Chic Vegan

Much to the delight of every vegan fashionista out there, designer ethical handbags are becoming more and more popular and readily available to the masses. These new designers are popping up everywhere with their sexy designs and beautiful missions.

Amy Kathryn
Amy Kathryn makes fun and funky handbags made from animal and eco-friendly faux-leather. She specializes in creating unique patterns to compliment functional designs. Her collection includes handbags, clutches, diaper bags, wallets and even computer cases.

Cherry Berry
These bags are serious vegan luxury.  Cherry Berry is dedicated to making the finest products while using the most sustainable vegan “leathers” they can find. The result? Beauty!

GG2G
This company is one of my best bets for “The Next Big Thing” in sustainable and vegan accessories.  All GG2G items are made from recycled materials such as salvaged vinyl, highway billboard, bicycle inner tube, recycled glass bottles, P.E.T and other sustainable fabrics. Who ever knew old diner seating could be so beautiful?

Ro & Co
Ro & Co is a vegan owned Eco-luxury brand  for women and men desiring an alternative to leather that is of luxurious quality and affordably-priced.  These bags are gorgeous and incredibly well made with sustainable faux-leathers.

Melie Bianco
Melie Bianco specializes in affordable luxury. Creator, Melissa Song, puts some top-notch construction into her trend-invoking bags that are taking the fashion world by storm, but giving our wallets a break!

REVEAL
If you can’t tell already, REVEAL is my new favorite shop! Each wonderfully chic bag  is made from one of many sustainable materials like bamboo, hemp, or recycled polyester. And for every purchase you make, REVEAL plants a tree!

Pansy Maiden
These bags are fun, flirty, functional and hella sustainable.. Laura Collins, owner and designer has quite possibly the best about page ever. I am fascinated with her genuinely ethical, and totally transparent business model.  This little lady is after my heart!

“I believe materials made with animal products are completely unsustainable. I will never use leather, wool, or silk to build my bags, and I wash my fabric using a plant-based, ecofriendly detergent. When glue is called for, I use an animal-derivative-free brand.  The mills where my fabrics are sourced abide by Fair Trade regulations, are GOTS and SKLA certified, and the dyes they use are plant-based, non-sulfur dyes (no harmful chemical run-off). I work mainly with organic, reclaimed or vintage material and donate all my scraps to local art programs and/or artists.”

Susan Nichole
This veg-owned line of bags ranges from hippie-chick to saucy-chic. Susan Nichole bags are beautiful, timeless and carry a profound message.

Cri de Coeur‘s New fall line is terribly exciting!  Not only are they introducing handbags, but their deliciously gorgeous shoes and bags are being made domestically in the US this year!

This frontier-chic inspired line features chunky boots with meticulous detail and wedge heels! The most exciting thing for me about the wedge heels is that you can look glamorous and stylish while being comfortable and not teeter-tottering all over the city. This is awesome since I walk a lot and find myself frequently opting for sneakers or boring flats. Below is the Charlie bag, Sara boots and Dillon boots (and faux fur).

The cowgirl-glam Lucy Tote! This is Cri de Coeur’s first line of bags and the start of a beautiful friendship between them and I.

The super fun Assymetrical Pump and the playful Jean Clogs both feature comfort and style.. a trend I hope catches on!

Next up is everyone’s favorite: The Heart of Darkness line. This line is filled with adorable, affordable shoes.  Although this is their economy line, every single pair of shoes is of the highest quality and completely gorgeous.

Shown below is the Brilliance Platform Boot, Glamour Velvet Pump,  Ravishing Over-Knee Boot, and Luster Peep-toe Pump.

Cri de Coeur’s FW2010 line will be available for purchase very soon! You can also check them out on the runway of the Veg Expo’s Vegan Fashion Show in Albany, NY!

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Here is your random dose of Etsy love!

Did you know that Etsy is one of the best places to find adorable vegan bags for affordable prices? It is! Here are some great shops that are proudly creating some beautiful vegan handbags.

Yellow Wallpaper – Adorably bright clutches and handbags. Love the texture of the materials and the funky hardware!

Mehran – I covered this shop in one of my recent newsletters, but good things are always worth repeating. LOVE THIS SHOP!

Pansy Maiden -Ultra cute and sustainable bags coming from a creator with a lovely mission.

Ninu – These intricately crafted bags will reel in the compliments.

Crystalyn Kae – I’ve been a fan of Crystalyn Kae for a long time. Her well made, unique bags are funky and classy all at once!

Ladies and Gentleman, there is a new coveted vegan fashion house on the scene! Ro & Co is a vegan Eco-luxury brand targeted for women and men desiring an alternative to leather that is of luxurious quality and that is affordably-priced.  Ro & Co is so dedicated to creating beautiful bags that exude good vibes, that each bag includes its own little message of positivity engraved on the inside.

