Willow Earth (Sussex) is a nice company that makes gorgeous vegan rucksacks and totes from cotton canvas with cork detailing. The company then uses the offcuts to make pretty wallets in a number of colours. The same company makes cotton canvas purses, again using offcuts from making rucksacks.
Many of the wallets have cork detailing or you can go for an all-cork version. Cork is a natural ‘vegan leather’ that is does not require trees to be chopped down. The bark is simply stripped from the trees every few years.
Keeping the cork industry alive (in a world of plastic wine bottle tops) is a good way to keep forests intact, provide jobs and protect native wildlife in the Mediterranean.
Vegan Leather Wallets (from London)
Watson & Wolfe (look for sale bargains at Immaculate Vegan) of London offers luxury vegan leather wallets and accessories. The brand was founded by a woman who began her career working in leather goods, believing that leather was a by-product of the meat industry.
However when she discovered the unimaginable suffering of animals in the leather industry (along with the environmental issues), she used her experience to launch a luxury brand of personalised alternatives. She also went vegan!
This is a quality brand (you can opt for personal engraving of initials for gifts). The name Watson is from the founder’s beloved Dachshund who has been by her side since puppyhood and now in his senior years, follows her almost everywhere, when not snoozing in his bed in her office! As dogs are descended from wolves, this is how the brand name was founded.
Oliver Co. London is a premium brand, again set up by someone who worked in the luxury accessories market, before deciding to launch a vegan alternative. The company makes wallets and cardholders (usually made with apple leather) along with elegant protective vegan leather laptop sleeves.
A Brown ‘Vegan Crocodile Leather’ Wallet
This brown vegan crocodile leather wallet is the ideal crocodile-friendly alternative to real crocodile leather. Made from corn leather (which is partly biodegradable), this is ideal to keep your cash, notes and cards, while being sustainable, stylish and croc-kind!
Despite the small size, this durable wallet is packed with features. It has many interior pockets plus there’s a dedicated lipstick holder, so works also as a mini make-up bag. it also features a luxury smooth zipper closure, for security and elegance. Handmade with love in Poland.
They may be super-scary, but one of the world’s oldest creatures encounters terrible abuse in the fashion industry, just to make crocodile leather shoes, bags and wallets.
Crocodiles may look motionless, but most of the time they are watching their environment. They are cold-blooded to rely on nature to regulate their body temperature, which is why they often move in and out of the water, or bask on the land. They can’t sweat, so open their mouth to keep cool.
Although they are by no means vegetarians, crocodiles are not greedy either, and only eat to live – sometimes only eating a meal once a year. And kills are quick (they have the strongest bite of any creature on earth – 10 times more powerful than a great white shark).
The tiny plover bird has an important relationship with crocodiles. The bird jumps inside the crocodile’s mouth to eat all the ‘leftovers’. And at the same time, cleans the crocodile’s teeth, so he doesn’t have to visit the dentist!
A Clutch Purse (from recycled plastic)
This clutch purse made from recycled plastic is fun & colourful, and made by artisans in India, to use up the huge mountain of plastic waste in the country, which often clogs rivers and local areas. Plastic is made from oil so never biodegrades, so is a wonderful material for a made-to-last purse, and features naturally bright rainbow colours.
The purse features a magnetic closure, with lots of room for cash and cards, and makes a great zero waste gift. The inside reveals red fabric lining with 3 compartments to keep essentials organised, plus an inside zipped compartment for coins, and an outside compartment.
The plastic is washed before use, and turned into a durable waterproof fabric, there may be slight imperfections due to the handmade nature of the product.
India ranks third in the world for single-use plastic waste, with presently just 8% of plastic waste recycled. So supporting companies like this that use it up, is a step in the right direction, also providing local well-paid jobs.
Recycled Firehose Wallets & Coin Purses
Elvis & Kresse is a Kent company that makes quality accessories made from de-commissioned firehose, after 25 years of it being used in heroic service. An ideal alternative to leather, these items are expensive but designed to last for life. And 50% of profits are donated to The Firefighter’s Charity, which helps both active and retired firefighters.
There affordable gifts are in red or yellow. They are wipe-clean, water-resistant and vegan-friendly, and feature reclaimed parachute silk (nylon) lining.
Handmade in Kent, they have a 1-year warranty, and are repairable at reasonable cost. There are sections in the wallets for credit cards, plus pockets for loose change. Plus one has an additional pocket for business cards, and a divided section for notes. Live in London? They are Oyster card friendly too.
These are too expensive for the average person. But as they are a great alternative to leather, we list them as many people do indeed pay over £100 for a bag. They should last you for life too, and make good designer gifts, that are at least ethical and zero waste.