India as a nation is very sensitive about the way animals are treated. We like to be stylish and to keep up with the latest trends, but not so at the cost of cruelty to animals. As such I think crocodile skin, ostrich skin, mink fur, or even cowhide, which in fact has a religious flavour to it, would not enjoy much patronage in India. But wait, there are always exceptions. Hidesign, one of the bestselling high end handbag brands essentially uses cow leather. True, leather increases durability but also comes with its specific instruction set for care and usage, not to mention high purchase costs. Leather has come to be associated with class and social status, what with major bag brands around the world churning out icons season after season.
There is plenty of choice for those preferring non-leather though. Our very own Baggit is a stellar example. They have always embraced cruelty-free materials. In my previous post, I spoke about their Flora Fauna collection. There is no dearth of designs or colors in faux leather or cloth. In fact, the color palette would be much broader in non-leather. UrbanExpressions has a good collection of faux leather bags, almost as good as their real leather counterparts.
Then there is jute, which is another versatile material, scoring high on durability with low maintenance. The number of storage sections is usually limited but their aesthetic appeal cannot be ignored. It is one of the most eco-friendly materials out there. For jute, JuteCottage is my favourite. Their stores resemble mini treasure troves and products in a riot of colors – they make everything from bags to jewellery and pottery. They have an amazing collection of bags in vibrant hues, that can immediately perk up any outfit.
So what’s your preferred material for bags?
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