5 Ethical Reasons to Adopt Vegan Handbags Over Classic Leather

In the past, every time I reached for my leather Louis Vuitton purse, I felt a slight twinge of guilt. Did I really need a leather bag? Did an animal need to give up its hide just so I could hold stuff on my shoulder in a sturdier sack?

Sure, it’s excellent quality, and I wouldn’t have to worry about replacing it any time soon, but I couldn’t help think there was a better option.

There was! Vegan handbags. Made of vegan leather, these handbags are among the newest fashion trends, and I think they will be around for quite a while. Like high heels, hoop earrings, and leggings, they might even stick around forever.

Need more convincing? I’ve got tons of reasons you should say goodbye to classic leather and embrace vegan fashion. Let’s purse-sue the subject. *heh heh*

5 Reasons to Ditch Classic Leather and Choose Vegan Handbags

1. Cruelty-Free

“Animals” and “harvested” are not two words you often hear in the same sentence. While writing this article, I ran into quite a few of those sentences, and each one was more cringeworthy than the last.

Always my #1 reason for scrapping leather: vegan handbags are cruelty-free. Since vegan leather doesn’t require any animal by-products, you don’t need to worry about what animals were harvested (*cringe*) for your accessories.

My point: no animal loses their life for you to have a sharp bag slung over your shoulder.

2. Environmentally-Friendly

If you buy the right vegan handbags, you can help the environment in a huge way. Tons of vegan companies make handbags (and shoes, wallets, and other useful stuff) out of 100% recycled materials and fruit waste.

Like the vegan warehouse, many awesome companies even donate a percentage of their profits to worthy causes like animal sanctuaries or environmental causes. Turning garbage into gold, these companies are basically business Rumplestiltskins, only they’re saving the world, not stealing babies.

Another advantage vegan leather has over classic leather is cost. Many people don’t realize all the extra expenses that go into manufacturing animal leather. The animals need farmland, food, and shelter. Don’t forget about the cost of chemicals, fuel, and labor to produce the leather itself.

That’s a lot of extra nickels and dimes. Who do you think pays for it? That’s right – you do.

One more tidbit about animal leather production farms: they create significant amounts of waste and methane gas, which is horrible (and really gross) for the Earth. If you switched to vegan handbags, you could cut down on poop fumes. Wouldn’t that be nice?

3. Made of Recycled Materials – AND Recyclable!

Vegan handbags are made from leather crafted from different materials, like pineapple leaves, apple skins, tree bark, and bamboo. Many manufacturers also use recycled paper, PU (polyurethane) leather, post-consumer plastic, and rubber for their vegan products. Plus, most vegan bags are recyclable!

Here are just a few more materials used to make vegan handbags:

• MuSkin – leather made from mushroom skin
• Piñatex – leather made from pineapple bush leaves
• Cork
• Grape Skins
• Banana Leaf Fibers

4. More Companies Are Going Vegan

Major brands worldwide are embracing vegan leather, from Hugo Boss to Old Navy to Zara. They acknowledge the power of sustainability and offer fashionable, eco-friendly, cruelty-free products designed to help you save the world (and look good doing it).

As consumers, we want to encourage this big-brand-behavior. Their moral compasses are determined by our buying habits, which means we are in charge of what they do (a secret they don’t want me spreading around).

5. Easy On Your Wallet

Just because vegan bags are trendy at the mo’ doesn’t mean they’re expensive. In fact, vegan handbags are often more affordable than their animal leather counterparts. If you get the right type, it lasts just as long!

In these uncertain times, you better believe it’s essential to be money-conscious while still respecting the impact we have on the world.

In the End

There are so many reasons to adopt vegan handbags over classic leather – it’s eco-friendly, cruelty-free, sustainable. But what’s important is the overall positive impact you make when you choose vegan.

So, next time you find yourself looking for a new purse, take a few moments to ask yourself what it took to make it. Consider the many options available that don’t require cruelty, waste, and pollution.

Then, buy the hottest vegan handbag you can find and show it off to all your friends. I’m pretty sure it’s okay to brag if you’re saving the world – you’re spreading the word, right?

Author Bio: Lori Wade is a journalist from Louisville. She is a content writer who has experience in small editions. Lori is currently engaged in growing awareness around cruelty-free lifestyle alternatives. You can find her on LinkedIn. Hope you enjoy Lori’s insights!