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Looking for the best vegan leather purses and ethical handbags to fuel your capsule wardrobe with timeless, durable accessories?
We cherry-picked the most noteworthy vegan handbag brands just for you!
If you are a passionate vegan fashion connoisseur, don’t forget to check out our list of The Best Vegan Leather Boots Women Love For Fall & Winter.
Quick Price Breakdown:
- $ = Under $100
- $$ = $100 – $200
- $$$ = Over $200
This post is about the best vegan leather handbags & ethical purses.
Ethical, timeless, and affordable vegan handbags — the icing on the fashion cake that can make even the laziest outfit pop.
While it may seem like an easy task at first, sustainable vegan handbags are hard to come by. Even more so if you consider the slew of greenwashing examples that keep circulating the eco corner of the web lately.
So, as much as you love ogling the latest bag releases, there are some things you should keep in mind before you click “add to cart.”
You probably already know that the majority of leather is pretty much catastrophic regarding greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, deforestation, and biodiversity loss.
Luckily, we have PU and PVC leather, we hear you say. Well, these two vegan options aren’t exactly the most eco-friendly alternatives either.
There are many pressing issues with PU and PVC leather as well because it continues to be the single most environmentally damaging type of plastic.
The production of PU leather involves the use of toxic chemicals, but the process is generally less toxic and harmful than the production of PVC.
PVC production involves the use of toxic chemicals such as phthalates, dioxins, and heavy metals, which are harmful to both human health and the environment.
But even if an accessory is crafted from recycled plastic and natural materials, we still have to make sure that it’s created under fair working conditions where workers are not treated poorly.
That’s why when we finally discovered that once-in-a-blue-moon kind of sustainable and ethical accessory, we had to share!
Below, check out the best vegan handbag brands that are as ethical and transparent as possible.
What is a sustainable vegan purse made of?
- Apple Leather
Apple leather is an eco-friendly and sustainable material that’s derived from the discarded peels and cores of apples, usually left over from the apple juice and cider industry. These remnants are collected and dried, then ground into a fine powder. This powder is mixed with a binding agent and spread out to create sheets or rolls of apple leather.
- Piñatex Leather
Piñatex leather is a very innovative textile made from pineapple leaf fibers. This material was developed as a byproduct of the pineapple industry to utilize the leaves that are typically discarded after the pineapples are harvested. The harvested leaves undergo a process to extract long, strong fibers from them. This is typically done through a process known as decortication, which separates the fibers from the rest of the leaf.
- Mushroom Leather
Mushroom leather, also known as mycelium leather, is created through a process called biofabrication using mycelium, the root-like structure of mushrooms. Mycelium cells are cultivated using organic matter in a controlled environment, forming a dense, leather-like material. Once the mycelium “mat” is formed, it is treated, shaped, and dried to create a material that resembles animal leather.
- Cork
Cork, a popular material in vegan handbag production, is sourced from the bark of cork oak trees, primarily found in the Mediterranean region. The process of harvesting cork is designed to be sustainable, as it involves carefully removing the bark without causing harm to the trees. Remarkably, the trees continue to grow and regenerate their bark, ensuring a renewable and ongoing source of cork.
- Washi Paper
Doshi uses washi paper leather – a sustainable and innovative material used as an alternative to traditional animal leather to create vegan leather purses. It’s made by layering and compressing sheets of washi paper, a type of traditional Japanese paper, and then treating it to create a durable, leather-like texture. This fantastic material is crafted with renewable plant fibers, typically sourced from the bark of the mulberry tree. Mulberry trees grow quickly and can be harvested sustainably without causing harm to the environment.
What is the best vegan leather for purses?
Mushroom leather (MuSkin) is touted as one of the best vegan leathers due to its extreme durability. Also, cork is another great animal leather alternative because it can biodegrade completely and can be easily recycled without producing any toxic residues.
As for Piñatex pineapple leather, it helps farmers take advantage of the previously unusable part of their pineapple crop, and 100% recycled plastic leather helps divert waste from the ocean and landfills, giving it a second life.
