A staple in every wardrobe, a good handbag is a key investment piece, often getting the most wear out of any sartorial item. As we as consumers are becoming more conscious of the way in which our purchases affect the world around us, it’s become more important to consider how our bags are made; from whether sustainable materials are used to how the workers making them are treated.
What is vegan leather made out of?
While traditional leathers typical come from animal skin, vegan leather mimics the appearance and feel of animal leather but is made with alternative materials. In the past, vegan leather has often been made with PVC and polyurethane; while these materials are certainly a more humane alternative to animal leather, they’re plastic- and petroleum-based and are thus not the most eco-friendly.
Alternatives to PVC- and polyurethane-based vegan leather
Fortunately, recent years have seen a growth in sustainably minded vegan leathers, which strive not to harm animals or the planet. There are several vegan leathers that can be made from plant fibres, including Piñatex (pineapple leaves), Desserto (cactus leather), mushrooms, cork, coconut husks, grapes, and apples. Of these, apple, pineapple, and cactus leathers are the most commonly found. There are also brands making use of recycled polyester, nylon, and polyurethane, which reduced the amount of virgin plastic created.
The best sustainable and ethical vegan bag brands
Made using eco-friendly materials, in fair conditions, and without animal by-products, these are our 17 favourite ethical, sustainable, and vegan bag brands.
1. Angela Roi
Simultaneously timeless and contemporary, Angela Roi works with skilled artisans — who are paid fair wages — to create luxury, leather-free vegan bags. Their crossbody bags, micro totes, and bucket bags boast clean silhouettes, structured compartments, and a pebbled, leather-like finish.
Ethical considerations: cruelty-free, vegan, ethically made
2. von Holzhausen
Los Angeles-founded brand von Holzhausen is a pioneer in the materials innovation space. Rather than utilising polyurethane, von Holzhausen has created materials from bamboo and agricultural waste, as well as post-consumer plastic. The brand’s shoppers, bucket bags, totes, and crossbody bags are streamlined and minimalist in their design, with the range also extending to card holders, belts, wallets, and smartwatch straps.
Ethical considerations: cruelty-free, vegan, ethically made, eco-friendly, plant-based leather, recycled vegan leather
3. Pixie Mood
Fun and vibrant, Canada-based label Pixie Mood creates quirky, colourful bags that are sure to make you stand out from the crowd. Affordable and stylish, Pixie Mood’s bags are made from vegan leather by workers who are paid fair wages.
Ethical considerations: cruelty-free, vegan, ethically made
4. Alexandra K
Proving style and luxury don’t need to come at the expense of ethics and sustainability, Alexandra K creates vegan bags from organic, environmentally safe fabrics. Made in Poland, their modern designs utilise innovative plant-based fabrics like apple, pineapple, and corn leather, with sleek gold hardware.
Ethical considerations: cruelty-free, vegan, ethically made, eco-friendly, plant-based leather
5. Kwonn
Recognising the issues associated with PVC- and polyurethane-based materials, Kwonn bags use vegan-friendly performance suede made from plant-based materials. Ethically produced by artisans in New York, the Kwonn range comprises tote, shopper, and crossbody bags. Rather than imitate the appearance of leather, Kwonn bags take on a uniquely luxurious look of their own.
Ethical considerations: cruelty-free, vegan, ethically made, eco-friendly, plant-based leather
6. Matt and Nat
Montreal-based label Matt & Nat has been at the forefront of the vegan bag and fashion space for decades. Their handbags are crafted from vegan leather, apple leather, and recycled plastic and come in a wide array of styles; from bucket and crossbody bags to satchels and totes.
Ethical considerations: cruelty-free, vegan, ethically made, eco-friendly when possible
7. House of Sunny
London-based label House of Sunny has a robust range of vegan-friendly bags in addition to its womenswear and menswear lines. Made from vegan leather, House of Sunny bags take on a playful, contemporary vibe, with on-trend silhouettes in both neutrals and vibrant pop colours.
Ethical considerations: cruelty-free, vegan, ethically made
8. JW Pei
Founded on the basis that fashion should be elegant and accessible without compromising on sustainability and ethics, Los Angeles brand JW Pei creates chic, minimalist designs from vegan leather, high-quality canvas, and recycled plastic bottles. From croc-leather style crossbody bags and instagram it girl-approved shoulder bags to streamlined belt bags and totes, JW Pei has a vegan bag for every taste.
