The Ultimate Guide To Sustainable Accessories Brands
These 24 ethical accessories brands are fair trade and sustainable accessories brands that mainly offer products such as bags, backpacks, luggage, key holders, wallets, belts, watches, sunglasses, optical frames, hair bands, hats, scarfs, gloves, socks, tights and similar products.
ABOVE STUDIO
Bangkok, Thailand | VEGAN, LEATHER
Above’s handwoven accessories are traditionally made by local artisans in Thailand. Having grown up in a province near Bangkok, the founder of the brand Sommy was always taught how valuable our nature and environment are. For her collections, she uses natural materials from local areas and cherishes the weaving skills of the people in her home country. Above helps preserve Thailand’s culture and supports traditional craftsmanship so the artisans can pass it on to the next generations to come. Each unique piece sold will empower local villagers and contribute aid for them to make a living.
ACKERMANN
Lüneburg, Germany | LEATHER
Beate Sedlacek and Karl-Henning Hohmann design all kinds of high quality leather bags and accessories in their manufactory Ackermann Taschenmanufaktur in Lüneburg, Germany. Characterised by simple and timeless shapes and styles, their collections are not subject to any trend but emphasise your personality. Super soft and long-lasting, their good leather will develop patina which makes every piece gain in personal value over time. Since 1982 the experienced team ensures environmentally friendly production through world-leading environmental standards. The deerskin comes from Germany and Austria and is tanned “sämisch”, a centuries-old, natural tanning process, dyed by hand with natural colours. New: their olive leather, a cowhide tanned with a purely vegetable tanning agent derived from olive leaves.
ALEXANDRA SVENDSEN
Frankfurt, Germany | LEATHER
Trends come and go but Alexandra Svendsen’s designs are here to stay: Scandinavian inspired, the collections with their clean lines and pure colours have their own, timeless style. Ecologically sustainable and hand-made in Germany, each bag fits to every look and emphasises the personality of their wearer. Along with plenty of room for all your essentials, it is the perfect companion. Quality over quantity is a matter close to the designer’s heart – that’s why all her bags and purses are made with love: the purely vegetable tanned leather is soft and gives each item its own unique texture.
COUPER-ET-COUDRE
London, UK | LEATHER
Above’s handwoven accessories are traditionally made by local artisans in Thailand. Having grown up in a province near Bangkok, the founder of the brand Sommy was always taught how valuable our nature and environment are. For her collections, she uses natural materials from local areas and cherishes the weaving skills of the people in her home country. Above helps preserve Thailand’s culture and supports traditional craftsmanship so the artisans can pass it on to the next generations to come. Each unique piece sold will empower local villagers and contribute aid for them to make a living.
EOE EYEWEAR
Stockholm, Sweden | VEGAN
On a bright and snowy day in 2010, Emilia and Erik Lindmark had the idea to be the first to launch a sustainable eyewear collection. Today, EOE is the leading sustainable eyewear brand in Scandinavia. All items are made from a thermoplastic derived from wood pulp called cellulose acetate which is completely recyclable and biodegradable. The material has been certified by ISO 14855 and is approved by Organic Waste Systems. Their organic collection frames are handmade in the Italian Alps and named after plants found in the North such as Renfana, Fjällskära or Skogsstjärna.
GOVOU
Italy | LEATHER
A few years ago, two inspiring women met in the beautiful Tuscany of Costa Brava to become the greatest inspiration of each other: The graphic and textile designer Emese and the home interior stylist Cinta founded Gouvou Fabrics back in 2015. Since then, they came up with unique designs for bags, accessories and home decor, all made from recycled hand-woven vintage linen that are over 100 years old. Together, they hand select their high quality fabrics from Eastern European markets. For their current projects, Emese and Cinta create bespoken exclusive home decor for spas and bistros including aprons, pillows, tablecloths and more.
HFS COLLECTIVE
Los Angeles, USA | VEGAN
Mother Debra and her daughter Rachel Denniston founded a Los Angeles-based sustainable, ethical & cruelty-free brand that creates hands-free premium bags to liberate women. Their products range from small classic belt bags to wallets, water bottle holders and cross body bags that go with every outfit. The family-duo sources only the most innovative, animal and earth-friendly materials which are either recycled, upcycled, deadstock or low impact. Among them are recycled polyester, recycled plastic bottles, vintage denim, cork, Pinatex, premium eco-vegan leathers and more. All pieces are made in a small family-run factory near their office in L.A. Another plus point: with every bag sold, you support organizations that empower women and protect the planet.