This post is all about the best vegan handbags & purses.
The 12 best vegan handbag brands in 2024.
1. Will’s Vegan
Aside from the line of stylish sustainable rain boots that have taken the sartorial ecosphere by storm, Wills Vegan also carries some of the best vegan handbags and vegan purses.
Made ethically in small workshops in Tuscany, Italy, and Portugal, their accessories feature natural and recycled materials — like bio-oil from organic cereal crops and viscose — and no PFCs, nanotechnology, and APEOs.
You can opt for neutral-colored duffle bags and saddle bags to backpacks and even briefcases for workaholic cruelty-free enthusiasts.
Price: $$
Materials: Bio Oil Sourced from Organic Cereal Crops
Ethics: Certified Sustainable Vegan Leather, Made In Small Batches In Europe, Carbon Neutral, Plastic-Free Packaging, Solar Energy, Fair Wages
Location/Shipping: USA, ships worldwide
Best Selling Vegan Bags:
2. Svala
With the motto “sustainable luxury without the traditional 250% retail markup,” Svala is one of the best vegan handbag brands with a slew of premium, innovative, animal-friendly, PVC-free materials in their fabric arsenal.
Their wide range of vegan leather handbags includes boho-inspired natural cork backpacks, totes, mini clutches, wallets, and purses lovingly handcrafted in LA.
There are plenty of minimalistic and statement options to choose from — black metallic, florals, and snakeskin, just to name a few.
Price: $$-$$$
Materials: Piñatex,Cork, Vegan Leather Pu, Bioveg
Ethics: Renewable And Sustainable Materials, Made In LA, Ethical Manufacturing, Donations
Location/Shipping: Los Angeles, USA ships worldwide
Best Selling Vegan Leather Handbags:
3. Sinbono
With 100% cruelty-free and earth-friendly materials, Sinbono definitely deserves a spot on our best vegan handbag brands list.
Currently, there are six different affordable vegan handbag collections with trend-driven silhouettes that are still ethically and sustainably made with full transparency.
Also, the PETA-approved brand responsibly recycles plastic bottles into polyester, breaking down the single-use plastic bottles (PET bottles) to create stylish vegan leather handbags in ISO 9001-certified factories. Quality, longevity, and sustainability – what more can we ask for?
Price: $-$$
Materials: Recycled PET Bottles
Ethics: Recycled Materials, Ethical Manufacturing, PETA-Approved Vegan, Iso 9001 Certified Factories, Donations
Location/Shipping: USA, ships worldwide
Best Selling Vegan Purses:
4. Gunas NY
What started as a small business from a Manhattan studio apartment turned into one of the best vegan handbag brands!
We are talking about Gunas, a pioneer of the fully vegan fashion movement that took advantage of canvas, nylon, and more upcycled materials to create vegan leather handbags with unapologetic pops of color, including all-over prints and color blocking.
Each bag is handcrafted in the heart of Seoul, Korea. And in case you need something super unique, there is also a made-to-order option.
Price: $$
Materials: Recycled Plastic Bottle Lining (rPET), Recycled Metals For Our Hardware, Microfibers Upholstery Fabrics and more
Ethics: Sustainable and Recycled Materials, Made In Korea, Donations
Location/Shipping: NY, USA ships worldwide
Best Selling Luxury Vegan Handbags:
5. LaBante London
Entirely crafted from recycled plastic bottles and vegetable oil, LaBante London’s best vegan handbags and vegan purses are incredibly versatile and evidently timeless.
Their gorgeous PVC-free styles are manufactured ethically in China in a SEDEX Certified factory.
Whether you are interested in affordable vegan handbags with chic, neutral-colored quilted textures, wear-me-everywhere hobo bags, and crossbodies or clutches, this PETA-approved brand has you covered!
