Image: Nisolo
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The Best Sustainable Handbag Brands
In need of a new handbag? We’ve compiled a list of our favorite sustainable & ethical handbag brands for you to shop through. There are totes, crossbody bags, shoulder bags, evening purses, and more. You can find vegan leathers made from plants (rather than virgin plastic materials), veggie-tanned leather (instead of chemically dyed), and natural materials (like cotton & straw). There is most definitely a style, size and color for everyone here!
These eco-chic bags not only make a fashion statement but also promote positive social and environmental impact. With increasing awareness about the harmful effects of fast fashion, more and more fashion-forward individuals are turning to brands that prioritize sustainability and ethics.
The Rise of Sustainable Fashion
As conscious consumerism continues to gain momentum, sustainable fashion has become a prominent trend in the industry. With a focus on sustainability and ethics, individuals are looking for alternatives to fast fashion that align with their values. One such alternative is sustainable handbags, which have emerged as a stylish and ethical option for fashion-forward individuals. These bags not only make a fashion statement but also promote positive social and environmental impact.
What makes a handbag sustainable?
We look for a few things when deciding if a brand should be listed on Sustainably Chic. The top two things are manufacturing and materials. Are the bags created ethically in safe working conditions, and are they made from materials that are kind to the planet? Transparency is essential to us, and if we cannot learn how their handbags are made, we aren’t confident sharing them with you. As mentioned above, we look for eco-friendly materials like plant-based vegan leathers, natural fibers, and veggie-tanned leather. If you are interested in learning more about sustainable fabrics, please check out these posts here.
We also want to list brands that make a quality product at an accessible price point. The point of buying a sustainable product is for it to last you many years and avoid having to replace it. We also understand that sustainable fashion brands are more expensive than conventional brands. Therefore, we search for brands whose price points are more manageable than others because you don’t have to spend $500 on a beautiful, quality handbag!
Of course, no brand is ever perfectly sustainable, but we believe these brands are genuinely working to make the fashion industry fairer for workers and plant-friendly.
to learn more about sustainable fashion - click here -
The Environmental Impact of Traditional Handbags
Traditional handbags often contribute to the fashion industry's negative environmental impact. These bags are typically made from materials like PVC and polyurethane, which are derived from fossil fuels and have a high carbon footprint. The production process for traditional handbags also involves high water usage and the release of harmful chemicals into the environment. Furthermore, the fast fashion model encourages the overconsumption and disposal of handbags, leading to significant waste generation.
Benefits of purchasing a sustainable Handbag
There are several benefits to choosing a sustainable handbag over their traditional counterparts. Firstly, sustainable handbags are made from eco-friendly materials that have a lower environmental impact. Vegan leather, for example, is produced without the need for animal hides and is sometimes made from natural and renewable plant-based materials. Additionally, sustainable handbags are designed to be durable and long-lasting, reducing the need for frequent replacements and minimizing waste.
Secondly, sustainable handbag brands prioritize fair trade practices and ensure that workers are paid a fair wage and work in safe conditions. By supporting ethical brands, consumers contribute to a more compassionate and equitable fashion industry.
Looking for wallets? Check out this post here.
& here’s a list of all our favorite vegan handbag brands
Now, our favorite sustainable handbags:
1. Made Trade
Categories: Tote Bags, Crossbody & Belt Bags, Backpacks, Clutches & Pouches, Travel Bags, Beach Bags
Price: $19-$575
Materials: cactus leather, apple leather, veg-tanned leather, cork, organic cotton, wool, jute, rattan, palm leaves
A woman-owned and family-run company, Made Trade makes shopping sustainably easy. You can sort by specific values, like BIPOC-owned, Fair Trade, and Vegan. You shop from many different brands of ethical handbags on Made Trade, as well as clothing, shoes, furniture, and more.
2. Able
Categories: Totes, Backpacks, Crossbody Bags, Crossbody Totes, Shoulder Bags, Clutches
Price: $40-278
Materials: Veggie-Tanned Leather
ABLE is a very transparent brand and was one of the 1st fashion brands to publish their lowest wages as part of their Lowest Wage Challenge. The leather used in their bags is vegetable-tanned to avoid using harsh chemicals during the tanning process, and artisans handcraft every bag.
use code FREESHIPSC for free shipping
3. Nisolo
Categories: Clutches, Crossbody Bags, Totes, Backpacks, Wallets
Price: $60-170
Materials: Veggie-Tanned Leather
A certified B Corp, Nisolo ensures that everyone involved in their supply chain is paid a fair wage, and you can find out more about their specific factories (which they own & operate) right on their website. In addition, their minimalistic & beautiful designs will stand the test of time and be a staple in your closet for a long time.
