I'm a fashion editor and these are the best vegan handbag brands I've found
Faux leather has never looked so chic.
The world of fashion is changing, as more and more brands look to sustainable ways of producing their items, including which materials and fabrics they use—and that includes vegan leather handbags.
Major labels such as Chanel, Gucci, Burberry and Tom Ford have already pledged to stop using fur and exotic skins in their collections, while others are only using leather if it is a by-product of the food industry.
However, more and more people are now going one step further and turning to products that don't use leather altogether, which means if you're in the market for a vegan handbag, there are plenty of chic designer and affordable options out there.
Vegan Designer Handbags
It's impossible to talk about vegan designer bags without mentioning Stella McCartney, the designer who's been pioneering ethical fashion her whole career. She is one of the only designers who solely uses vegan leather throughout her collections, for example, utilising materials made from recycled plastic instead.
You can buy fabric and faux leather bags from most designer brands which aren't exclusively vegan across the board, though they sometimes use non-vegan products such as animal-based adhesives. Some other great designer options include Nanushka, Jill Milan, Poppy Lissiman, Mashu and Arran Frances.
To shop our edit of the best designer and affordable vegan handbags keep scrolling.
Shop The Best Vegan Handbags
Designer Stella McCartney has always advocated for cruelty-free designs, this bag in particular is made from Mylo which is a fabric derived from mycelium (the root of a fungi). The material is sustainably and renewably grown in a lab by Stella McCartney's partners, Bolt Threads.
MARICI is a plant-based luxury accessories brand and uses Pinatex, an alternative to leather. The plant-based material is derived directly from the off-cuts of the existing pineapple industry. These materials are then upcycled into a luxury fabric with a distinct finish, which is then handcrafted into bags by a team of artisans in Venice.
This simple flap shoulder bag is a classic for a reason. It's beautiful and animal-friendly, made of premium vegan Italian Apple Peel Skin and looks effortlessly chic.
Made from an alt-nappa leather polyurethane fabric, this Nanushka bag is big enough to hold all your daily essentials. Its shape bends in the middle, to create a unique silhouette.
THEMOIRè have created a collection of luxurious handbags made from vegan leather, paper, cork, recycled organic cotton and raffia.
This Mashu bag is made from vegan leather, which is comprised of a mixture of recycled polyester and discarded non-GMO corn crops. The fabric is made in Italy and then shipped to Greece where the bags are created, meaning the item is 100% manufactured in Europe.
This faux leather handbag is buttery soft and has been created from recycled post-consumer plastic. In a cute baguette shape, you can either use it as a shoulder bag or lengthen the strap and make it cross-body.
Specialising in vegan leather, the brand has a certification from the Vegetarian Society and aims to support the environment, becoming a climate-positive workforce, through Offset Earth.
Labante London makes bags that are 100% Vegan and Cruelty-free, with animal-based glues or dyes. All bags are made from recycled materials, while the interiors are created from reclaimed plastic bottles and the outer is made from vegetable by-products and polyurethane, making the bags fully biodegradable.
This Matt & Nat bag is made from vegan fabrics while the interior lining is created from 100% recycled plastic bottles.
What Is Vegan Leather?
According to PETA, 'most vegan leather is made of polyurethane, a polymer that can be made to order. It can sparkle, have a nice glossy sheen, or be saturated in all kinds of shades.' Other materials used for vegan leather handbags include apple peel skin, recycled plastic bottles and vegetable by-products.
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
In recent years, there have been strides made in the vegan material department. Stella McCartney even now makes bags from a fabric called Mylo™️, which is derived from mushrooms. Elsewhere sustainable brands, like Mashu, are creating bags from pineapple and grape leather.
Because real leather is expensive, vegan leather tends to be a little more affordable, especially if you look at high-street brands. Matt & Nat and Fenella Smith have great sub-£100 clutch bags, backpacks, tote bags and more.
Penny Goldstone is the Contributing Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK. She writes about catwalk trends and the latest high street and Instagram sartorial must-haves. She also helms the Women Who Win franchise.
She has worked in fashion for over 10 years, contributing to publications such as Cosmopolitan, Red, Good Housekeeping, and Stylist.
- Zoe AnastasiouFashion Editor
- Jazzria HarrisFreelance Fashion & Beauty Writer