oooh, I like ratan actually. Thanks passerby! I'm back to the drawing board in deciding what to get -- need to look at these bags you found more closely.
I feel like a hypocrite for being willing to buy things with leather trim...but no fur and not totally leather, but that's where I am with my animal rights ideas right now (not totally vegan!). I like jacquard, canvas, nylon, ratan -- all great. meanwhile, I still love the looks of leather -- so no offense to everyone here who has great leather bags! -- but I don't like the way that the leather and meat producing animals are treated. If they were all raised on HUMANE farms, I wouldn't have problems with it.