The Ultimate List of Ethical Handbags
Updated: Oct 13, 2021
The phrase "ethical handbags" likely means something different to everyone. In this list, you will find a variety of handbag brands, products, suppliers, resellers, etc. that fall somewhere in the following categories:
Vegan
Cruelty-free
Ethical labor practices
Charitable
Eco-friendly
Sustainable
Recycled
Recyclable
Fair-trade
Ethically-sourced products
This is by no means an exhaustive list, BUT it will be as comprehensive as possible! If we find another ethical handbag brand, we will try to list it ASAP. Please leave your suggestions in the comments! Pricing is accurate at the time of posting. Always check website details before purchase.
Each listed item will have info (*if not listed, it will be soon!*) to reflect the brand's ethical stance. Again, always check the website for details! For instance, a brand may have vegan bags but not be clear on their environmental impact or labor practices. They will still be included on this list, but will only be marked as vegan. Let's get to the cute purses and handbags!
Svala
Designed and manufactured in Los Angeles, Svala bags are unique AND vegan! They use natural materials (like the cork bag pictured) to create stunning styles. Plus, they come in an organic cotton dust bag.
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Vegan; Cruelty-free; Environmentally conscious; Ethical labor practices; Water conserving; Eluxe Awards Vegan Brand of the Year 2020
Pixie Mood
I was first introduced to this brand through a FabFitFun box ad on Instagram, I believe! I was enamored with the classic designs and creamy, pastel colors. They come in all shapes and sizes and are ETHICAL AND VEGAN! What more could you want?
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Vegan; cruelty-free; charitable; sustainable
FiveloveTwo
Not only is it hard to find vegan leather brands out there, it's hard to find FASHIONABLE, edgy vegan handbag brands! This one from FiveloveTwo on Amazon is one that I've personally purchased, and it is GORGEOUS. It is well-made and much bigger than you would expect (take a look at the extra pictures!).
Type: Amazon retailer
Ethical Appeal: Vegan
Matt & Nat
These luxury vegan bags often go on sale up to 50%! They're vegan, sleek, stylish, and affordable enough to rock every day. Learn more about their ethics and sustainability on the site!
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Vegan; recycled lining (plastic bottles); ethical materials; cruelty-free; ethical labor practices
Charles & Keith
Get 15% off your full-priced purchase with code LUNAR15 (available Feb 5 - Feb 13, 2021)
Read more about their efforts toward sustainability on the site!
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Vegan; recycled materials; ethical labor practices; sustainability; environmentally-conscious
Sakroots
The Sak created Sakroots: eco-conscious, really nice-looking bags! They even have an eco-friendly section on their site, featuring the "Ecotwill" material. They also have vegan leather options for a more streamlined look.
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Vegan; eco-friendly
Buckle-Down
This super cute Mandalorian 'The Child' crossbody is vegan leather, made in the US, and officially licensed! Buckle-Down has several licensed products, from horror and bands (our favs) to pop culture icons and Mickey Mouse. Known for their belt buckles, they also have some really cute, casual, vegan leather bags.
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Vegan (certain products); US-based factories
Ash & Rose
When browsing Ash & Rose accessories, you can even "shop by impact"! It's a filter system that allows you to narrow your search down by terms like "vegan", "fair trade", "cruelty free" and more. How cool is that?
Type: Boutique
Ethical Appeal: Sourced from ethical, sustainable brands; Vegan (varies by product)
Adorn
This clutch is 100% cotton and 100% cute! Not all of the bags on the Adorn boutique are vegan, but take a look at the cute styles, and you'll be sure to find something that matches your style.
Type: Boutique
Ethical Appeal: Vegan (varies by product); Sources ethical brands
Zatchels
Zatchels has been in the leather business a long time. While we don't personally love real leather, if that's your top choice, Zatchels is the way to go! They source high-quality leather for their stunning, vintage-inspired satchel bags.
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Handmade in England; ethically-sourced leather from Clyde Leather
Lux Lair
The Lux Lair selection of designer handbags comes at a cheaper price due to stocking unsold inventory. This cool, graffiti-style New York City Erin Medium Backpack is made of vegan faux leather!
Type: Reseller of new goods
Ethical Appeal: Less landfill waste
U.S. Polo Assn.
This name is probably familiar to you, and they are also at a nice price point! But did you know that U.S. Polo Association bags are made of faux leather? They look and feel luxurious, but are animal-free.
