For centuries, fashion and exploitation have gone hand in hand, from ancient times when the sea snails were harvested for their rich purple dye, to more recent years when animal skins have repeatedly been turned into clothing, shoes and handbags.
This obsession with nature-derived fashion isn’t fading. What is changing–and what today’s discerning consumer is increasingly requesting–is beautiful products without cruelty to animals or the environmental degradation that has historically accompanied them.
Enter THEMOIRè, a Milan-born bag designer redefining what high, forward-thinking fashion means in a modern era. Guided by an ethos of boundless creativity, purpose-driven responsibility and responsible growth, the five-year-old and ambitious brand is generating positive change for both people and our planet with its coveted collection of vegan bags and footwear.
But it’s not just the absence of leather that sets THEMOIRè apart from many other sustainable bag brands currently on the market–it’s their commitment to research and innovation, constantly finding new ways to use nature as a source of their eco fabrics. THEMOIRè pushes the boundaries of ecological bag-making with a juicy list of materials: apple to pineapple, cactus to coffee, each chosen with responsibility and thoughtfulness in mind.
For instance, the apple material mimics the texture of snakeskin, and the pineapple (a fan favourite) resembles the sought-after cracked leather look. For a classic smooth leather style, THEMOIRè offers bags made from VEGEA fabric, a material made from the residue of grape skins and seeds. Even in the details, the brand innovates– such as with their coffee stones, a new plastic material that combines methacrylate and coffee powder to create a shiny, stone-like effect used for handles.
However, one of the most frequently raised concerns regarding eco alternatives to leather in bag making is durability. While a lot of the plant-derived materials, such as pineapple and cactus leather, offer the same qualities as leather, such as the way they look and feel, and even perform in terms of water resistance and flexibility, there’s an ongoing conversation around whether they live up to leather’s long lifespan. Leather is valued for its resilience and ability to become more beautiful with age. Finding alternatives that match leather’s durability is something at the top of THEMOIRè’s priority list as they place innovation at the forefront of their designs. With proper care, their planet-friendly creations of high fashion are engineered to become long-lasting and to eventually close the gap between style and sustainability.
THEMOIRè’s dedication to sustainability goes beyond the bags. The brand is actively engaged in social impact issues such as collaborations with artists to celebrate and raise awareness of poignant days such as World Earth Day. Another impressive endeavour under their ‘Projects’ list is to plant a tree for every product sold. Using fashion as a platform for advocacy, these initiatives (among others) highlight the brand’s belief that sustainability should be holistic, addressing not just the materials but the wider topic of impact as well.
THEMOIRè is among the pioneers of a new approach to fashion that celebrates the best of what nature has to offer–renewable, cruelty-free and beautiful–without harm. We see this young brand as a glimmer of hope in the often destructive fashion industry–proving that fashion can thrive without exploitation. One could argue that a bag made from innovative, plant-based materials is even more valuable than traditional leather, not because it is rarer or more expensive but because it aligns with a deeper, more progressive set of values.
Check out the collection here!
Last Updated on January 16, 2025 by Editorial Team
