Nowadays when we shop online, knowing the bag we’re buying is sustainably produced as well as long lasting is important. Savvy shoppers not only want a stylish, chic bag but also one that is ethically made and eco friendly. So how can we make sure we’re buying something that doesn’t harm anyone or anything?
The good news is that many fashion brands are now using recyclable materials in innovative ways to produce their luxury bags. Let me dish out the dirt on where to buy the best sustainable handbags and purses.
1. O My Bag
The team at O My Bag strive to make a positive difference in the world with their ethical approach to fashion. All their sustainable leather handbags for men and women are carefully crafted using an eco tanning process.
I’m a huge fan of crossbody bags for their practicality and every day ease of use. So easy to sling on and wear to the supermarket as you can keep both hands free. Compact and effortlessly chic, the Lola Ruby Classic Croco Leather cross-body bag (€169) is the ideal weekend partner. From dresses to jeans, it simply goes with everything!
2. Elvis & Kresse
This is a brand that has sustainable luxury in the bag. Since 2005, Elvis & Kresse have been rescuing raw materials, transforming them into luxury lifestyle accessories and donating 50% of profits back to charities. The company was set up to rescue London Fire Brigade’s damaged decommissioned hoses from landfill. Over 200 tons of material has been reclaimed and recrafted into new luxury handbags and purses.
This Fire & Hide clutch (€194.95) combines rescued leather and decommissioned fire hose and is lined with reclaimed parachute silk. Perfect for your everyday shopping trips.
3. Marand
Marand is a retailer of sustainable and ethical bags that partners with smaller brands to sell their wares. They have partnered with Nuuwaï who offer PETA-approved vegan handbags. Nuuwaï were voted Best Vegan Brand of 2019 by Eluxe magazine. All of their bags are made using apple leather which is made using apple by-products. They also use upcycled plastic which is fished out of the oceans as part of the initiative of EcoAlf.
Check out this gorgeous Frida bag (€133) made from Italian apple leather. It comes in a variety of red, black and pastel shades with an adjustable and removable shoulder strap.
4. GUNAS
GUNAS is an independent high fashion label which guarantees zero cruelty. The main material for their bags is a PVC-free premium “eco polyurethane” that makes for some high-quality PETA-approved vegan leather. Animals are NOT meant to be a part of fashion. We can look and feel good without harming other living beings. Connecting ourselves with what goes on behind the scenes and questioning what impact our actions have is more important now than ever.
This stunning Koko luxury handbag (€205.66) is handcrafted with premium python embossed rubber fabric, textured cotton lining and multiple zipper pockets. It has an adjustable strap and can fit a 15″ laptop.
5. Cuyana
Cuyana knows the secret to sustainable fashion lies not in abundance of “green” but in a few, long lasting pieces. Their ethical luxury handbags and purses may be expensive, but their quality guarantees the investment will last you for decades.
This modern snake print saddle bag (€247.60) is made from Italian leather which is tanned responsibly against measures like traceability, resource consumption, and effluent treatment.
So there you go: a bag-load of eco friendly purses and handbags from brands that are giving you the means to live more sustainably. Why not dig out the bags that you already own and see if you need to replace them. If so, make sure you recycle the old ones by donating to a charitable cause.
In the words of luxury brand O My Bag, “The bag you carry tells a story, let it be a good one.”
