How to Choose a Vegan Bag : Complete Guide 2025
- Soho Francotte
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Choosing a bag without components of animal origin is not just about avoiding leather. Between the available materials, marketing promises, and manufacturing realities, it is not always easy to find your way.
This guide helps you identify the criteria that truly matter: materials, manufacturing, transparency. Because an informed choice goes beyond the labels.
What exactly is a vegan bag?
A bag is considered vegan when it contains no components of animal origin: no leather, no wool, no silk, no animal-based glue.
Beware of frequent confusions:
"Vegan" does not automatically mean "ethical": A bag can be free of animal materials while being manufactured under questionable social conditions or with materials that have a heavy environmental impact.
"Leather-free" is not synonymous with quality: Some low-end alternatives degrade quickly.
Labels are not enough: You must look beyond certifications to truly understand what you are buying.
A good bag is not only defined by what it does not contain, but also by what it is: chosen materials, controlled manufacturing, thoughtful design.
The materials: understanding what you buy
Not all materials used in bags without animal components are equal. Here is an honest overview.
Classic synthetic materials
PVC (Polyvinyl chloride):
Very widespread in entry-level vegan bags.
Location and manufacturing conditions: Do these conditions respect the workers?
Important limitations: Rigid, not very breathable, releases potentially problematic substances during manufacturing and at the end of its life cycle.
Often an artificial look that ages poorly.
To be avoided if you are looking for a more responsible alternative.
Bio-based and innovative materials
New alternatives are emerging, derived from plant-based or recycled resources:
Examples :
Grape-based materials (wine by-products)
Alternatives derived from apples, pineapple, cactus
High-performance recycled polyester
Bio-based materials with textile finishes
What you should know:
These materials are not all equal in resistance and texture.
The manufacturer's transparency is essential: Where and how are they produced?
The case of Leap® (which we use at Lubay): Designed by a Danish start-up and manufactured in Germany, it combines a bio-based base made from apple waste with a robust textile finish. Water and wear resistance, distinctive texture.
The Grape Skin® (which we also use): Made from Italian grape pomace, it offers a unique texture and a palette of natural colors.
Essential criteria for choosing your vegan bag
1. Transparency about the origin
Questions to ask (or check on the brand's website):
Where are the bags manufactured? (Not just "designed in...", but truly manufactured where?)
Where do the materials come from? (European Union? Asia?)
Who makes them? (Identified studio-atelier? Chain subcontracting?)
If this information is vague or absent, be wary. Transparency is not an option; it is a foundation.
2. The price: an indicator, not a guarantee
Beware of simplistic shortcuts:
A high price does not necessarily guarantee ethical manufacturing. Some brands sell bags for €800 manufactured in Asia with huge margins.
Conversely, a very low price (€50 for a "premium" bag) often hides compromises: low-cost subcontracting, mediocre quality materials, or opaque production conditions.
The fair price reflects:
The real cost of the materials.
The fair remuneration of those who manufacture.
The absence of intermediaries who artificially inflate prices.
But you must cross-reference the price with transparency: where does this price come from? What does it truly finance?
3. Thoughtful design
Questions to ask yourself:
Is the design timeless or does it follow an ephemeral fashion?
Can the model be repaired? (Replaceable closures, accessible seams)
Does the brand renew its collections every 6 weeks or does it offer models designed to last?
A well-designed bag moves through the seasons without becoming obsolete.
Lubay: our approach to bags without animal components
Our material choices
We work with Leap®, designed by a Danish start-up and manufactured in Germany. This next-gen vegan material combines a bio-based base made from apple waste with a robust textile finish. Water and wear resistance, distinctive texture.
We also use Grape Skin®, made from Italian grape pomace, which offers a unique texture and a palette of natural colors.
Our manufacturing
Each Lubay bag is designed, cut, and assembled in our studio-atelier in Belgium, directly by us. No subcontracting, no intermediaries. Total control over quality and lead times.
Specifically:
Material sourcing: European Union only
Manufacturing: Belgium, fully
Sales: Direct, via our website (no distributors artificially inflating prices)
Our models
Our two signature models:
Scaldis M (in Leap®: black, cognac, and violet almost blue)
Hagna (in Leap®: black, cognac, and violet almost blue)
Accessories (starting from €29): keyrings, pouches, toiletry bags, etc.
Available immediately in limited quantities. Made to order if out of stock.
In summary: the questions to ask before buying
Is the material clearly identified? (Not just "vegan material," but which one exactly?)
Where and by whom is the bag manufactured?
Is the design intended to last through the seasons?
Does the price reflect transparent production?
Is the brand honest about its choices?
Do you like the bag? (Because that is essential)
A good bag is a balance between material, design, manufacturing, and transparency. The rest is marketing.
You are looking for a quality vegan bag, manufactured in Belgium in a transparent studio-atelier, designed as a timeless piece?
