My Cruelty Free and Vegan Handbags | Alexandra K and Matt & Nat

This post is dedicated to two very lovely handbags. I have lots of non-leather bags but these two are extra special as they are from companies who pride themselves on being cruelty free.

Why leather and exotic skin handbags are cruel

Before I get into the bags, I would just like to provide an overview of the handbag industry. Vietnam exports over 30,000 crocodiles every year who live a life full of suffering, just like the alligators on ‘farms’ in both the USA and Africa. More commonly used for handbags is the skin of cows, leather. We are repeatedly shown evidence of animals being abused, shocked, branded, beaten and violently killed.

Many people bypass the idea that leather and other animal skins are the product of cruelty as they are a byproduct of the meat industry. However, in most cases animals produced for the fashion industry are mainly bred and killed for their skins and other materials. Furthermore, as the population of cows is so unnaturally high and sustainable (as up kept by the meat industry) companies do not bother using all parts of the animal and simply dispose of them.

Even if the leather comes from cows who are part of the meat industry, in cases such as Clarks, supporting their business still supports the meat industry which is obviously a big cause of many issues.

I am very passionate about the welfare of animals and I believe they deserve respect just as I do other people. Even if you are not a vegetarian or vegan, please consider supporting vegan and cruelty free bags because the use of leather and exotic skins is completely unnecessary.

Alexandra K – Lucy in Serenity

About the brand

Alexandra K was founded by Alexandra Kościkiewicz in order to provide statement fashion whilst being conscious of the environment. The brand focuses on being animal and environmentally friendly whilst producing really high quality handbags. The bags are handmade and Alexandra describes them as being simple, elegant and functional.

Lucy

I received my Alexandra K Lucy bag from my boyfriend as a surprise on my 21st birthday. Some may think it’s a bold decision to buy somebody a luxuriously handmade bag without consulting them first, but Jordan knows my style!

The Lucy is a mini size bag, it’s super small and super cute which makes it perfect for nights out, parties, or when you’re going somewhere a bit fancy and don’t need much stuff. The wings on the side are also really cute.

Details and hardware

I love the attention to detail on this bag. You can pick the colour of the hardware and mine is gold which goes lovely with the soft blue.

There is a gold tag on the strap which has the Alexandra K logo on one side and the other sides says ‘Vegan Bag No. 34’ – which is the number out of how ever many produced.

Materials

This handbag feels so soft, whenever I wear it I can’t stop stroking it! It’s made from PVC polyurethane and it has a faux lizard print. The tags are made from recycled paper, and the glue used in product is vegan and free from animal testing.

The inside of the bag is soft and velvety, and it’s grey. I don’t usually like black lining inside a bag, so I really like this. It has a little pocket inside which I can fit my phone in.

Although it is small it’s still a functional bag. It’s really light, goes with any outfit and just a pleasure to wear. It feels so luxurious and it is really high quality.

Matt and Natt – Gil in Royal

About the brand

My second vegan bag is from the company Matt & Nat, the name comes from the words material and nature. The company was founded in Canada and holds the ethos ‘live beautifully.’ The company’s values include social responsibility, integrity, learning and authenticity. They do not use any animal products in their handbags and other accessories.

Gil

The Gil bag is a big bigger than the Lucy, and makes for a better everyday bag. It’s a cross body and the strap is adjustable which is handy. It has three main compartments, two zipped ones on the front and back, and a magnetic fastening compartment in the middle which has a phone holder.

It also has a pocket on the front which has a magnetic clip and it’s great for putting in travel/pass cards or other little bits like a lip balm or you can even poke your ear phones in there!

Details and hardware

There isn’t much hardware on this bag but it still has a few very nice details. I like that the design is simple because it means it can be worn really casually but at the same time it looks smart.

The zippers are really cool because they are like a brushed, matte finished and the Matt and Nat name is engraved on to the side. It’s such a tiny detail but it lets you know that thought and effort was put into the bag when it was designed and made. They are also really sturdy which is good.

Materials

The lining of the bag is green and it’s made from 100% recycled plastic bottles (yay!)

The Gil bag is part of the Dwell collection which is described by Matt and Nat as being ‘soft while textured and rich, creating a classic finish’. It’s a hardy, durable bag and I hope it will last me a long time.