The Ultimate Guide to Ethical, Sustainable Vegan Handbag Brands
This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase I may earn a commission. Learn more.
Finding vegan handbag brands that check all your ethics boxes and offer bags worthy of genuine excitement may sound like a tall order. But rejoice, sweet friend, because this *laboriously researched* guide is here to make it oh-so fun and easy.
Beyond being good for the animals, earth, and workers – and, of course, for busting looks – these vegan handbag brands bring it on quality. The material innovation is there, the function and sophistication are there, and in many cases the same craftsmanship that’s been used for hundreds of years to create luxury leather goods is now being used to create luxury vegan goods. What a dream.
The key to unearthing these stand-out brands is to sift through an unfathomable amount of greenwashing to find the real keepers. And those keepers are exactly what you’ll find here.
What defines an ethical, sustainable, vegan handbag brand?
The “vegan” piece is straightforward: these vegan handbag brands don’t use any leather (or other animal materials) to make their bags and accessories.
When it comes to sustainability, there’s a level of subjectivity. On Florah, I consider brands sustainable that (1) use sustainable materials and (2) clearly show thought for the earth in their practices – minimizing waste or water use, being carbon neutral, using non-plastic packaging, donating to environmental charities, etc.
As for being ethical, these brands make reference to ethical manufacturing on their sites and substantiate it. They’re transparent about where their products are made and what worker protections they have in place. You can find more detail on each brand here.
Overview:
Best Vegan Handbag Brands For…
Classic, Timeless Designs
Angela Roi
Fabulous Patterns
Lee Coren
Faux Snakeskin and Metallics
Svala
Wide Variety
LaBante London
Artisan Handwoven Fabric
Kantala
THE BRANDS
Angela Roi (V)
Photo credits: Angela Roi
Angela Roi’s line of luxury vegan handbags is everything and more. Their modern classic designs are timeless and elegant, and their color palette is just… *chef’s kiss*. The brand is all about ethical elegance and promises that we can accessorize consciously while still partaking in all the quality, functionality, refinement and, dare I say, bougie joy of a luxury brand. Their latest release is cactus leather handbags and I really want one.
Cost: $$$ {$60 – $260} || Based: New York, New York
Products: Crossbodies, handbags, shoulder bags, satchels, totes, accessories
Materials: Polyurethane vegan leather, cactus leather
Certifications: None currently (that I could find)
Shipping: United States only (free)
Corkor (V)
Photo credits: Corkor
Corkor, aptly-named, makes beautiful vegan handbags and accessories from cork. It turns out that cork is an amazing, functional leather substitute: it’s naturally waterproof, stain & scratch resistant, easy to clean, and highly sustainable. The brand was started by a Portuguese couple, Natália and Vítor, who grew up surrounded by cork oak trees and, as their site so sweetly puts it, “learned from a tender age to love and respect them.” Now, years later, they work with local Portuguese artisans to create cork bags and accessories that are truly the full package… functional, eco-friendly, unique, and stylish, with rave reviews that speak for themselves.
Cost: $$ {$30 – $180} || Based: Portugal
Products: Backpacks, crossbodies, clutches, satchels, wallets, accessories
Materials: Cork
Certifications: PETA-Approved Vegan
Shipping: Free worldwide! (Takes 2 – 3+ weeks; express shipping available for a fee)
DENISE ROOBOL (V)
Photo credits: DENISE ROOBOL
DENISE ROOBOL makes chic, functional, go-with-everything bags. Their aesthetic has changed a bit since I first compiled this post back in 2019; it’s gone from an emphasis on velvets and metallics to more classic textures and shades. But you can still glimpse those unique fabrics in their divine wallets and card holders, which are some of my personal favorites in their line. They’ve got an array of lovely bags for everyday use, and their line of laptop bags is so fabulous it *almost* makes me wish that I didn’t work from home.
Cost: $$ {$30 – $200} || Based: The Netherlands
Products: Backpacks, crossbodies, diaper bags, laptop bags, mini bags, shoulder bags, accessories
Materials: Microfiber, velvet
Certifications: PETA-Approved Vegan, Carbon Neutral
Shipping: Worldwide (to US: free on orders over €150, otherwise €24)
HOZEN (V)
Photo credits: HOZEN
HOZEN (which fittingly means “conservation” in Japanese) is a special brand. They shine in the ethics department – offsetting carbon for shipping, donating to Mercy for Animals, and celebrating the people who make their bags, just to name a few. And they shine equally on the design front; they were conceptualized by Rae Nicoletti, who studied hand leatherwork under Hermés master artisan Beatrice Amblard before deciding to found a totally animal-free and sustainable line. Using her powers for good!
