If it’s back to school, or simply to ease your back, backpacks never go out of style (though right now, they’re more popular than ever—and our backs are thanking us!). Here are 10 grown up backpacks made from sustainable, responsible materials. Take care of your backpack, and it will take care of you for years to come.
Garfield by State Bags
This isn’t just a backpack, but a GiveBackPack. For every bag purchased STATE hand-delivers bags to American students in need all around the country. Their styles range from simple to fun and we love the vibrant, playful colors on their Garfield bag!
$55, STATE
Rucksac Chataigne Barbade by Veja
Our favorite sustainable shoe company, Veja, is branching out to backpacks and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome! Colorblocking perfection, grown up backpacks style exemplified.
$239, Veja
Tropic Dream Globby Backpack by Modernaked
Handmade in Spain with organic cotton handles, this bookbag is a modern take on the old-school trend. Don’t like this dreamy underwater design? Modernaked (what a cool name!) offers a range of tons of different designs and colors.
$130, Modernaked
Signature Urban Ruck by Sword & Plough
Made from recycled and repurposed military gear and employing veterans, Sword & Plough is on a mission for good. “We wanted to create something that would emotionally and physically touch civilians in their everyday lives and remind them, in a beautiful way, of the challenges our country and servicemen face,” says Emily and Betsy Nunez, founders of Sword & Plough.
$298, Sword & Plough
Dublin Backpack by Ecoalf
It might look like the average backpack, but look again. Ecoalf has created a bag using waste products like fishing nets, tires, post-industrial cotton,and coffee. Javier, founder of Ecoalf and his team, traveled to factories around the world searching for opportunities to invest in research and development on how to turn one persons garbage into an upcycled product, et voila!
$75, Ecoalf
Black Waxed Rucksack by Archival
Want to support American manufacturing? Then, this is your bag. Proudly made in the USA, this Archival rucksack is extremely well-made and will last through all your adventures. From the custom woven cotton to the dye and finishing and even the zippers are excusively made in the USA!
$260, Archival
The Lucas by Stone + Cloth
Made in Los Angeles, this bag is a simple classic with a big back story. After returning home to the US from an epic climb up Mt Kilimanjaro, Matthew Clough, founder of Stone + Cloth, realized his overwhelming access to resources as compared to those he met in Tanzania, and decided to create a company to help. Each Stone + Cloth purchase helps to provide scholarships for students in Tanzania, Africa.
$68, Stone + Cloth
The Pack by BLACKHOUSEPROJECT
Handmade in San Francisco, California in limited quanites, get this bookbag while you still can! It’s designed is inspired by the U.S. M1928 Haversack, which was used by all U.S. Army and Marine Corps infantrymen throughout World War I and II. Made of durable duck canvas and vegetable tanned leather straps.
$280, Etsy
Frosted Flower Rucksack by Front Row Society
Get your design on a bag—that’s what Veljko Spasic from Serbia did after winning Front Row Society’s design contest. This print was based on a moodboard of Frosted floral prints. Front Row Society puts out a design challenge and lets you get creative by designing within the theme.
$139, Front Row Society
Array Solar Laptop Charger by Voltaic
Carry your laptop AND charge it!
$389, Voltaic
Images from featured brands
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