HOZEN
San Francisco, USA | VEGAN
Hozen loves fashion – but Hozen loves the earth, too. And so do we. The collection of the vegan sustainable brand currently boasts 5 different styles that come in the lovely colors roseate, ecru, rouge, limón, cerulean and onyx. Hard to decide which one we like best. Their minimalist cute bags use recycled plastic, organic cotton, natural rubber, and vegan glue. PETA-approved and produced in a fair-wage factory in Los Angeles, California. Want proof? Check the “I made your bag” card included in every purchase. Oh, and 10% of all profits go to the nonprofit animal protection organization Mercy For Animals.
KMANA
Bali, Indonesia | LEATHER
KMANA creates ethical accessories for the traveler that want to tread a little more lightly on this earth. The journey began for founders Bea and Kiko with their own personal handcrafted travel bags. The couple then began a beautiful working relationship with the Balinese-Javanese family of leather artisans so they could share their creations with the world. The timeless, unisex accessories are environmentally and socially responsible made by hand in Bali. Every element of KMANA accessories, including their vegetable tanned leather, can be traced back to its responsible source. They also incorporate handmade hardware and traditional textiles and fabrics into their pieces to help preserve traditional dying and weaving techniques.
LAHARA
Pully, Switzerland | LEATHER
A bag should last a lifetime, if not two lives: Munich-born Laura von Hagen believes in premium quality, timeless design, traditional craftsmanship, and sustainability. Lahara products are all ethically handcrafted in small family businesses in Italy, respecting people and the environment. Each bag and each accessory tells an individual story. Inspired by a journey along the Mediterranean coast from the south of France to Morocco, they combine playful colors and abstract shapes. Made from vegetable tanned leather from free-range cows in two of Tuscany’s most renowned and quality certified tanneries, near Florence.“Our bags are functional and well thought-out to become a faithful companion for everyday life”, says founder Laura.
L.G.R.
Milan, Italy | VEGAN, LEATHER
It’s important to protect your eyes from harmful UV radiation. L.G.R eyewear has created stylish long lasting eyewear to accompany any traveller on their adventures. Their products are handmade using traditional methods in Italy by artisanal families using only innovative, high quality materials. They have a wide range of classical styles on offer to suit any personality or aesthetic. Some of our favourites include MONASTIR and TUAREG.
LULA MENA
El Salvador | LEATHER
Well known Salvadorian designer Lula Mena works with local communities of women and at-risk youth to create a stunning range of homewares and accessories. Her brand is built on five key pillars: handmade, fair trade, eco-friendly, innovation, and women’s empowerment. These principles are meticulously designed into each and every product. By working with local artisans and introducing contemporary designs and practices into their work, Lula Mena ensures traditional handcrafting techniques are preserved. Women have a true impact on their local community, an impact that can be felt through generations. Lula has taken it upon herself to empower the women of these communities to continue to have positive impacts on their own futures as well as those of their families.
LUNA & ROSE
New Zealand & Bali | VEGAN
The idea for Luna & Rose was born during a trip to Australia by founder Rosie and thus on a journey to herself. The brand’s jewelry and accessories pieces are designed between Melbourne and New Zealand and then produced by selected craftsmen in Bali where she recently opened her first beautiful island store. The mission: To create an accessories line that has the most personal connection with the manufacturers, and being produced in an ethical & sustainable way to leave as little footprint on the planet as possible.
MAJAVIA
Vienna, Austria | VEGAN
Majavia creates sustainable accessories made from premium recycled leather – in other words – leather remnants from manufactories that would normally be tossed without further use. At the moment, their product range consists of laptop and iPhone cases, cosmetic pouches, luggage tags and passport holders in various colors. You can also personalize your item with up to three initials, making them your perfect travel buddy. Majavia is based in Vienna and the simple yet stylish products are sustainably made with close attention to details and without using any artificial additives.
MARAVILLAS
Mallorca, Spain | LEATHER
If you think bags can’t be made by pineapples, think again: Christina Bussmann designs handcrafted bags and accessories in her studio in the heart of Palma de Mallorca. Originally, her timeless pieces were all made of vegetable-tanned leathers but she recently presents a vegan collection made of the innovative alternative to leather called Piñatex. This sustainable textile uses pineapple leaves, which are the natural by-product of existing pineapple fruit harvesting: free of petroleum, fertilizers or pesticides. Piñatex is water and tear resistant, strong, versatile, breathable, soft, light and flexible. Plus: each item is made under fair conditions and with love!