Price: Starts at $$
Materials: Recycles Plastic Bottles, Vegetable-Based Polyurethane (PU)
Ethics: Recycled Materials, Ethical Working Environments, Made In Korea, SEDEX Certification, Donations
Location/Shipping: London, UK ships to USA & Canada
A few favorites from LaBante London:
6. Doshi
The amazing USA-based, PETA-certified vegan and ethical brand Doshi is on a mission to upgrade our rotation with premium-quality vegan leather purses, bags, briefcases, belts, backpacks, wallets, and accessories for women and men.
That’s right! All glues, thread, structural materials, interlining, and hardware are 100% vegan.
Plus, the company oversees the design of products, picks out the materials, and directly works with factories to ensure that the entire process is as transparent as possible!
To top it all off, 5% of revenue for this Southern California company will go to charities that benefit the environment, animals, and people.
Price: $-$$
Materials: PETA-approved microfiber faux leather, Kraft Paper, Cork
Ethics: Certified vegan, cruelty-free, ethical working conditions, gives back
Location/Shipping: USA, ships worldwide
Best Vegan Handbags from Doshi:
7. Pixie Mood
Pixie Mood, one of the most popular vegan handbag brands of 2024, that takes animal welfare and eco-conscious fashion very seriously.
Additionally, they test all materials to ensure they meet the California Prop 65 standard while also visiting their manufacturers yearly to monitor the working conditions.
With so many affordable vegan handbags in a slew of colors and silhouettes, it’s safe to say that your bag hunt ends here!
Price: $-$$
Materials: Recycled Plastic, Cork, Recycled Vegan Leather, Solvent-Free Vegan Leather, Recycled Canvas
Ethics: Recycled And Sustainable Materials, Ethical Manufacturing, Fair Wages, Eco Packaging
Location/Shipping: USA, ships to Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, UK
A few favorites from Pixie Mood:
8. Norianca
What are the most important elements of a gorgeous ethical handbag? Traceability, transparency, and conscious consumption.
Staying true to their core values of uniqueness, sustainability, and empowerment, Noiranca is one of the best vegan handbag brands 2024.
With refreshingly unique everyday statement silhouettes and sculptural lines that do not go unnoticed, the brand put aims to add a modern twist to our wardrobes.
To ensure the highest quality, the designs are crafted in a 50-year-old atelier run by the family’s second-generation siblings.
Price: $$
Materials: Water-based polyurethane, Recycled Micro Suede, Recycled Cotton, RSC paper Packaging
Ethics: Recycled & Sustainable Materials, PETA-Approved Vegan Transparency, Ethical Manufacturing, Donations
Location/Shipping: NY, USA ships to China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Taiwan
A few favorites from Norianca:
9. Noah’s Vegan
Noah’s Vegan is one of our favorite sustainable European brands for great vegan handbags that certainly stand the test of time.
Created ethically by skilled artisans with GOTS-certified organic cotton and GRS-certified recycled materials, these vegan bags and purses are free from phthalates, PFCs, nanotechnology, and APEOs.
Instead of artificial leather, the brand ops for pineapple leather, cork, and Oeko-Tex Certified Ecological Microfiber. We absolutely love their vegan crossbody bags and beautiful vegan leather backpacks!
Price: $-$$
Materials: Pineapple Leather, Cork, Oeko-Tex Certified Ecological Microfiber
Ethics: Certified Sustainable Materials, Ethically Made In Portugal, Co2-Free Manufacturing, Plastic-Free Packaging
Location/Shipping: Italy, ships worldwide
Best Selling Vegan Leather Bags:
10. Angela Roi
Bucket bags, pouches, totes, saddlebags— the fashion-froward yet versatile vegan handbags on Angela Roi’s digital shelves appeal to every taste.
Aiming to support animal welfare, they use EPUL (Exquisite Polyurethane Leather), durable thread, and quality fabric, as well as modern technology and CAD (3D software) for pattern and sample designing to avoid any unnecessary waste.
On top of that, Angela Roi’s best vegan handbags and purses are handcrafted by skilled artisans and reliable factories in Korea.
Price: $-$$
Materials: Cactus Leather
Ethics: Sustainable Materials, Ethically Made In Korea, Low-Waste Manufacturing Processes, Transparency, Donations
Location/Shipping: New York, USA
A few favorites from Angela Roi:
11. HFS Collective
From sustainable hands-free bags and belt bags to fanny packs, HSF Collective is touted as one of the best vegan handbag brands in the US.