Ro & Co is owned and operated by designer Ro Gogna, who has been vegan and committed to animals since the tender age of 16. It seems that Ro has achieved his lofty goal of creating beautiful, cruelty free accessories for men and women. And he has done it well.

We are so excited to be giving away the MIA Precision bag from Ro & Co to one lucky reader!! This bag is sexy, classy and ethical all in one luxurious package. It is one of my favorite bags in the gorgeous Ro & Co line.

To be eligible to win you must be subscribed to our Sunday Spectacular Newsletter (you should probably be anyway – it is full of awesomeness!) and be following Ro & Co on Facebook.   Then you must leave a comment here telling us what outfit you would wear this bag with.  If you wish to be entered multiple times you can like Chic Vegan on Facebook or follow us on Twitter! The winner will be chosen at random on June 18th!

Good luck! If you have any questions feel free to email me (mandi (at) chicvegan (dot) com)  or ask it in the comments!

Once in a while I stumble across an indie line that combines my love for minimalist, geometric design and eco-friendly fashion. Zaum embodies all this and more. All of their creations are handmade and those in the “eco” line are made with 100% organic cotton.  Zaum doesn’t stop at purses and has tons of different types of bags available in their shop. Clutches, iphone cases, totes, messenger bags, coin purses, luggage tags and wallets are all available in the Zaum shop and right now you can get 10% off  your purchase by using the coupon code: CHICVEGAN10 at Zaumstore.com!

The Handbags

The Lella

The Coin Purse

The Carina

The Totes

Sespa

The Clutches

Ballo

*Be warned that Zaum’s shop is not 100% vegan. Some products are made with organic wool. Materials used are always listed in the product description.*

I have a confession to make. I love sparkly, shimmery, shiny stuff.  It gives me instant ADD. “Oh yes that report on the physics of a porcupine was quite….omigod sparkles!” Nothing is better than the satisfying shimmer of sequins, faux diamonds (or real, ethically produced ones), glass, beads, or even tin foil! I think most women were cats in other lives.

Be warned, you should never wear more than one sparkly accoutrement at one time. It just doesn’t work. You will break the fabric of time and the universe will grind to a halt – or something like that.  Most of all it is a serious assault on the eyes. We can only handle one glistening treat at a time!
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Buying handmade goods always makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Maybe its the support of the little guy, or the creativity and love poured into each piece. It could also be the comfort of knowing that what you are buying hasn’t been made in a hot, dangerous factory by children working 14 hour days. Perhaps you love the feeling that what you are wearing isn’t being worn by every other girl in the coffee shop.

Whatever your reason is for buying handmade, its good enough. You can almost feel the love pouring out of your monitor while browsing Etsy. Everything is so…personal.

On a recent Etsy binge I stumbled across some creators that I fell in love with and I hope you will too. Here is some stuff that might help you transition to the fall with great peace of mind.
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Bright outrageous bags are one of the best ensemble pick-me-ups for days when a t-shirt and jeans are the only outfit you can muster. Also if you wear a ton of dark neutral colors, they add excellent contrast. Below I have a nice little showcase of vegan bags that represent each color of the rainbow. How lovely! Feel free to click on each image to get details or purchase, if you so desire.

*Side note: The last bag is an added bonus. It has a rainbow on it so I guess it can be included. Isn’t it amazing? The mushroom is a detachable change purse!

And the moment you have been waiting for. Here is a rainbow of fashion inspiration for you. Ladies, meet your new friend: ROY G.BIV.
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I am a big fan of bold, over-sized bags. That must be the reason I find Big Buddha’s holiday line of bags so enchanting.  The shimmery faux leather and croc and knitted hobos beg you to fill them with all of your holiday season necessities. I love how they are not over the top and gaudy, as some wintery handbags tend to be. All Big Buddha Bags are inexpensive, so it wont make too big of a dent in your holiday fund.

Unfortunately you can only get a hold of these bags via fashion trade shows at a few boutiques, and the occasional website.  Not directly off of their site.

As far as I can tell, all of Big Buddha’s bags are vegan. There is no official disclaimer on the site. Just make sure to double check with your seller about a particular bag, before you purchase.

Ruche is a fun little online boutique I found via Carly J. Cais’ post on ChicSteals. Ruche is chock full of feminine and flirty dresses, and quirky jewelry. The also have a nice selection of vegan handbags and shoes, and pieces made from organic materials.  Ruche is also hella cheap with not one item being under 50%, and shipping is a flat rate of $7. And to add to the cheapness, right now you can get 10% off your order by entering the coupon code CHICSTEALS at checkout.

Green Vintage Purse - This adorable bag is made from a soft faux leather.  I like the fact that it looks like a mini duffle bag, and has tons of pockets! (more…)