A list of the top sustainable handbag designers currently on the fashion scene.
Sustainably designed handbags have come a long way since their humble beginnings. From vegetable dyed leathers to recycled and organic materials, handbag designers have upped the ante on style, form and function. Here we offer you an extensive list of what we consider to be the top designers in the sustainable handbag field. We’re impressed.
Ampersand As Apostrophe, Seattle, Washington :Upcycled mailbags, recycled materials
Ashley Watson, Vancouver B.C.: Upcycled leather, recycled materials
Beryll, Los Angeles, California: Upcycled leather, made in the U.S.
Beth Springer, Venice, California: Organic hemp linen, plant dyed leather, made in the U.S.
Calleen Cordero, Los Angeles, California: Vegetable tanned leathers, handmade by artisans
Collina Strada, Los Angeles, California: Made in New York, vegan, recycled materials
Cri de Coeur, New York, NY: Recycled plastic, organic cotton, vegan, Made in NYC
Dama, Los Angeles, California:Upcycled leather, recycled materials, vegan
Ellington, Portland, Oregon: Award-winning environmentally responsible tannery that uses efficient processes to reduce water consumption, energy use and CO2 emissions.
Entermodal, Portland, Oregon: Handmade, vegetable tanned leather, will buy back leather after use for recycling
Erin Templeton, Vancouver, B.C.: Upcycled leather
Fleabags, New York, NY: Organic and vintage materials, vegetable-tanned and re-purposed leathers, all materials sourced in the U.S., silkscreens use water-based ink
GG2G, Stamford, Connecticut: Repurposed and recycled materials, vegan, made in the U.S.
JADEtribe, New York, NY: Handwoven, organic cottons, natural dyes, fair trade
Jess Rizzuti, New York, NY : Sustainable cork
Kim White, Los Angeles, California: Dead stock, never-used textiles intended for use in American automobiles: cars, trucks and vans, vintage fabrics
Lina Rennell, Northern California: Recycled leather
Lizzie Fortunato, New York, NY: Hand beaded, recycled materials
Love Mert, New York, NY: Upcycled leather, wood scraps from designer’s father’s workshop, organic cotton lining
Matt & Nat, Montreal, Canada: Made in Montreal, lining of recycled plastic bottles, vegan
Passchal, Richmond, Virginia: Recycled inner tubes
Push Pull Cambodia, Takeo Province, Cambodia:Hand woven by Khmer artisans, fair trade
Red Flag, Vancouver, B.C.: Alternative manufacturing, recycled materials
Rising Tide Fair Trade, Brooklyn, NY and New Jersey: Fair Trade Federation certified and Green America approved
Shannon South, New York, NY: Zero waste, recycled leather
Spencer Devine, Brooklyn, NY: Upcycled materials, supports textile artisans in developing countries.
The Sway, New York, NY: Upcycled leather, recycled cotton lining
Teich, New York, NY: Vegetable-tanned and chrome-free leather, vintage materials and fabrics, hemp, linen
Image: The Sway