10 Sustainable Vegan Handbags for Chic Cruelty-Free Style
image via Village Thrive
Finding sustainable vegan handbags not made from plastic materials is certainly a challenge.
While there certainly has been much progress made when it comes to sourcing eco-friendly animal-free leather alternatives, we do still have a ways to go.
Thankfully, these brands are helping pave the way with their consciously made cruelty-free handbags free of animal leather and toxic plastics. While some materials featured here do have a percentage of synthetics added (such as Piñatex and apple leather), there is a lot of progress — and I hope that this pathway to progress continues!
For totally synthetic-free options, I suggest looking for cork handbags or organic cotton handbags. However, these materials do not have the same look and feel as leather.
Note: This guide includes partners and affiliates. As always, all brands meet strict criteria for sustainability and are brands we love — and that we think you'll love too!
Before we get into the new brands, remember to browse secondhand first! Some great spots for finding quality (and even luxury) handbags at great prices are Vestiaire Collective, Tradesy, and The RealReal.
Alright, now let's get to this sustainable vegan bags guide!
A_C Official
An acronym for “ahimsa collective” A_C's ethos is “cause no harm". And they live up to this mission by using vegan, eco-minded materials like Desserto, a cactus-based biomaterial.
This vegan leather alternative is made from the prickly pear cactus and is coated with a recycled cotton fabric.
Who knew cactus could look so chic?
Fabric: Desserto Cactus Leather
Investment: $$$
Allégorie
Allégorie creates such stunning sleek bags, you'd never guess that they're actually made from fruits and plants! The label uses apple leather (made from discarded apple peels), mango leather (made from would-wasted mangos) and cactus (made from sustainably sourced cactus leaves). Learn more about Allégorie here.
Fabrics: Apple Leather, Cactus Leather, Mango Leather
Investment: $$-$$$
Lo & Sons
Ideal for commutes, travel, and for staying prepared for anything, Lo & Sons has eco-friendly vegan tote bags and backpacks with smart designs and plenty of compartments.
Lo & Sons’ low impact fabric choices include recycled polyester and organic cotton. These eco bas are made in a factory with a WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production) certification and that gets audited by the Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit.
Fabrics: Recycled Polyester and Organic Cotton
Investment: $$
Village Thrive
The summer-ready rattan bags of your dreams are at Village Thrive. Handcrafted from all-natural materials by artisans in Bali using traditional techniques (and shipped in compostable mailers) these vegan bags were made with care to people, planet, and animals.
Committed to fair trade practices, the brand visits production locations and meets with artisans to ensure makers are earning fair wages and working in safe environments.
Fabric: Rattan
Investment: $
Tiradia Cork
Tiradia Cork makes functional and fashionable vegan bags from cork. The brand has backpacks, briefcases, wallets, wristlets, totes, travel cosmetic bags, and even a yoga mat bag!
And they're all made in Portugal from natural cork and colored with vegetable dyes (or left undyed).
Fabric: Cork
Investment: $ - $$
Svala
Timeless, versatile, and handcrafted with vegan materials, Svala's bags are an eco fashionista's dream. We recommend choosing their bags made from cork and Piñatex, which are the more earth-conscious options!
The interior of the bags are also thoughtfully made from recycled polyester and organic cotton.
Fabric: Cork, Piñatex
Investment: $$$
KORISSA
There's nothing that says summer style quite like a straw bag or woven clutch! And the natural-fiber vegan bags from KORISSA are gorgeous. The brand is WOC-owned and their toquilla straw bags are all handcrafted ethically by Indigenous communities in rural parts of Ecuador. (They also sell super cute jute planters and baskets made by artisans in Bangladesh!)
Fabrics: Toquilla Straw, Jute, Recycled Chenille
Investment: $$
Carry Courage
Specializing in quality cork bags, you'll find vegan messenger bags, cosmetic bags, wristlets, pouches, and tablet organizers from Carry Courage at Made Trade.
Carry Courage's bags are made in small batches in Portland, Oregon and feature linen fabric linings also sourced within the U.S.
Fabrics: Cork
Investment: $$
Murmali
Luxury vegan handbag brand Murmali has high-end bags made from 100% premium cork. The brand offers a clutch, circle bag, crossbody, and bucket bag in natural cork or in three different colors. The linings of the bags are a cotton-linen blend.
Fabric: Cork
Investment: $$$
Eve Cork
Another sustainable vegan bag brand using cork that you'll want to check out is Eve Cork! The brand's bags feature some really interesting textures and patterns that you don't typically see on cork bags and are all ethically made in Portugal.
Fabric: Cork
Investment: $$$
Note: Sustainability-driven companies take different approaches to this common goal and are all in different parts of this journey. At Conscious Fashion Collective, we celebrate, respect, and honor this diversity in values, expertise, and context of craftsmanship on the supply side, and we also encourage consumers to make purchases aligned with their personal style and values. Please refer to each brand's official website to learn more.
