Vegan Handbag Brands to Add to Your Wishlist
Handbags: an essential in any wardrobe. The right bag can add so much to an outfit – from a hint of polish to an edgy touch. The ultimate accessory, handbags were among the first product categories to present great vegan options. As vegan fashion started coming into the mainstream, vegan handbag brands were the first adopters by offering plant-based designs. Today, there are more options than ever, as brands expand their ranges and work with a vast variety of materials. Here are some of our favorites.
LUXTRA London
Credit: LUXTRA London
Working almost exclusively with plant leathers, LUXTRA is setting the standard for new vegan luxury. Founder Jessica Kruger is a serial entrepreneur, having first founded London-based vegan restaurant Ethos. And she hasn’t abandoned the food realm entirely: lots of her bags are made from fruit-derived fibres such as apples, corn and pineapples. Others are crafted from cactus and recycled nylon. LUXTRA is also working with plastic-free vegan leather Mirum, with new-edition bags to launch during spring/summer 2023.
Credit: FRIDA ROME
After appearing on BBC entrepreneurship show Dragons' Den, best friends Rebecca Joy and Natalie Deana can barely hold on to one of their WEEK/END bags, which are flying off the shelves. The two friends, who came up with the idea for FRIDA ROME (“free to roam”) during one of their many travels. The edgy-chic bag that won them investment on the show is made from cactus leather, but the entrepreneurs are also now using other plant-based materials such as apple leather.
Check out the Species Unite podcast episode with FRIDA ROME co-founder, Natalie Deana, here! Use the code FRIDAFRIEND for a 10% discount.
Credit: Ava Carrington
Looking for an office-appropriate new handbag? Your search is over. Swedish PETA-Approved Vegan bag brand Ava Carrington’s sleek, structured designs are perfect for nine-to-five – and beyond. The brand, launched by two sisters from Stockholm, is also looking to give back in more ways than one: for every bag sold, they plant 10 trees.
Credit: Alexandra K
Polish brand Alexandra K is more than just handbags – offering coats, jackets and other apparel, this label has branched out since its beginnings. But its handbags remain at the core of their range, pioneering materials such as corn leather (made from up to 75% biomass). From decorative designs to more straightforward, versatile styles, Alexandra K is a complete handbag wardrobe, with something for every taste.
Credit: Melina Bucher
A true vegan fashion pioneer, Dutch brand Melina Bucher is among the first labels to pioneer plant-based plastic-free vegan leather Mirum. Featured in VOGUE, GLAMOUR, Grazia and more, this brand is putting innovative sustainability on the bag with its sophisticated yet wearable designs.
Credit: SENTIENT
Edgy and sleek, SENTIENT creates unique designs such as dresses and shorts made from cactus leather – but their Panthera bag is quickly becoming a sustainable fashion favourite. The design is made from cactus leather which derives from Mexico, and 10% of sales go to protecting the natural habitat of the Mexican jaguar.
Credit: Miomojo
Italian label Miomojo works with a range of plant leathers such as corn and apple. Recently, the brand collaborated with PETA on a collection of bags that support the organisation’s work – but that’s not all that the company does to help the planet. Their giving-back programme allows consumers to choose a charity to support with a percentage of sales – a recent addition is Four Paws’ South African big-cat sanctuary Lionsrock.
Ashoka Paris x Pamela Anderson bag collaboration. Credit: Ashoka Paris
If Parisian chic is your thing, check out French brand Ashoka. Stylish vegan handbags are at the heart of this label, which also offers sneakers and other accessories. Recently, Ashoka launched a collaboration with material innovation company Bolt Threads, whose mushroom leather Mylo is an eco-friendly option for vegan fashion – but Ashoka is one of the first brands working with this plant leather.
LaBante London
One of the veteran vegan handbag brands, LaBante was born in 2009 – after founder Vanita Badlani decided to leave her job in banking to focus on her passion for cruelty-free fashion. As a long-time vegetarian, Vanita spotted a gap in the market for high-quality accessories made without leather.
Today, sneakers and jewellery are among the brand’s ranges, but its fans are flocking to it due to its handbags, which are both office-friendly and party-perfect.
Credit: LaBante London
Minuit Sur Terre
Shoes, apparel and beautiful bags are offered by this French label, which is big on apple leather. Among the first brands in France to work with vegan fashion, Minuit Sur Terre was founded by Marie Viard-Klein, who noticed that there weren’t many French vegan fashion brands. She had also recently adopted her dog, Cannelle – and was looking for a job where she could bring her dog to work! The brand produces its creations in Portugal, and is now also running a second-hand section.
Credit: Minuit Sur Terre
Written by Sascha Camilli
Sascha Camill is a writer, speaker and vegan fashion expert. She founded the world's first digital vegan fashion magazine Vilda, and is the author of Vegan Style: Your Plant-Based Guide to Beauty, Fashion, Home & Travel. Her podcast, Catwalk Rebel, is out now.
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