Baula’s Vegan Handbags Are A Must-Have For Sustainable Fashionistas

 

In the past few years, sustainability has turned from a term mostly used in scientific circles to being used in our everyday conversations. It has become an umbrella term that includes all aspects of our lives. In 2021, ‘cost’ no longer refers to just the economy of an end product but is rather a wider term that also includes its impact on the environment. Given the increasing awareness among the general public, it is gradually becoming something that every company is striving towards. Brands today are not only turning towards being more sustainable, but some are also being born out of the need to provide sustainable alternatives to a more informed and mindful customer.

 

Necessity is the mother of invention, and from there come alternatives to things that we hadn’t thought could have sustainable alternatives. Leather is one such thing. Commercial leather is created by the industrial processing of animal skins, and although most of the animal hides come from animals raised for meat and dairy production, unethical killing of animals for their skin is not unheard of.

 

Processing of leather also consumes a disproportionate amount of water, and uses toxic chemicals which eventually find their way into the environment. Despite all this, its use is still just widely debated. There are takers for sustainable alternatives, and with passing days, technology is helping us recognize more and more alternatives. Vegan leather, also known as faux leather or pleather (plastic leather) is a lookalike of animal leather. It can be made from a variety of materials such as Polyurethane (PU), PVC, recycled plastic, and Leatherite, which are all versatile synthetics that can be customised to any designer's intent. Though cruelty-free, these synthetic alternatives still need toxic chemicals, which in turn produce toxins that are released into the environment. Recently plant-based alternatives have been developed that are low or zero-waste in nature.

 

Adventurous sustainable brands have started using refuse from food and farm industries. Piñatex is a leather alternative sourced from the Philippines. It is made out of pineapple leaves, which are a by-product of the pineapple farming industry. It requires no additional resources to produce, and can be cut, stitched, and embossed for various designs and uses. Apple Skin is another such alternative. Sourced from Italy, Apple Skin is made from the crushed refuse of apple juice industries. Colombia based Baula is one such sustainable brand which makes use of these alternative materials for their vegan handbags.

 

Baula takes a holistic approach in the production of its featured bags and wallets. While Piñatex and Apple Skin are used for the outer material, the lining and covers are made from polyester, or a blend of polyester and cotton fabric. The polyester is produced from recycled plastic bottles in Columbia, and the cotton fabric used for the blend is upcycled material obtained from leftovers in the fashion industry. Baula also uses sugarcane waste to produce chemical and bleach free paper for the labels of these vegan handbags.

 

Baula’s vegan handbags are featured in its Africa collection, in which each design pays tribute to one of four endangered animal species from the African continent: Rhino, Cheetah, Elephant, and the Hawksbill turtle. The handbags can be styled in indefinite ways, from workwear to party ensembles, and with casual outfits. The zipped wallets from the Essentials collection are functional, with multiple pockets and card holders. The Apple Skin bags and wallets are available in muted colours, while the Piñatex variants have a metallic sheen, and are available in gold and silver palettes. Chic and elegant, Baula’s designs are minimalistic and timeless, which make it a guilt-free sustainable addition to your wardrobe.