Non-Leather & Vegan Handbags

[passerby]

Not sure if anyone has posted about btcelements but I think some of the products are cool (found the link via grechenscloset

A few examples:

http://btcelements.com/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=80
Model T tote
Constructed out of discarded truck and tractor innertubes


http://btcelements.com/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=97
Billboard messenger bag
Created out of discarded New York City billboards

http://btcelements.com/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=81
The Mini
Constructed out of discarded truck and tractor innertubes

etc etc

What about Helen E Riegle bags which can be found on her own website and sites like shoptrunkt and thegreenloop?

A few examples:


http://www.thegreenloop.com/product_p/hr-lotusbag.htm



Pics off btcelements, shoptrunkt and thegreenloop

Any thoughts, ladies?

As for non-leather bags (ie canvas, nylon, cotton etc) I think there are so many talented independent designers in the US and Canada (for starters) who make good-looking bags There are many great sites featuring indie designers - I've been absolutely captivated by them over the past few weeks.

 

[libby_bee]

Thanks for te heads up on that site! AWESOME recyled stuff!!

 

[libby_bee]

I'm new to this, but it seems to me that all the TOP bags are all made of leather. Pleather or other materials are frowned upon and only used as a cost-saving measure for those of us on a budget.

Personally, I do wear leather but I usually can forget what it "is", except when I see croc-skin. I know this is quite a valuable leather, but it's also a leather that really reminds me that it was once someone's skin.

Anyways, I figure, there must be fashionistas out there who aren't comfortable sporting leather. What alternatives do they have that are still haute couture?

I have this dilemma as well.
I've been a veg since the age of 13, now 32, and have gone through phases of not wearing any leather as well as having a few pairs of leather shoes and leather bags. Obviously, I would really be happiest with myself if I could get over my shoe and bag obsession so that I wouldn't ever be tempted to buy leather again, but at my age I have come to the realization that it just ain't gonna happen....so somehow I rationalize it.

Until Christian Loboutin starts making 5" high vegan shoes, I probably will always have a pair of leathers somewhere

 

[passerby]

I agree with you, libby_bee about the awesome stuff there So may I ask what other bag lines you have ordered?

Here are bags by indie designers that IMHO are cool (and vegan-friendly

Pics off buyolympia, whodinihandmade, artghost, bookhou, veganmart, a susi, goodmorning morning, Iona Loyola, sew pretty.

http://www.buyolympia.com/queenbee/Item=qb_ginkgotrucker

http://www.buyolympia.com/queenbee/Item=qb_kyototruckette
Queen Bee has some really cute messengers and totes.

http://www.whodinihandmade.com/albums/album_image/3407191/984793.htm

http://www.artghost.com/Handbags/Blue_record_purse.htm

http://www.veganmart.com/shop/Bags//item1070/
Astrosatchel - love the designs on this Canadian lady's bags!

http://www.astrosatchel.com/main-1.html

http://www.bookhou.com/


http://www.asusi.com/shop/calendar.html

http://www.goodmorning-morning.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_10&products_id=89

http://www.ionaloyola.com/Purses.html

http://www.sewsweetbags.com/shoulderbags.html

 

[libby_bee]

well those are pretty cool.
thanks for the links!

as far as vegan bags, I always run into some cool non-leather bag somewhere, like at Urban Outfitters or something. I've never ordered a recycled bag, although maybe I should get one for my husband. He's kind of a backpack nerd, though....I'm going to look for a cool recycled backpack..

 

[passerby]

Well, yes, Urban Outfitters does have some nice-looking bags but I think these indie designers are better (just my personal view after being camped on indie sites for the past 3-4 weeks , especially the jewelry designers) Recycled backpack? I'll keep an eye out for you as well ...

 

[passerby]

I love the gorgeous fabrics used by this US-based, Japanese-born indie designer called Momoko Kanaoka:

Pics off babypeach.com:

http://www.babypeach.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=859

http://www.babypeach.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=893


http://www.babypeach.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=759

http://www.babypeach.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=894

http://www.babypeach.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=212

http://www.babypeach.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=801

http://www.babypeach.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=900

 

[PrincessImp.]

^Awww... I love the doggie tote!

 

[Trista]

That first floral one is really cute!

And just a heads-up-the Paul & Joe Owl Bag that I had so hoped would be veg-friendly has wool AND leather.

 

[zigzag]

Kim White Handbags makes bags from vintage automotive fabrics, and many are vegan. http://www.kimwhitehandbags.com/index.html

Having gone through all the links in this thread and many more, there's a lot of bags out there, but my main complaint is that most seem to lean towards being either cutsy, proclaiming veganism or some other message, or a tough harley look.

 

[melrose_place]

I'm a vegetarian who avoids leather as well. I had no idea about the effects of PVC until I read this thread. My Nine West wallet is made of PVC and that makes me sad.

As for handbags, I love Loop NYC and Parcel. they use fake leather for the strap. here's a link: http://www.loopnyc.com/ I have a travel and pleisure bag and I love it! very spacious and stylish. i want to get a bag from their patches line.

 

[amberdemure]

Joys of veganism and pleather! I know of a vegan guitar strap maker, buuuut I had to do some google work to find some decent purses. Most of the purses I found were hideous.

This was the best I saw via Peta2:
http://www.mattandnat.com/

 

[emanuelle]

I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE...and while leather bags are dead animals....synthetic bags and the process that they go through to manufacture those synthetics are way more harmful to the environment as a whole than killing animals for their skins....but i do agree with spiralsnowman...between a rock and a hardplace....or a ball of melted plastic VS a carcass....

making synthetic bags is more harmful to the environment than killing animals until you factor in how harmful it is to the environment to raise those animals the way they do, and the fact that the chemicals used, and the amounts used, to tan the leather are worse for the environment than making pvc.
my personal issue with these vegan bags is that they run from homespun and kitchy to cheap and ugly looking. and as much as i admire what matt & nat is trying to do i could never carry around a knockoff. why can't someone make a line of vegan bags that is as chic and elegant as the leather bags? i wish i had the talent to do it myself. not everyone who cares about animals wants to look like a hippie.

 

[sakina]

i agree eman. i hate vegan bags. eating vegan is very easy for me, wearing vegan isn't. i wish they made rich elegant vegan bags not this weird plastic ****.

 

[jun3machina]

someoe should do some high end hemp/silk/organic cotton bags for vegans....

 

[sakina]

silk isn't vegan.

 

[lmelanie]

are the stella bags worth the price?

 

[cygnenoir]

Are any status/designer handbags really worth the price? That's a personal decision, I think.

That being said, it is nice that one can buy a Stella bag and know for a fact that it's designer and cruelty-free. (I've had success with Prada, Kate Spade and Vivienne Westwood but it's hit and miss.) I suppose that one could argue that manmade materials do not hold up as well as leather and may not be worth it from a financial v. ethical standpoint. As much as I have wanted to, I've never really loved any of her bags though. Shoes, yes.

Lately, I've been into the Harvey Seat-Belt bags. And I have to agree about the pervious statements here - just because I'm a vegan, that does not make me a hippie!

 

[zigzag]

Can anyone id Ellen Page's bag? It has a golden/orange tag on it but I sure can't read it or recognize the brand.

tlfan.to

 

[emmakins]

I bought a this bag from Charles & Keith. I don't think any of their bags are leather but they still look supple. High recommended!