Cruelty-Free and Ethical Handbag Brands
Posted on February 15 2017
You can find high-quality, vegan and ethical alternatives of so many commonly used products, and handbags are certainly no exception. Choosing between chic and kind is a thing of the past, and if you just know where to look, you really can have it all!
Cruel factory farming is not exclusive to food products - in fact, according to PETA, most leather is often sourced from cows used for beef and milk. This means that many of the animals used for leather goods experience all of the horrors of factory farming conditions and then some.
Our human neighbors can often be subjected to harsh working conditions in handbag factories as well, including those of brands who charge premium prices for "luxury craftsmanship." In 2012, luxury brand Burberry faced controversy over the working conditions of their factories' workers in China. High-end brand Mulberry faced similar accusations of ill-treatment and low pay in their Turkish factories in 2015. In many cases, large companies require large batches from overseas factories, and cannot oversee the conditions in which these high quotas are met. However, this does not mean you should not shop from companies that source from countries outside of the US or Europe - on the contrary, goods manufacture is how many people from these countries make their livelihood. It's therefore recommended to shop with companies with a commitment to ethics, who use small-scale factories.
Finding a vegan, socially-conscious handbag line that has chic and luxurious designs may seem like a tall order, but here are three vegan handbag companies who fit the bill:
On trend with the hottest hands-free fashion, these waist bags are anything but fanny packs. Vegan and made in LA, Hipsters for Sisters not only oversees production, but has lunch chats with their factory workers on the reg. LOVE GOODLY proudly stocks these small-but-mighty bags in our shop!
According to their site, "What initially began as an all MADE IN NYC label, has now gone global to source and manufacture bags and shoes using artisan and small-scale ethical manufacturers from countries such as India, South Korea, Mexico, Brazil and Hong Kong." Though they source from small-scale manufacturers, they have a huge product offering with a wide selection of styles! You can find LOVE GOODLY'S favorites for sale in our shop.
From totes to wallets to stylish mini satchels, Angela Roi's vegan accessories are the epitome of classic grace. They are dedicated to animal welfare in every aspect of their production, and are official partners of the ASPCA, donating a flat amount to "help mistreated animals and to convey that fashion doesn’t depend on cruelty." They are also dedicated to the artisans who bring their designs to life, visiting their factories in South Korea quarterly to inspect working conditions.
With handbags, you are quite literally wearing your heart on your sleeve, and these ethical brands help represent your values without cramping your style.