The path to eating more consciously almost always leads to living more consciously in general. And part of that is aligning all the stuff we buy—clothing and accessories, makeup and body care products, cleaning products, and more—with our values. Today we’re taking you on a vegan handbag adventure to help you find a compassionate and ethical vegan purse, satchel, briefcase, backpack, duffel, clutch, or any kind of bag you need to carry your belongings.
Owning a vegan handbag has many benefits beyond just being cruelty-free! Many vegan bags are made from sustainable materials which means they have less of an environmental impact than traditional leather bags.
Additionally, many vegan bags are stylish yet affordable so you don’t have to break the bank in order to look good! Owning a vegan bag is an easy way to show your commitment to animal rights without having to sacrifice style or quality.
Ready to give your leather handbag a cruelty-free upgrade? You have a few options.
There are dozens of vegan handbag brands sprouting up with kind and fashionable options for the conscious consumer. What a time to be alive! Here are the most notable brands that we’ve explored and love.
These companies carry a variety of vegan leather bags, cloths bags, luxury designer bags, more casual bags, vegan tote bags, vegan crossbody bags, vegan messenger bags, satchels, wallets, briefcases, laptop bags, and more. Whatever style you’re looking for, you can absolutely find it vegan!
If not leather or suede, what is a vegan purse made from? There’s an exciting array of materials used to make vegan bags—from simple cotton to vegan leather to eco-leathers like mushroom leather or even pineapple leather! Here are a few of the most common materials to look for:
Finding your perfect vegan purse can be easier than ever. When you browse for “accidentally vegan” handbags, you’ll find the most luck at big stores that carry lower-cost items (since non-leather bags are generally much more affordable than leather). Look for these labels:
Also make sure the bag doesn’t have a leather symbol.
Finding affordable vegan handbags is easier than you may think! With a little bit of creativity and some savvy shopping, you can find the perfect vegan handbag without breaking the bank.
Caring for your vegan handbag is a breeze! To keep it looking its best, store your vegan handbag in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent fading or discoloration. Avoid getting it wet—instead, use a damp cloth to wipe away any dirt or dust. No need for harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners as they can damage the material.
For vegan leather bags, you can simply use a leather conditioner to keep it looking its finest for years to come! For canvas vegan handbags, spot-clean any stains with a damp cloth and mild vegan soap. To do this, mix a small amount of soap with warm water. Dip a clean cloth into the soapy water and gently dab at the stain, completely saturating it. Then use a dry cloth to lift the stain up—no scrubbing necessary! Allow your vegan handbag to air dry before using it again and you’ll be ready to rock your stylish accessory!
Great question! First, note that there is not one single “right” answer to this question—if and how you get rid of your leather goods is up to you. Here are a few options:
We don’t recommend throwing your non-vegan items away. The damage is already done, the animal was already killed, and resources went into producing this product. To discard it is wasteful. Consider this excerpt from our Vegan Belts Guide:
While it may not “feel good” to wear or use items that aren’t aligned with your ethics, the reality is we can’t go back in time and un-buy items we’ve purchased. If you just throw them away, that animal died in vain. There are people in need who can’t afford clothing, and to throw away something that’s in usable condition is needlessly wasteful. Accept the imperfection of the situation and just commit to making more conscious buying choices going forward!
If you’re still unsure about how you would like to handle the animal products you purchased before you went vegan, listen to our Vegan Clothing & Fashion episode of the Plant-Powered People Podcast.
In this video, longtime vegan Gina House shares what she carries in her vegan purse!
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Love these options! I am slowly veganizing my lifestyle so these are great brands for me to look into
i love these articles so much! it saves me a google search and so much time. thank you!