentina » . These are the places that always seem to attract the most attention from tourists ; I do n't think they expect to find such cutting-edge goods here , and are pleasantly surprised when they do . I 've lived in Argentina since 2001 , and witnessed the country struggle through the bad times and enjoy the subsequent recovery ; in some sectors of society you could even call it a renaissance . So it comes as no surprise to me that Argentine designers are now meshing technology and fashion in totally new , and in many cases , eco-friendly ways . Living a `` green '' lifestyle is a relatively new concept in Argentina , and the country is definitely behind in regards to education and implementation of environmentally-friendly policies , but that has started to change in recent years , and as they are prone to do , many Argentines have embraced the idea with their typical gusto . I wanted to find out more about some of these new designers , so I visited two businesses in Buenos Aires that are creating items that are both innovative and unique , especially for this region of the world . We 'll be featuring these two companies on CNN International 's special weeklong programming called `` Going Green '' this week . The first place I went is Indarra DTX , housed in an enormous warehouse that also serves as a storage area for a supermarket . When I knocked on the non-descript gray metal door and passed through a loading dock area , I was thinking that I may have come to the wrong place . But cameraman Eduardo Aragona and I were soon greeted by a cheerful receptionist , Agustina , who led us into the spacious workspace and then to a corner area reserved for fashion fittings and meetings . There we met Julieta Gayoso , the 37-year-old owner of Indarra DTX . She told me that Indarra is a Basque word that means `` energy '' and she named the company such because her objective is to mesh technology and fashion in a way that advances the functionality of clothing . `` We are with our clothes 24 hours a day , so I think they need to provide us with other services , and these new benefits have to do with technology , '' says Gayoso . Indarra makes sleek jackets from eco-friendly textiles , like bamboo fibers and Lyocell . One of their most intriguing products is the FV Module Jacket , which comes with a small solar panel attached to the back . The panel absorbs sunlight and in turn can power your Ipod or charge your cell phone . I tried one on , and it was comfortable , practical -- and stylish . Although I must say , I would be a bit concerned about garnering glances on the street because of the solar square . It 's not that noticeable , though , and it 's worth the funny looks to save a little energy . Every bit counts , right ? Next , we headed across town to the workshop and studio of Baumm , a self-proclaimed `` Recycle and Design Company '' housed on the second floor of a refurbished old home in the Villa Crespo neighborhood of Buenos Aires . Lukas Desimone , 29 , and Rodrigo Chapero , 27 , are the co-owners of the company , and when I first met them I thought they could easily be members of a skateboarding team . Baumm -- which means `` tree '' in German ( they added an extra `` m '' so `` it would look cooler , '' according to Chapero ) -- creates hip messenger bags and wallets from the vinyl that is used in billboards . When they first started , they would literally rip down the material from old street advertisements ; now they have hired some people to bring the material to them . It 's a fantastic idea , because as Chapero told me , the material is not recyclable and is toxic if burned , so essentially , once an advertising campaign is over , the vinyl is rolled up , stored away , and never used again . The Baumm guys saw the potential in this , and now make colorful , 100 percent original bags that retail for around $ 30 each . Every bag is hand-made , and literally one-of-a-kind . `` We are giving new life to something we take out of the trash , '' says Chapero .
CNN 's Brian Byrnes reports from Argentina on trend for eco-friendly fashion . Economic crash inspired a new creativity that 's all about recycling , reusing . Score: 6 Baumm uses vinyl from discarded billboard advertisements to make bags .