Filbert vegan bags // Meet the Maker

March 24, 2019 By Virginia

Filbert is a high-end vegan bag & accessories label, who craft beautiful pieces from luxurious vegan suede and soft vegan leather. With a mindfully made approach, all bags are made to a high standard so they have a luxurious hand feel and look.

I purchased Filbert’s Baker cross body bag a couple of years ago, when I was hunting for a bag that would cope with the daily demands of my life as an interior architect. (Meaning I needed a bag that was practical enough to sling over my shoulder when I’m climbing ladders, full of drawings & tape measures - but still beautiful enough to take to client meetings.)

It’s fair to say the Baker goes with me most days, as its simple elegance goes with pretty much any outfit.

But there’s more to this brand than just good looks - so we asked Bridget Brown, Filbert’s founder, to explain a bit more about what Filbert is all about.

WE CHATTED WITH filbert FOUNDER bridget brown ABOUT HER STORY…

Who is the “we” in Filbert?

What sparked your passion for ethical fashion? And how would you define ethical fashion? Do you think the very notion of what defines luxury is changing? (Or needs to change?)

I don’t think that ethical and luxury are mutually exclusive of each other, and that things can always be made better. This is an underlying premise of Filbert…let’s make a clean, minimalist handbag that is free from branding and logos, that is cruelty-free and made in a factory where the workers are paid fair wages and work in good conditions. I think that we are watching a big change unfold right now and people are starting to question why we consider leather and other animal based products (i.e. dead animal skins) luxurious. Just like with anything, change takes time. But I think that people are now shifting their mindset to think about what really makes a luxury product. Is it the fact that it’s handcrafted by skilled artisans? Is it the thoughtfulness that went into sourcing all of the materials from local and/or eco sources? Is it the fact that the goods are produced in small batches, making it more special and unique? I think these are things that we’re all going to start thinking about more closely as we become better conscious consumers.

As the founder of a vegan luxe product brand, I assume you are vegan or vegetarian yourself? If so, can you tell us about your vegan journey? What was the spark - what and when did you decide to become vegan and how easy/difficult has it been?

What is your own background professionally? Is it linked to fashion, or something entirely unrelated? Have you always lived in San Francisco?

Who are your favourite vegan/ethical style icons?

If you could offer one piece of advice to people wanting to make more conscious decisions around their wardrobes, what would it be?

What are some of the most positive reactions you’ve got from strangers/people in the street/ interactions in general daily life when explaining what Filbert is all about?

henrietta WEArs:

Lyon Indigo drawstring vegan-suede handbag & Baker Pebble cross body bag by Filbert // cruelty-free, made ethically in Mexico.

Gold plated Honeycomb earrings with Amazonite by Mirabelle Jewellery // fair trade, hand made.

Blue linen jumpsuit & scarf by Not Perfect Linen // transparent, sustainable practices and ethical approach. Handsewn in-house with OEKO-TEX certified European linen.

Embroidered cotton skirt (no longer available) by Megan Park // Mary Jane vegan shoes from Vegan Style. (No longer available, similar here.)

All other clothing by R E M U S E // made in Melbourne, fusing artisan techniques, low-impact dye technology & natural, vegan fibres. GOTS certified organic materials, deconstructed and recycled fabrics.