When I was vegetarian, I honestly didn’t think much beyond my plate. Going vegan changed that completely — suddenly I was looking at everything differently. Products tested on animals. Wool, silk, down. And, of course, leather — not just obvious leather jackets and bags, but the trims, the linings, the little tabs and pulls that sneak their way into so much of what we buy. Going vegan meant cutting all of it out, and most of the time, that’s been surprisingly easy. Skincare, cleaning products, even my wardrobe staples — I found swaps I love just as much, if not more, than what I had before.
But there’s one category that’s been sitting on my “unsolved” list for years. And I’m sure plenty of vegans out there would agree with me on this one- it’s handbags.
Specifically — nice handbags. The kind you reach for when you’re going out, not just running errands. The kind that look a little bit special, a little bit designer, that make an outfit feel finished.
The Problem Isn’t “Vegan Bags Don’t Exist”
Vegan handbags have been around for ages, and there are loads of them. The issue is what I actually want from a bag versus what’s out there.
Here’s my honest experience searching for one:
- The cheap PU options — plasticky, shiny in a way that screams “fake,” and usually starting to peel or crack within a year. And underneath that “vegan” label, it’s still just plastic- and it’ll be sitting in landfill long after I’m gone. Cruelty-free, sure, but not exactly kind to the planet either.
- The “ethical basics” brands — lovely values, but the designs are often very plain. Canvas totes, simple design. Great for shopping, but not what I’d reach for on a night out.
- The genuinely high-end vegan brands — they exist (e.g. Stella McCartney), but they’re often eye-wateringly expensive and I don’t always love the designs enough to pay the price.
So I’ve ended up in this weird gap. Like many ethical vegans, I could never bring myself to wear an animal (and that includes the trims, the linings, the little leather pulls). But I also don’t want to feel like I’m compromising on quality or design.
What I’m Actually Looking For
When I sat down and really thought about it, here’s my wishlist for “the bag”:
- Materials that feel genuinely premium — not plasticky, not obviously synthetic. Soft, structured, the kind of thing that looks better with a little wear, not worse.
- Fashionable design — not trying to imitate a logo-heavy designer bag, but not plain or boring either. Something classy, with little details that feel considered — a soft matte gold clasp, or unique hardware finish.
- Details that feel intentional — the kind of thing where you can tell someone actually designed it, rather than just avoided leather and called it a day.
- An interior that’s actually thought through — multiple pockets and compartments instead of one big empty space, especially for totes. A dedicated middle section for a laptop would be a dream — somewhere it’s protected and easy to grab, rather than just floating around with everything else.
- Luxury evening bags — something small and classy I’d actually reach for on a night out or a dinner — the kind of bag that elevates an outfit .
The Future of Vegan Fashion Is Looking Promising..
But here’s the thing — new and exiting plant-based leathers are coming onto the market (see my deep-dive on vegan leathers). New brands using these materials to make genuinely beautiful pieces — and the “premium vegan” gap that’s existed for so long is finally starting to close.
And I might have been spending rather a lot of time lately… thinking about what my version of “the bag” would actually look like.
Let’s just say — watch this space. 🤍