*Fun fact: I (Beth) used to think that U.S. Polo Assn. stood for U.S. Polo Assassin. I still say it in my head.*
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Vegan
Kipling
If you've seen the bags with the little monkey charms hanging off the side, you've seen Kipling! They're iconic. You can even customize some of their bags! And keep an eye out for cool collabs, like the one pictured with Coca-Cola.
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Made of recycled polyester
Dallas Designer Handbags
Dallas Designer Handbags stocks authenticated, pre-loved/used luxury handbags! While not vegan, per se, these are a nod to the impact of upcycling and reusing older goods (rather than purchasing new ones or throwing these away).
Type: Reseller/consignment
Ethical Appeal: Less landfill waste; upcycling encouraged
Rebag
Rebag is another reseller with pre-loved bags, keeping bags out of landfills and in loving hands! Also not vegan (most mainstream luxury handbags aren't), but at least they are being reused. All bags are authenticated by the Rebag experts.
Type: Reseller/consignment
Ethical Appeal: Less landfill waste; upcycling encouraged
Rice Love
"Buy a bag... feed a family! Every item purchased feeds a family in need." Rice Love produces ethical bags that go to an ethical cause. You can even see the families that you have helped right on the website! Rice Love is an obvious choice for the eco-conscious.
Type: Charity retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Charitable donations for each purchase; Eco-friendly materials (jute/burlap); Vegan; Cruelty-free; Ethical labor practices
Accessorize London
Accessorize ships to the US. They also run their own charitable organization, the Monsoon Accessorize Trust. You can see the impact on the sustainability of communities on their website! Their prices are also extra-affordable.
Type: Charitable retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Vegan (varies by product); Company runs a charity, the Monsoon Accessorize Trust; Furthers sustainability in communities
Current Boutique
We may be a bit biased, but we love their name. Not affiliated with Currant, but ultra-current, is the Current Boutique. It runs as a reseller/consignment store. Pre-loved bags save the environment!
Type: Reseller/Consignment of used goods
Ethical Appeal: Less landfill waste; Encourages upcycling
The Luxury Closet
In their own words, "Be a re-fashion hero one bag at a time... Shop pre-loved." Some of the bags on The Luxury Closet (or TLC for short) have never even been used! Watch for the "Never Used" flag above a product.
Type: Reseller/consignment of new and used goods
Ethical Appeal: Less landfill waste; Encourages upcycling
The Sis Kiss
The Sis Kiss boutique curates their products, so you know you're getting something chic and unique. Check the product to make sure it's made from vegan materials (if that's what you're into), like the trendy, tie-dye, nylon weekender bag shown on the left.
Type: Boutique
Ethical Appeal: Vegan (varies by product)
Susan Tancer Studios
"One-of-a-kind bags for a one-of-a-kind woman." Just like the site says, each bag from Susan Tancer Studios is unique! That's pretty cool. It's also hand-crafted in the US and signed by the artist, herself. The bags are made of eco-friendly canvas that is sealed with layers of paint to look and feel like leather (and last a long time!). Each bag has a story, so read up and get inspired.
Type: Studio/artist/retailer
Ethical Appeal: Handmade/hand-painted in a single studio in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; Eco-friendly canvas; Long-lasting
Joanna Maxham
Designed in New York and produced in small batches in a family-run factory in Poland, Joanna Maxham bags are classic and chic without the (super) high price-tag. While they are made of leather, it's ethically-sourced (if that's your thing).
Type: Designer/retailer
Ethical Appeal: Ethically sourced hardware and leather; ethical labor practices
Radley (UK)
Shop Radley purses by leather and non-leather! That's super-convenient if you are looking for a vegan bag. Their "Radley Responsible range is crafted with sustainable materials, including recycled nylon (made from plastic bottles!) and water-based PU"! Plus, they have a cute little Scottie dog mascot that you can see dangling from somewhere on each bag.
Type: Designer/retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Vegan (varies by product); recycled nylon material; non-toxic PU
Carmen Sol
Carmen Sol has the cutest jelly bags! Be Jelly! Shop their selection of handbags today. "Chic, eco-conscious, and affordable, Carmen Sol is reinventing the jelly as a lifestyle brand.
Designed in New York City and made in Italy, all accessories are made of pure jelly material [and] rose scented. The collection includes shoes, handbags and accessories in 15 vivid colors with eco-friendly packaging."
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Vegan; ethical labor practices; eco-friendly
Lillian Vernon
Lillian Vernon has a plethora of products to choose from, but their bag selection is vegan and able to be personalized! Say no more.
Type: Retailer
Ethical Appeal: Vegan
Anna Virgili
Anna Virgili bags are designed, sourced, and produced in Italy. They are made of genuine leather, if that's your thing. The style is impeccable, and the quality matches.