MARYSAL
Munich, Germany | LEATHER
Stop by and find your favorite boho chic accessory in beautiful patterns. From jewelry, clutches, handbags, backpacks, shoppers, purses, iPad, laptop or pillow cases – all pieces are handwoven by indigenous Mayan women in Guatemala and truly unique. Using high-quality materials such as upcycled fabrics, genuine leathers, feathers and stones, each product celebrates the local traditional craftsmanship and gives back to the talented artisan women of the community.
MASHU
London, UK | VEGAN
Mashu offers vegan bags that are inspired by Art Deco and contemporary architecture. Their minimal, geometric pieces are designed in London and ethically handcrafted by local artisans in Greece. A signature of the brand is their bespoke handles produced from wooden offcuts from a furniture company in Greece. All bags are made from 100% recyclable, environmentally-friendly and animal-free materials such as recycled polyester and recycled plastic, without using any toxics. Mashu also started to use natural fibers such as Pinatex. Free international shipping to most countries!
MOIMOI
Helsinki, Finland | LEATHER
Make the world a little bit better by owning a bag. A sustainable leather bag from Moimoi. Founders Raquel and Kalle chose to work with leather because it is a durable, natural product. The leather they use comes from France and is vegetable tanned, which makes them more eco-friendly. Each bag can practically be worn by anyone; with their clean and modern lines, they are totally timeless and look good at any occasion. Moimoi believes in local craftsmanship and supporting small businesses. All their bags are designed in Helsinki produced in Spain and Finland.
NIDO COLLETIVE
London, UK | VEGAN, LEATHER
Nido Collective provides a link link to the past, and a peek into ancient traditions. They work with skilled artisans in remote Mexican and Guatemalan communities to create contemporary homewares and accessories that share the stories of those who made them. The natural, sustainable materials give the products a rustic yet luxurious feel. Nido Collective have created a space where remote communities can support their families while also sharing their culture and traditional craftsmanship with the world. By doing so, they are also preserving ancient techniques and passing the skills onto new generations. Skills that may otherwise be lost.
PINQPONQ
Cologne, Germany | VEGAN
pinqponq offers the most practical backpacks in different sizes, styles, and colors that are entirely made out of recycled PET bottles aka recycled polyester, a light, and resistant and PFC free material. The backpacks are all designed by a team in Cologne, Germany and then handcrafted in a social factory in Vietnam where controlled working hours, regular breaks and a canteen belong to the daily routine. pinqponq is in direct contact with the producers to follow the process and hence guarantee the best quality products. The brand is a bluesign® system partner and a member of the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF).
SILENT GOODS
London, UK | LEATHER
Silent Goods is a London-based leather goods company founded with the mission to make sustainable luxury bags without any labels and logos. Choose between a number of timeless, elegant and simple models for both men and women. Whether it is the everyday tote, the mini handbag, or the comfortable backpack, every bag comes with a permanent warranty and a repair service for life, as well as a free care and conditioning service. Silent goods uses the world’s finest eco-conscious materials such as organically farmed, vegetable tanned Swedish leather and Cradle-to-Cradle certified textiles. Trace the full supply chain and costs simply by scanning the hidden digital tag implanted into each bag. Online-only. Ships worldwide using pre-used biodegradable packaging.
THE TOTE PROJECT
Los Angeles, USA | VEGAN
The Tote Project is based on a friendship, on a shared dream. It is a shared passion for empowerment, for restoration, for freedom. They believe that there is hope for the millions of victims of human trafficking worldwide, and they want to do their part to end modern-day slavery through ethical manufacturing, raising awareness and giving back. 10% of their gross profits are donated to Two Wings to support recovering survivors pursuing their dream careers.
UP-FUSE
Cairo, Egypt | VEGAN
Up-fuse is a lifestyle brand and social enterprise based in Cairo, Egypt. The upcycling brand creates eco-friendly and socially responsible accessories. They work together with a local NGO and artisans to design unique and sustainable bags and accessories while providing meaningful employment in local communities. Up-fuse removes plastic bags from the waste stream and upcycles them into new, fashionable accessories. Rather than recycling and downgrading the plastic, the material is being improved via upcycling and turned into sustainable products. Their tote bags, backpacks, and other small accessories are all unique in their own way due to the nature of the material. Up-fuse supports local NGOs to help create stable job opportunities for refugees and women who live in underprivileged areas.