With hundreds of sustainable collections out there, it’s a conscious fashion-lovers paradise, and the only thing that can top a fab eco-friendly dress is a vegan accessory.
Anyone that knows me knows that I’m an accessories junkie with a handbag collection to rival any Kardashian, but I’m also an avid animal lover and progressing vegan. The hardest part of finding a vegan line to covet is getting the same quality and construction you’d find in mainstream lines. Luckily, high-end brands are evolving and here are four of our favorites to satisfy your conscience and closet:
Jill Milan
Celebs like Jennifer Lawrence, Anne Hathaway and Kerry Washington have all sported Jill Milan bags. It’s the luxurious Italian fabrics and simple design that’s garnered an A-list following, along with my own devotion. What I love most is that each bag is handmade using all-natural and animal free fabrics like velvet and the softest faux leather.
The most famous piece of the collection is the gold Art Deco clutch, a great example of how vegan accessories can outshine any standard luxury piece. At $1700, it’s an investment piece but one that will more than pay for itself over time, with every wedding, holiday party and formal event you’ll attend.
If you’re looking for an everyday piece – and something completely on-trend with this season’s bucket bag obsession – check out the $500 gold SoMa Punching Bag. I have a similar metallic handbag that matches every outfit and is particularly great for travelling – one bag and done!
Matt and Nat
I’d like to say that I discovered Matt and Nat because I was among the first cult followers of the Montreal-based vegan handbag brand …but even if I didn’t quite discover them I do have a series of bags from their very first collection to boast about.
From that first collection to today, the brand has been synonymous with trend-setting cruelty free accessories.
Some pieces in the collection are bright and bold but the overall designs are classic – think structured bowling bags and functional totes. It’s the clean lines and quality design that makes every season’s collection a lasting one – my first collection handbags garner as much praise as the new Kite bag.
The newly launched Cork Collection offers standout pieces made of natural cork, inside and out. The finished look is a little uneven, a little wild and definitely a conversation piece. Try the cork backpack to turn an everyday essential into a fashion statement.
Stella McCartney
Long before it was cool to be cruelty free, design icon Stella McCartney was designing vegan accessories for the fashion elite. When she launched her own collection in 2001, it was completely free of leather and fur, and it still is, making her line stand out from other high-fashion labels.
Her collection has always had a sporty feel (and not just because she designs for Adidas!) but unique style elements are in every piece. I’m currently obsessed with her vegan shoe collection, including her gladiator-inspired wedge sandals and metallic high heels.
If you’re going to splurge on just one pair of Stella McCartney shoes, it has to be the essential black pump. There are several variations on the classic to choose from, each with a different heel height and style element like peek-a-boo mesh and shiny patent leather. Whichever pump you pick it will be your go-to vegan accessory with a designer label to boot.
NOAH
With luxury in mind, NOAH Italian vegan shoes are made in limited quantities, by hand, with amazing attention to detail. The collection has received recognition from PETA, and gotten the Green Product Award, among others, thanks to its use of sustainable animal-free fabrics and commitment to fair working conditions.
With all this good Karma it’s easy to fall for one of NOAH’s designs, each an ode to classic Italian extravagance. The oxford ribbon lace-ups and stylish flats had me hooked before I even realized how much buzz the brand was getting.
Don’t let the practicality fool you, there’s red patent pumps and high-heeled booties for a dash of vegan sex-appeal. My suggestion is to pick one everyday pair and another that defines your “Dolce Vita“!
That’s why i don’t know where to buy anymore. What is the better thing to do? I have no answers. Everything seems so bad for nature. What is that i can wear and is sustainable, vegan, enough paid, that will last for a long period… ?
Excellent piece, so many things to think about. Even though the materials might not hurt animals, they might not be sustainable, and they might not be assembled ethically. I never thought of these things. Very eye-opening!
Thank you for this! It’s so crucial to get this information out there to the consumers, most of whom probably don’t really want to hurt animals, pollute the planet or have slaves work for them. I also think it’s very important to make clear that while the non-vegan options are certainly bad for animals, not all vegan options are animal-friendly. But that’s a whole another topic.
That Jill Milan clutch bag is so classy and fabulous. The color is absolutely perfect! I also love that this is vegan. $1700 is just too much for a clutch. I do understand that materials that are vegan can be pretty expensive and the process of making them is extensive, but man! I have to spend so much for a luxury clutch. I go to a lot of formal events and I know that I will use this a lot. I’m so tempted that I’m actually very annoyed at myself right now. ?
If you’re really going to use it, I’m sure that the bag would be worth it! ?
My daughter really loves Stella McCartney sneakers. She’s a little small for her age so she loves that it adds a little height.
She does design for Adidas, which is why the style is very cool.
If I’m going to splurge on shoes, it would be high heels. Comfort is very hard to come by from cheaper brands so I always invest in good quality heels.
Urbanette always recommends the best things when it comes to non-toxic, vegan and eco-friendly options. I use their search bar a lot because I rely on them for such information. I’m thankful that your influencial blog is really striving to do their part in helping the environment. More power!
Big brands will start turning their heads when people start using cruelty-free products. These big brands only follow what the consumer demands. We’re the trend-setters of this industry and when leather booms, that’s what they will produce for us because they know that’s where the money is. If we start boycotting these big brands and switch to a more eco-friendly approach, they will feel the need to switch as well. It’s not rocket science on why we need to stop purchasing food and other items that are not eco-friendly.
Exactly, if only more and more people will do something for the environment.
DId you see Stella’s Camel Platform Pump?! It looks so 90’s hip! ? Definitely buying one!
Great selection of brands. Some, I haven’t really heard of but they look really top-of-the-line!