Type: Designer/retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Ethically-sourced leather; ethical labor practices
Mirta
Mirta is another high-quality Italian leather brand. They have bags and other leather goods. According to their site:
"In order to offer high quality products, we recognize our obligation to ensure that all suppliers are operating ethically. We expect all suppliers to consistently provide an environment which protects their employees' health and safety and basic human and environmental rights. If you want to know more about our ethical sourcing policy, please refer to our Terms & Conditions."
Not to mention, the bags are just beautiful. If you're into real leather, they can't be beat!
Type: Designer/retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Ethically-sourced leather, products, and materials; ethical labor practices; environmentally-conscious
Nuuwai
APPLE LEATHER. Enough said.
Okay, there's a little more to be said. nuuwaï is a German brand revolutionizing vegan leather by using APPLE PEELS. Trademarked as AppleSkin, it sounds like it could be the next iPhone cover. Instead, it's the material used to make these gorgeous handbags! Learn more on the Nuuwai website.
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Vegan; cruelty-free (PETA-approved); eco-friendly; re- and upcycled materials; ethical labor practices
Vuch
Okay, okay - hear me out. The website is in Slovak BUT you can use Google translate or the language selection on their website to change it to English if need be! Trust me, these bags are worth the extra click. Vuch makes other accessories, but their bags are so unique! *Note: They don't deliver to the United States, but they do deliver to the UK and other European countries. Vuch, if you're reading this, we want your bags in the US!!!!
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Vegan; charitable
The Vegan Warehouse
The Vegan Warehouse stocks vegan brands of handbags! They do the work for you and find the gorgeous bags. This one on the left by Mersi is one of our favorites (but they also have a convincing Stella McCartney dupe!)
Type: Retailer/boutique
Ethical Appeal: Vegan; Ethical suppliers
Maniere De Voir
Yes, that's a bag! And it's a faux, vegan leather bag, at that. If you're looking for edgy pieces, look no further than Maniere De Voir. (Psst, they're affordable and ship internationally, too!)
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Vegan
BuildABagg
Have you ever wanted to build your own beach bag? Well, BuildABagg makes that possible. AND it's eco-friendly, durable, lightweight, and waterproof.
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Eco-friendly; vegan; cruelty-free; EVA material
Lovevook
Looking for trendy, faux leather, affordable bags? Lovevook is for you. Their labor practices and such are not explicit, but the bags are all vegan (always check first, but as far as I can tell, they are!). They're also available on Amazon - yay for 2-day shipping!
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Vegan
CHIKO
CHIKO, while known for its leather shoes, also has a wide selection of unique handbags. Most are made of actual leather, which the site describes as responsibly-sourced. The bags and shoes are handmade. There are a couple vegan synthetic options, like the rainbow watercolor bag pictured to the left!
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Environmentally-friendly packaging; responsibly-sourced leather (non-vegan); A few vegan options
BAGINC
"Top trends at wholesale price". BAGINC is based in Paris, but they outsource their manufacturing to factories in Asia that can replicate "Hollywood" trends at low prices. This probably means that they don't have ethical labor practices. However, there are some vegan options on the site if you look under "faux leather" in their drop-down search function.
Type: Retailer/manufacturer/fast fashion
Ethical Appeal: Some vegan options
dr. Liza
While these bags are genuine leather, if you're okay with that, they're gorg! Especially the pink with the gold "L" on the front. The leather is high-quality and responsibly-sourced. Plus, they're ergonomic and good for your posture! That's an added bonus to the sleek style.
Type: Retailer/manufacturer of ergonomic bags
Ethical Appeal: High-quality leather; ethically manufactured in Brazil
Hyer Goods
Urban Planet
If you live in Canada, Urban Planet is worth a look (or five!). They only ship to Canada (for now). However, their selection is on-trend and with prices that are hard to beat. They are not super transparent on their website about manufacturing, so keep that in mind.
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Vegan
Cultural Elements
KkCo
KkCo is an unconventional fashion brand focused on community. They don't just make bags, but the bags they do make are quality! The bag on the left is made from 100% heavy cotton canvas, and it was sewn and hand-dyed in Los Angeles, California. Plus, it's tie-dye, and I hope that trend stays here forever.
Type: Retailer/manufacturer
Ethical Appeal: Community-based (recognizes different artists/creators); Ethically made in the US; Vegan (always check specific products); Cruelty-free
Alexandra K
Robert Matthew
Pop Fashion
Stella McCartney
Catrinka by Ocelot Market