5 Australian Vegan Handbag Brands For Eco Chic Accessories
These Australian (and New Zealand) vegan handbag brands are championing chic, cruelty-free fashion with their animal-friendly accessories.
Utilising innovative, sustainable vegan materials such as pineapple leather, cactus leather and cork, these brands offer ethical accessories without compromise to quality or style.
A_C Official
Founded in 2017 and formerly known as Ahimsa Collective, Australian sustainable accessories brand A_C Official make vegan bags from innovative, plant-based, recycled and repurposed textiles. Their eco-friendly vegan leather materials include pineapple leather (Pinatex), recycled polyester, washable paper and industry deadstock.
They gifted me one of their patent paper coin purses (shown below) and I’ve been using it on the daily. I love its slim-line, minimalist design and the beautiful texture of the material.
With design aesthetics as strong as their eco-credentials, A_C Official are a go-to for a sustainable style statement.
2. Velvet Heartbeat
“Our aim is to be part of the antidote to fast fashion. Could we do better? Always! We will continue to strive to improve our products and lessen our impact.”
Handmade in New Zealand, Velvet Heartbeat’s vegan handbags and accessories offer a considered approach to fashion. The brand places strong importance on where their materials are sourced from, who makes their products, and that they are crafted to last.
Velvet Heartbeat utilise some really interesting, eco & animal-friendly materials, including plant-based textiles (pineapple leather and cactus leather), industry deadstock (e.g. end-of-roll or discontinued fabrics from other brands), and re-purposed/vintage materials (e.g. repurposed coffee sacks for internal fusings, and vintage zips).
3. Lost Woods
Putting innovative vegan materials to the front, Lost Woods create luxe handbags from a new plastic-free vegan leather termed MIRUM®. This leather alternative is produced in a wind-energy powered factory in the US, and is composed of natural tree rubber, plant fibres, minerals, oils and waxes.
Lost Woods’ eco chic bags are designed in Australia and handcrafted in Portugal.
4. Kinds of Grace
For bold and feminine designs, enter Melbourne vegan handbag label, Kinds Of Grace. Founded by Hong Kong born and now Melbourne based designer Grace, Kinds Of Grace make statement, cruelty-free bags from PU vegan leather as well as Pinatex (pineapple leather). I received the above crossbody bags from them, and I’m loving how their striking designs can dress up an outfit.
With a passion for animal welfare, Kinds Of Grace donate 20% of their profits to animal and environmental protection organisations.
kindsofgrace.com (use code FUTUREKAQ20 for 20% off)
5. Sans Beast
“We created the brand with the sole purpose of delivering pieces that had beauty - without the beast.”
After a decade of working in the world of leather handbags (including as Managing and Creative Director at MIMCO), Cathryn Wills came to progressively feel a disconnect between her work and her ethical stance on animal welfare and the environment.
Eventually leaving the industry, Wills later founded Sans Beast in 2018 to bring people beautiful accessories without harming animals. Sans Beast’s eye-catching creations team style with functionality, and are offered in a range of shapes and sizes.
Related Reading
Where To Find Vegan Handbags & Accessories Near You
Lead image credit: Ahimsa Collective