14 Sustainable Bag & Accessories Brands To Have On Your Radar
8 months ago
Shop with a clear conscience
Looking to invest in good quality handbags without harming the environment? We know the struggle. From classic vegan totes to everyday backpacks, we have a round-up of the best sustainable bag and accessories brands that are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint, recycle surplus waste and use responsibly-sourced fabrics. Helping the planet never looked more stylish…
The Country & Town House Responsible Buyers’ Guide
Best Sustainable Bag & Accessories Brands
Bom Bom Morocco
Each Bom Bom Morocco product is handmade by a women’s association near the Atlas Mountains. They’re made from natural palm leaves, whilst the pom poms are hand-dyed in Marrakech tanneries, before being hand-sewn onto a piece. A scoop of sustainability with a sprinkling of female empowerment equals a solid brand worth supporting.
Lovia
With an understanding that the fashion industry accounts for around 800,000 tons of leather waste every year, accessory brand Lovia has created a range of bags produced entirely from waste materials. Plus, the label is passionate about being transparent – all waste that goes into creating its bags can be entirely traced right back to the original source.
Taylor Yates
British accessory brand ‘Taylor Yates’ has mastered understated luxury, and is committed to sustainability, too. The leather used is a by-product of food production, and for this, the brand has been awarded The Butterfly Mark by Positive Luxury for its company-wide commitment to sustainability.
Eastpak
Eastpak’s Responsible collection is crafted from 100 percent recycled materials, using no dye and creating every bag unique in colour. The brand’s main fabric, webbing and zip tape is also crafted from 100 percent recycled PET plastic, with recycled polyester lining and go and recycled marble foam straps. Â
Fenella Smith
Fanella Smith has created a range of vegan leather bags and purses that are sustainably sourced. The collection is vegan certified by the Vegetarian Society, available in a wide range of colours with beautiful pieces for a beautiful society.Â
So Just Shop
Sustainable lifestyle brand, So Just Shop, was set up to lift 250,000 women and families out of poverty by creating sustainable and ethically-sourced bags, accessories and homeware. Their products are handcrafted by female artisans from some of the most vulnerable communities in the world. The Vegan Saddle Bag is made from upcycled tyre tube that would normally go to waste. The upcycled material is durable and water resistant, creating the perfect everyday use handbag.
The House of Bruar
Luxury Scottish retailer The House of Bruar, have a range of handbags and accessories created by Harris Tweed, made from 100 percent British wool that is durable, biodegradable and recyclable. We love the stunning Harris Tweed Spey Tote Bag – combining comfort and style.
Loewe
Loewe has released a sustainable version of the beautiful woven basket bag, created entirely from leftover materials. The traditional basket bag has been reinterpreted in woven classic calfskin that would have otherwise been discarded. Available in a soft apricot and crystal blue design, the gorgeous bag is both functional and stylish, while preserving precious resources.
Anya Hindmarch
Anya Hindmarch has released the sustainable ‘I Am A Plastic Bag’ collection with eco tote bags and travel accessories crafted from plastic bottles that were previously destined for landfill. The gorgeous Charcoal Tote Bag is made from 32 half litre plastic bottles, with an innovative cotton fabric created from used plastic bottles and coated in a material made from car windshields to give it a durable weather resistant finish.
Jem + Bea
Multi award-winning luxury accessories brand Jem + Bea was launched in 2015, having since produced a range of environmentally friendly bags and accessories. Their first design made from sustainable fabric is the Jem + Bea’s Sustainable Edie Eco Holdall, certified by the Global Recycle Standard and crafted from ECONYL – a material made from marine waste and lost fishing nets at sea.
Terracotta Row X Leather Inside Out
Eco-friendly accessory brand, Terracotta Row, has collaborated with British prison rehabilitation charity, Leather Inside Out, to create a collection of sustainable bags produced from discarded industry materials. The bright and colourful water-resistant bags have been designed using high-quality European threads, Italian leathers and British webbing.
Eleni Bantra
Part of the slow fashion movement, Eleni Bantra produces limited quantities of her luxury textile pieces and uses all sustainable packaging. Pieces are made to order or in small quantities to reduce environmental impact and accessories are digitally printed using Azo dye free inks and without any harmful chemicals. All packaging is fully recyclable, biodegradable or made from recycled materials. This Cellular I scarf is part of Eleni Bantra’s Human Microverse collection and the lab sample used for this design was human spleen combined with the geometric shapes found inside the lab. Pretty cool, no?
BearMade
BearMade is intent on creating stylish yet practical bags that last a lifetime. The bags are designed to be great for the outdoors, inspiring people to get out and explore nature. And for every bag sold, BearMade plants 20 trees – so it’s not just limiting its impact, it’s making a positive difference.
BEEN London
Every bag from BEEN London is hand-made entirely from recycled materials to divert waste from going to landfill and helping to reduce its carbon emissions. With leather off-cuts, vegan leather made from leftover apples and felt padding made from recycled IKEA uniforms, the brand ensures that nothing goes to waste. A recent study carried out by BEEN London has revealed that the best-selling Columbia Crossbody Bag has just one-tenth of the carbon footprint compared to a similar bag bought from the high street – that is a carbon saving of 418 plastic bags!
Featured image: Eleni Bantra
