Sustainable Handbag Brands

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#2
Marketing buzzword territory. Lots of brands blithely claim it but are not held to legal definitions to prove just what sustainable means in their processes, or even their fulfillment methods (how do they distribute? Fossil fuel means?). Then there's the pleather/plastics substitutions that are supposedly more virtuous but actually dirty as all getout environmentally.

Without independent, recognized certifications, and opaque language permitted in promotional material, chasing sustainability in new bags is actually really hard for consumers. One can always swear off sweatshop fast fashion and instead buy quality bags in the resale environment, with great leather that lasts.
 
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#3
jellyv said:
Marketing buzzword territory. Lots of brands blithely claim it but are not held to legal definitions to prove just what sustainable means in their processes, or even their fulfillment methods (how do they distribute? Fossil fuel means?). Then there's the pleather/plastics substitutions that are supposedly more virtuous but actually dirty as all getout environmentally.

Without independent, recognized certifications, and opaque language permitted in promotional material, chasing sustainability in new bags is actually really hard for consumers. One can always swear off sweatshop fast fashion and instead buy quality bags in the resale environment, with great leather that lasts.
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Exactly!

'Sustainable', 'eco friendly', even 'vegan' are not legal terms. There's absolutely no way of external measurement or accountability. A buyer has to scrutinise and square each and every brand's track record, credentials, word definitions and ongoing of overseeing their outsourcing and supply-chains against their ESG policy.

If you have a vintage leather bag from the the 1950s it's already proven itself to be more sustainable in terms of any ESG policy than any BS policy or definition a brand can boast about on social media.
 
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#4
I just recently, accidentally (I say accidentally because I normally would never buy a vegan bag), picked up a Samara Medium Shoulder bag from my local consignment store. I thought it was leather. It reminds me of Mansur Gavriel for quality. When I researched it, I was astounded. This Canadian company does good things.

ETA: Thanks to the OP @poleneinblack for starting this thread; with my recent purchase, I've realized vegan material for bags has come a long way since I last knew about it. Timely thread!

samarabags.com

Our Story Page

Using some of the world's most innovative materials like apple based leather, castor based sunglasses and recycled ocean plastics to create timeless pieces that are intentionally designed. Female founded. Designed in Toronto, Canada. Creating impact in the world through every purchase.
samarabags.com
 
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#5
I agree with PPs on how problematic the lack of clarity, consistency and even legitimacy of what “sustainable” means from one brand to the next is. Every time I see a bag labeled as such, I always wonder what they mean and immediately look to see which material(s) the bag made of, but I know that it goes beyond that.
 
#8
I am happy to add one here: Totally Sustainable brand from Finland.
Fully sustainable and transparent in production, and pricing, made out of eg. leftover leathers from making example leather sofas...
all the production information from each product carefully explained in the website, and shipping globally. I purchased this white Sammal bag with funky Thrash Bag text made out of leather for only 100 euros! I absolutely love it.

Lovia | Turning trash into treasures with full transparency

Lovia is a sustainable brand that creates artisan made bags and jewellery of high-quality leftover materials with 100 % transparency. Read more!
www.loviacollection.com www.loviacollection.com

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