Lovingly made in Los Angeles with attention to detail, they aim to help us “celebrate living life hands-free.”
As for the designs themselves, they are as modern as it gets. Some are adorned with ethically-mined, glimmering Pyrite stones, while others are more subtle with eathy hues and contrasting metals.
Price: $$
Materials: Recycled, Upcycled & Deadstock Fabrics, Hemp, Cork, PINATEX, Organic Cotton
Ethics: Sustainable Materials, Made In LA, Fair Wages, Ethical-Minded Stones, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certified
Location/Shipping: LA, USA ships worldwide
Best Selling Small Vegan Purses:
12. JW Pei
JW PEI believes that the future of fashion should be ethical and sustainable, and thus they only create affordable vegan handbags locally in LA with top-notch eco materials such as canvas, polyurethane, and certified fabric made from recycled plastic bottles.
Their modern minimalist aesthetic is pretty evident, although they never shy away from bold hues.
For example, their stunning croc shoulder and saddlebags are drenched in neutral tones, while their hobo vegan leather handbags come in statement blue, orange & more vibrant colors.
The most interesting silhouettes of them all? The Rantan & Abacus Bags! So, if you love ethical fashion with a trend-driven edge, this one is for you!
Price: $-$$
Materials: Canvas, Polyurethane, And Recycled Plastic
Ethics: Sustainable Materials, Made In Los Angeles, Affordability, Fair Wages
Location/Shipping: Los Angeles, USA ships worldwide
A few favorites from JW Pei:
How do I properly care for my Vegan purse to extend its life?
Let’s get one thing straight. Caring for your vegan leather purses is important to ensure their longevity and maintain their aesthetic appeal. So, here’s what to do to prolong the cycle of your favorite accessories:
- Apple leather purses
Begin by wiping the purse with a damp cloth to remove surface dirt. For tougher stains, a mild soap and water mixture can be used. Apple leather is water-resistant but not entirely waterproof, so avoid prolonged exposure to water. If it does get wet, gently pat it dry with a clean towel and allow it to air dry naturally. Conditioning with a specialized vegan leather conditioner is advisable to keep the material supple and prevent cracking.
- Mushroom leather purses
Mushroom leather purses need careful handling to maintain their integrity. Use a soft brush to gently clean the surface to remove dust or debris. Mycelium leather should be kept away from excessive moisture so avoid exposing it to damp environments. If it does get damp, allow it to air dry in a well-ventilated area. Additionally, storing the purse in a cool, dry place and avoiding extreme temperatures that may affect its structure and texture is essential.
- Cork purses
Cork purses and regular cleaning go hand in hand. Regular cleaning involves wiping the purse with a damp cloth to remove dirt and grime. For tougher stains, a gentle soap and water solution can be used. Cork is naturally water-resistant, but to enhance its durability, consider applying a water-based sealant every few months. This will protect it from moisture and spills. Also, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight to prevent any fading. Conditioning with a cork-specific conditioner helps to keep the material soft and prevents it from drying out over time.
- Piñatex leather
Start by routinely cleaning the surface with a soft, damp cloth to remove dust, dirt, or spills. If necessary, use a mild soap or detergent, avoiding harsh chemicals that could harm the material. In case of wetness, gently pat the purse dry with a clean towel and allow it to air dry away from direct sunlight or heat sources to prevent any potential damage. To store the purse, use a dust bag or clean cloth to shield it from dust and light, avoiding humid or damp areas to prevent mold growth.
This post was all about the best vegan handbags & vegan purses
No matter your personal preferences, the best vegan handbags & vegan purses are definitely worthy investments.
Each one of these affordable vegan handbags is created ethically and sustainably with deep care for the earth and the animals and that’s exactly what makes the aforementioned brand stand out from the bag crowd.
If you liked this post on the best vegan handbags, you’ll definitely want to check out these other posts from SKL:
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