Cost: $$$$ {$160 – $480} || Based: Los Angeles
Products: Crossbodies, handbags, mini duffel bags, shoulder bags, totes, accessories, shoes
Materials: Grain-based vegan leather and suede, Piñatex® (pineapple leather), recycled plastic, organic cotton
Certifications: PETA-Approved Vegan
Shipping: Worldwide (free to United States)
Jill Milan (V)
Photo credits: Jill Milan
In a word? Luxury. Jill Milan’s gorgeous vegan handbags are made in Italy, and you know they’re top-of-the-line when stars like Jennifer Lawrence, Kerry Washington, and Elizabeth Hurley (and many more) have carried Jill Milan bags to a variety of red carpet events. As they say on their site, “Our designers are veterans of Prada and the New York Ballet,” which, I mean, paints a picture. If ever you find yourself in need of a gala-appropriate clutch and feeling a little fiscally frisky, Jill Milan is the brand for you.
Cost: $$$$ {$220 – $1,700} || Based: California
Products: Bucket bags, clutches, portfolios, shoulder bags, totes
Materials: PVC-free vegan leather (likely PU vegan leather), ultra suede
Certifications: Atelier holds SA8000 certification for social accountability
Shipping: Worldwide (to US: free on orders over $200, otherwise tiered shipping options)
Kantala (V)
Photo credits: Kantala
Kantala is a lovely, unique brand. Their bags are made using the handwoven hana mat, a Sri Lankan craft that originated more than 300 years ago in Sri Lanka’s last royal kingdom. The brand’s founders were inspired to use traditional crafts to create contemporary goods that would generate value for their country and its artisans, which is exactly what Kantala is doing. The company currently works with 22 artisans, aged 24 to 72 years old! Their creations are beautiful and unusual, with wonderful textures and bold shades that will add a pop of color and culture to any ensemble.
Cost: $$ {$40 – $120} || Based: Sri Lanka
Products: Clutches, crossbodies, totes, passport holders, wallets, laptop sleeves
Materials: Hana (made from the highly sustainable hana plant), Piñatex (pineapple leather), handloom fabrics, coconut shells
Certifications: PETA-Approved Vegan
Shipping: Free worldwide!
LaBante London (V)
Photo credits: LaBante London
LaBante London is one of my favorite vegan handbag brands. Their line has a timeless classiness to it, mixed with just the right dose of biker gang vibes. They also give away 10% of profits to charity, and plant 10 trees for every bag purchased! LaBante’s selection is very broad, so whether you’re in need of a bag for a fancy, professional, or everyday setting, they’re likely to have something to fill the bill. Their totes are particularly chic; I envision grocery shopping while donning one and feeling like a real, live put-together grown-up adult woman. A gal can dream.
Cost: $$$ {$60 – $450} || Based: Chicago
Products: Backpacks, clutches, crossbodies, hobo bags, laptop bags, tote bags, wallets, vegan leather jackets, shoes
Materials: PU leather, vegetable leather, bag linings from recycled plastic water bottles
Certifications: PETA-Approved Vegan, SEDEX-certified factories (to ensure ethical manufacturing)
Shipping: United States only (free)
Lee Coren (V)
Photo credits: Lee Coren
Lee Coren’s designs are inspired by the beauty and bustle of urban life, and the sublime serenity of natural landscapes – and that unique combination comes to life with such a sparkle! Lee Coren’s bags and wallets are handmade, screen-printed, and ready to elevate any outfit with their delightfully distinct patterns, colors, and textures.
Cost: $$ {$70 – $170} || Based: Israel
Products: Backpacks, clutches, crossbodies, totes, wallets
Materials: Raw cotton, polyurethane, ultra-leather (vegan!), microfiber faux suede, and up-cycled or overstock polyester
Certifications: PETA-Approved Vegan
Shipping: Worldwide (free on orders over $120)
Svala (V)
Photo credits: Svala
Svala (which means “swallow”, like the bird, in Icelandic) is a stand-out luxury vegan handbag brand when it comes to both sustainability and style. Handcrafted by artisans in downtown Los Angeles, Svala’s bags are elegant, versatile, and feel equally well-suited to everyday use, professional settings, and nights out on the town. The exception to that rule might be their clutches, which are so chic and stately that they demand to be shown off at special events. Svala donates 10% of profits to different organizations, including Wild Aid, and plant a tree with every order.
Cost: $$$ {$50 – $300} || Based: Los Angeles
Products: Backpacks, crossbodies, clutches, foldovers, totes, wallets
Materials: Cork, Piñatex®, PU vegan leather, organic cotton/recycled polyester linings, BioVeg (contains at least 75% biomass from renewable resources)
Certifications: None currently (that I could find)
Shipping: Worldwide (free to US)
If you know of any sustainable, ethical, vegan handbag brands that you don’t see on this list, please drop me a line at blythe@florah.com – I would love to add it! Or, if you have a question about a brand you don’t see here, feel free to reach out and I’ll let you know if I have the deets.