4. Sézane
Categories: Bucket Bags, Totes, Shoulder
Price: $205-475
Materials: Veggie-Tanned Leather,
Sézane, a Certified B-Corp Brand, began with the founder making adjustments to French vintage clothing and selling them online. It’s now extremely popular, & as someone who has bought a handful of items from them, I can tell you they have some of the best quality accessories and clothing. So if you love that classic French style, this will be your new favorite brand.
5. Pixie Mood
Categories: Totes, Waist, Shoulder, Crossbody, Clutches, Bucket, Backpacks
Price: $40-130
Materials: PU & Recycled Vegan Leather
Another great (PETA-approved) vegan option, but with a more accessible price point. We don’t love PU leather, but it is better than PVC, and they even use recycled for some of their designs. Plus, all of their linings are made from recycled bottles. Finally, Pixie Mood offsets its carbon and uses biodegradable packaging.
6. Sans Beast
Categories: Tote Bags, Crossbody Bags
Price: $24 - 296
Materials: AppleSkin™, MIRUM®, recycled PU
Discover the avant-garde world of Sans Beast.
Crafting bold and unique bags from vegan leather, they champion cruelty-free fashion while promoting transparent and ethical sourcing, setting a high standard for animal-friendly accessories.
7. Melie Bianco
Categories: Top Handle Bags, Crossbody, Shoulder, Totes
Materials: Recycled PU
Price: $70 - 154
Melie Bianco designs vegan leather handbags that are eco-friendly and stylish. Their collection includes a wide range of trendy and classic handbags, including top handle bags, crossbody bags, shoulder bags, totes and backpacks. Melie Bianco uses recycled PU to make their bags and ensure the factories they work with uphold high safety & well-being standards as well as fair pay.
8. Svala
Categories: Totes, Clutches, Shoulder Bags, Backpack Purses, Crossbody
Materials: Piñatex® (Pineapple leather), MIRUM®, cork, PU, BioVeg
Price: $130 - 298
Svala handbags are crafted in LA with materials sourced from Europe. They use a wide range of vegan leather alternatives for their handbags, and BioVeg (made from recycled polyester from plastic bottles and bio polyols). Svala donates 10% of profits to various charities and organizations, including Wild Aid, whose mission is to end the illegal wildlife trade.
9. Behno
Categories: Crossbody Bags, Shoulder Bags, Mini Bags, Top Handle Bags, Tote Bags, Clutches, Bucket Bags, Box Bags
Price: $75-595
Materials: LWG-certified Responsible Leather
Behno seamlessly combines style and sustainability, crafting clothing and accessories with a focus on ethical practices, fair labor, environmental consciousness, and social responsibility. With transparent supply chains and chic design, Behno offers consumers the chance to make fashion choices that benefit both people and the planet.
10. HYER GOODS
Categories: Bucket, Shoulder, Crossbody, Fanny & Belt Packs
Price: $120-355
Materials: Upcycled, Deadstock Leathers
HYER GOODS is a brand that offers accessories made of leather and fabric sourced from deadstock materials and factory scraps, which helps keep these materials from ending up in landfills! Instead, their luxury leftovers are abandoned by big luxury brands & rescued by them and consist of pebbled leathers, Italian crocs, etc. And their deadstock leathers are made in India from fashion industry leftovers.
11. The Tote Project
Categories: Tote Bags, Pouches
Price: $22-32
Materials: Organic Cotton
The Tote Project donates 10% of gross profits to Two Wings to support survivors of human trafficking in the US.
Plus, they partner with factories that support women survivors. Every tote is handmade by Oasis Bags in a sustainable factory in India from fair-trade certified cotton.
12. Allégorie
Categories: Totes, Backpacks
Price: $68-325
Materials: Apple, Mango & Cactus Leather
A leather handbag made from fruit?! Allégorie uses waste from mangos, apples, and sustainably-harvested cacti leaves to create a line of handbags that you would never know weren’t genuine leather. Their quality is impressive and an excellent way to avoid waste in the food industry!
By embracing sustainable fashion and making a conscious choice to support ethical handbag brands, individuals can contribute to a cleaner and greener planet while promoting a more compassionate and equitable fashion industry. Upgrade your accessory game with sustainable handbags that combine luxury, style, and a commitment to a better world. It's a win-win situation!
& as always - love & take care of what you already have
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WANT MORE SUSTAINABLE BRANDS? VISIT OUR BRAND DIRECTORY!
Our Brand Directory is home to hundreds of sustainable brands, from makeup to cleaning supplies, from underwear to shoes. We have broken everything down by category for easy shopping, along with discount codes unique to Sustainably Chic viewers.
