Happy Mother’s Day to all the dearest mums out there!
Being a mum means being on call at all times – always there to catch a little one when they fall, to cheer them on as they grow, and to offer solid advice whether it’s about choosing the right ice cream flavour or making a big career decision.
At the end of the day, mums need a little pick-me-up too. For all the mums who care about animals and the planet – and for those looking to show their appreciation in the kindest way – we’ve curated a selection of the most adorable bags, made without any animal suffering, to go along with the sincerest ‘thank you’ for always being there.
You’re all very welcome.
Anema (Italy)
Anema is a family-run brand rooted in authentic artisan values. Committed to sustainability, it selects low-impact materials such as organic hemp, cactus and apple leather alternatives, and corn + RPET blends. Anema collaborates exclusively with partners who share its ethical and environmental principles.
VFR’s pick: Sibilla Borgogna (corn+RPET)
Regular price: €190.00
Estimon (Poland)
Estimon’s founder, Marta Sieradzka, has made it her mission to use only innovative plant-based leather alternatives, ensuring each item is as cruelty-free as it is sustainable. Respect – Sieradzka’s guiding principle – is reflected not only in her choice of materials but also in the relationships she nurtures throughout the production chain. After all, it’s respect and kindness that go the longest way.
VFR’s pick: Mini Boho (olive leather alternative)
Regular price: €125.47
Amaré Antwerp (Belgium)
Amaré, founded by Aum Nanavati, crafts bags and accessories from PVC-free cactus leather, one of the most sustainable vegan materials. Some designs feature diamonds and gemstones, reflecting Antwerp’s role as the World Diamond Trade capital. The brand also supports RESCUE, a Kenyan organisation that helps injured and stray elephants.
VFR’s pick: The Trunk Bag Mini (cactus leather alternative)
Regular price: €250.00
NANA DUDU (Brazil)
NANA DUDU is a Brazilian handbag brand transforming plastic’s role in fashion through design and technology. Founded by siblings Ana Flávia and Eduardo Kawasoko, it uses 3D-printed flexible TPU to craft minimalist bags with under 1% production waste. For every bag sold, 100 times its weight in plastic is recycled through a partnership with EuReciclo. The brand also donates a portion of sales to environmental and animal welfare NGOs via the Pólen platform.
VFR’s pick: Wavy Handbag with Marcela Scheid (TPU)
Regular price: R$960.00
Mates of Nature (Germany)
Mates of Nature is a sustainable, slow-fashion label committed to fair working conditions, fair wages, and the absence of child labour. That’s why all products are manufactured in the EU according to the highest quality standards, in collaboration with a small, traditional company that focuses on short supply chains. Production takes place in Portugal.
VFR’s pick: Sol Circle Bag (cork leather alternative)
Regular price: €98.00
Eslla (USA)
Founded by longtime friends Charlotte Wienckoski and Leigh Dorough, is a cutting-edge luxury handbag brand rooted in sustainability and an unwavering commitment to transparency, ethics, and conscientiousness. The brand sources only the finest vegan and organic materials, including cactus leather.
VFR’s pick: Dharma Crossbody Bag (cactus leather alternative)
Regular price: $450.00
Eve Cork (Canada)
Carefully hand-harvesting the bark from cork oak trees helps the trees live longer and produce more oxygen. Made in Portugal by skilled artisans, this European-inspired collection is 100% cruelty-free, eco-friendly, and ethically produced using only sustainably sourced materials. All cork used is Forest Stewardship Council certified and sourced from family-owned farms in Portugal, where workers are paid fair wages to remove the cork by hand.
VFR’s pick: Sadie Purse (cork leather alternative)
Regular price: $179.00
Frida Rome (UK)
Frida Rome is a conscious luxury brand founded by unconventional newcomers Natalie and Rebecca, whose admiration for one another began during a debate about sexual politics in a canteen in Salford, Manchester. Determined to create consciously made handbags that are both stand-out and understated, their cruelty-free brand is designed for ‘Bad Girls Who Do Good Things’. Crafted from premium vegan materials, FRIDA ROME handbags are built to be lifelong companions, not seasonal accessories.
VFR’s pick: The Week/End Bag (cactus leather alternative)
Regular price: £335.00
Kind Rebel [Shér & Seo] (Australia)
Kind Rebel [Shér & Seo] was founded by Donna Sherwani – a former refugee and TED speaker – on International Women’s Day 2023. PETA-certified, the brand is a tangible force for change, driven by freedom, courage, kindness, and resilience. Embracing a circular economy approach, Kind Rebel encourages the reuse of recycled materials and facilitates the end-of-life recycling of its products.
VFR’s pick: The Jian Colour Block Bucket Bag (vegan leather)
Regular price: $149.99 AUD
Lost Woods (Australia)
Lost Woods, founded by Holly Edwards, is a luxury Australian handbag label that is handmade in Portugal from MIRUM® – one of the world’s first 100% plastic-free vegan leathers. After years of searching for the right supplier and producing prototypes worldwide, the brand settled on a small, female-run workshop of 20 makers near Porto.
VFR’s pick: Ivy Top Handle Bag (MIRUM®)
Regular price: $549.00 AUD
Matergea (Colombia)
Matergea is a Colombian slow fashion brand that works closely with local artisans. All items are crafted in a single atelier in Colombia using plant-based alternatives to leather – including cactus leather – and recycled materials such as PET bottles, recycled polyester, wheat and corn biopolymers, tagua (also known as vegetable ivory), bamboo, jute, and wicker. Matergea is a PETA-Approved Vegan brand: cruelty-free and free from toxic chemicals, phthalates, and PVC.
VFR’s pick: Green Prie Cactus Line (cactus leather alternative)
Regular price: $320.00
Explore more vegan and sustainable bags in our Directory.