Ethical considerations: cruelty-free, vegan, ethically made
9. Charles & Keith
While not exclusively a vegan-friendly brand, Singaporean label Charles & Keith has made a name for itself thanks to its covetable styles at an affordable price point. The brand has a vast range of vegan leather bags, spanning crossbody, tote, mini, clutch, and backpack styles.
Ethical considerations: vegan-friendly options
10. A_C Official
Luxury ethical Australian label A_C Official, previously Ahimsa Collective, is spearheading the sustainable vegan bag movement, with their use of innovative, eco-friendly leathers crated from cactus, and silica sand. A_C Official is best for stylish crossbody bags, shoppers, clutches, and totes.
Ethical considerations: cruelty-free, vegan, ethically made, eco-friendly, plant-based leather
11. Brie Leon
Australian brand Brie Leon specialises in vegan-friendly and ethically produced bags and jewellery. With timeless and trendy silhouettes alike and colourways ranging from neutrals to vibrant hues like powder blue and desert orange, there’s something for every taste. The brand is now taking steps to eliminate virgin plastic from its lineup, making use of recycled polyurethane, rPET, rPVB, recycled nylon, and apple leather.
Ethical considerations: vegan, cruelty-free, ethically made, eco-friendly when possible
12. Ashoka Paris
Parisian label Ashoka Paris is a sustainably minded vegan brand that prioritises the use of ecological and biosourced materials in its collections, with its handbags utilising leather crafted from apples, mushrooms, and cereal. The range takes on a traditional aesthetic and comprises totes, backpacks, crossbody bags, briefcases, and card holders.
Ethical considerations: vegan, cruelty-free, ethically made, eco-friendly, plant-based leather
13. Ava Carrington
Founded in Sweden in 2019 by sisters Sofia and Helena Mattsson, Ava Carrington bags are made from environmentally friendly vegan leather and boast 24k gold-plated hardware. The tightly curated range comprises two styles — a satchel and a crossbody bag — each of which come in four neutral shades.
Ethical considerations: vegan, cruelty-free, ethically made, eco-friendly
14. Sans Beast
Founded by fashion industry veteran Cathryn Wills, Australian label Sans Beast bags take on a structured, contemporary tone with clean lines and rectilinear forms. Spanning totes, crossbody bags, and mini satchels, Sans Beast creations come in an array of colours and finishes; with the croc effect being particularly appealing.
Ethical considerations: vegan, cruelty-free, ethically made, eco-friendly when possible
15. Thalie Paris
Although not an exclusively vegan brand, Thalie Paris takes a sustainably minded approach to its bags. In addition to marine leather (recycled salmon leather from agro-food industries and French sushi restaurants) and upcycled ‘waste’ animal leather destined for landfill, the brand has a vegan-friendly cactus leather range in shoulder and bucket bag styles.
Ethical considerations: vegan-friendly options, cruelty-free, ethically made, eco-friendly
16. Stella McCartney
You can’t talk about vegan bags without mentioning Stella McCartney. The British designer has been pioneering ethical fashion for the entirety of her career, and has never used animal leather in her collections. While the designer previously used polyester- and polyurethane-based vegan leathers in her collections, the Stella McCartney lineup now comprises several eco-friendly options made from mushroom and apple leather, as well as innovative plastic-free plant-based performance materials like MIRUM. The most iconic Stella McCartney design is undeniably the Falabella, recognisable by the chain lining the perimeter of its geometric form.
Ethical considerations: vegan-friendly options, cruelty-free, ethically made, eco-friendly when possible
17. Kaila Katherine
Exclusively using cactus leather and bio-based polyurethane, Kaila Katherine places sustainability at the forefront. The brand’s curated selection of sophisticated styles in neutral and jewel tones make Kaila Katherine designs ideally suited for use as an everyday work bag.
Ethical considerations: vegan-friendly options, cruelty-free, ethically made, eco-friendly
17. Aupen
Singaporean label Aupen has recently burst onto the scene thanks to being carried by the likes of Taylor Swift, Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner, and Gabrielle Union. Aupen bags make use of both recycled pre-consumer polyurethane and recycled post-consumer polyester, with the brand’s shoulder bags taking on a fresh, youthful tone.
Ethical considerations: vegan-friendly options, cruelty-free, ethically made, eco-friendly when possible
Words by AR Staff
