Accidentally Vegan Designer Handbags, Shoes, Accessories & Clothing
Accidentally Vegan items from Luxury brands seem to be enjoying an uptick in consumer interest. And I’m one of those shoppers who’s super curious about vegan options at Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Versace, Prada, Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, and other conventional luxury brands. About once a season, I will browse their websites just to see what’s out there. And on a rare occasion, I’ll even treat myself or someone special.
Below is a round-up of ‘accidentally vegan’ items you can find at Gucci, Prada, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen.
“Vegan” vs. “Sustainable” vs. “Ethical”
One thing to get out of the way before we begin is this: the term ‘vegan’ does not inherently mean it’s somehow better for the environment or manufactured in an ethical way. ‘Vegan’ simply means that the item does not contain any animal/insect parts. Fashion items and accessories that are vegan are free from:
- Skin, fur, or feathers
- Animal bones or horns
- Insect-based dyes
- Animal or insect-based fibers (ie: wool and silk)
- Adhesives derived from animal origin
- Animal or insect secretions
- Any other animal or insect parts
While shopping vegan does equate to shopping ethically, it does not insinuate things like sustainable, environmentally-safe manufacturing practices (ie: organic farming or natural dyes). It also doesn’t ensure ethical manufacturing (ie: fair working wages or lack of child labour). If you’d like to focus on shopping for vegan clothing or accessories that are also sustainable or ethically made, please check out my various articles on sustainable vegan fashion.
Most of the luxury brands on this list do the majority of their manufacturing in Italy. But be sure to check the individual product page for more information about specific items.
General Tips & Things to Look Out For
Almost every high-end fashion brand will carry a line of sunglasses and fashion jewelry. These are usually a reliable place to start your search. When browsing for footwear, rubber or canvas shoes can be vegan. T-shirts and denim clothing are often vegan. And you can sometimes find jackets, dresses, tops, and bottoms that are made from 100% cotton, linen, polyester, or Viscose. But keep an eye out for items that appear vegan at first, but have a random animal-skin label, silk lining, wool-blend, or leather trim.
The One Designer Doing Luxury Vegan Really, Really Well
For you handbag and shoe lovers: I would highly recommend checking out the OG vegetarian luxury designer: Stella McCartney. While her line is fully vegetarian (ie: no leather or fur), she does work with silk and wool in her clothing. Stick to her handbags and shoes for some top-notch vegan designer pieces.
What does “Accidentally Vegan” Mean?
“Accidentally Vegan” refers to items that weren’t intended to be vegan but are. This happens when a non-vegan brand creates an item free from animal/insect harm.
Alexander McQueen‘s Vegan Suits, Dresses, and Designer Denim
Known for being a bit more macabre than most designer labels, Alexander McQueen doesn’t shy away from pushing the design boundaries. Interestingly, the brand also carries a shocking variety of vegan-friendly designer pieces too. In addition to statement jewelry and funky t-shirts, McQueen also has a wide range of denim clothing that surprisingly doesn’t sport leather labels. The gold or silver sneaker charms are also a unique piece that I haven’t seen elsewhere!
And don’t forget the label’s tailored pieces. Alexander McQueen is known for its impeccable British tailoring skills. If you’re looking for less funky, more classic designs, you can find those here too. There are loads of dresses, trousers, and blazers that are vegan. (Perfect for those who like to rock a suit while avoiding wool!) I also want to note that Alexander McQueen’s tailoring is more curve-friendly than the majority of designers on this list. I know Alexander McQueen doesn’t get as much publicity as brands like Dior and Gucci, but their quality is renowned and their selection of ‘accidentally vegan’ designer clothing is formidable.
Photo examples are from the brand’s early 2021 website selection. Their current selection may vary.
‘Accidentally Vegan’ Statement Bags at Dolce & Gabbana
I know, the designers from D&G have been in hot water a few times over the past few years. But, they have released some statement clutches and micro-bags over the past few years that are accidentally vegan. Think tiny metal, lucite, or crochet bags that could be considered jewelry. Dolce & Gabbana also occasionally release plant-fiber-based bags made with rattan, straw, or canvas. (Unfortunately, they usually attached some completely unnecessary bit of leather to what would otherwise be ethical designs. Come on, is that baby cow skin lining really needed? Why not apple leather, Pinatex, or corn-leather?)
Like the other brands, you can always find a vegan selection of statement jewelry and sunglasses. (Plus the occasional non-leather watch.) Browse their dresses, jacket, skirts, and other clothing for 100% cotton, linen, or Viscose designs. Just double-check the Description or Care And Details section on each garment before purchasing.
Photo examples are from the brand’s early 2021 website selection. Their current selection may vary.
Vegan Clothing, Shoes, and Accessories at Gucci
You will always be able to find vegan sunglasses, watches, t-shirts, fine jewelry, and fashion jewelry at Gucci. Depending on the season, you can find rubber slides, canvas sneakers, and vegan hats at Gucci too. Browse their tops, pants, jackets, and skirts to see if there are any that are free from leather, wool, or silk.
Note: you can occasionally (but not consistently) find this phrase on Gucci’s product description pages: “This product has not been made using materials of animal origin.” Keep an eye out for it to know that a product is vegan!
Gucci Décor stocks a bunch of luxury home goods, such as small tables, folding screens, porcelain pieces, decorative paraffin wax candles, and even incense holders. When the Gucci Off the Grid collection was released, I had high hopes that there would be sustainable vegan items included. But sadly, no. Even the canvas accessories have leather trim, unfortunately.
Photo examples are from the brand’s early 2021 website selection. Their current selection may vary.
A Few Vegan Accessories at Louis Vuitton
Just like the above brands, you can always find vegan sunglasses, bag charms, and fashion jewelry at Louis Vuitton. (They also have a limited-edition UNICEF collection, if you’d like to do a little good with your purchase. Just look for the UNICEF logo.) On a personal note, I find it extremely frustrating that Louis Vuitton’s signature monogram print is always done on coated canvas; and yet they incorporate leather accents 99% of the time. (Why??) There are countless designs released by this luxury brand that could easily be vegan if they just swapped their ‘accent’ material for something ethical. It must be the brand’s heritage history as a leather goods carrier that makes them hesitant to shy away from the use of animal skins.
Photo examples are from the brand’s early 2021 website selection. Their current selection may vary.
Prada‘s Re-Nylon Collection is Fairly Vegan-Friendly
A few years ago, Prada quietly announced their Re-Nylon collection. With sustainability in mind, this collection recycles old material into the sturdy nylon that the brand is known for. You can find many Re-Nylon pieces that are vegan, including jackets, backpacks, and petite pouches. Sunglasses, small accessories, and jewelry are also a good place to browse for vegan accessories at Prada. (Did you know that Prada makes water bottles? Yeah, me neither! But they are also part of the Re-Nylon collection.) Just be sure to check for leather trims or labels!
Photo examples are from the brand’s early 2021 website selection. Their current selection may vary.
Valentino‘s Accidentally Vegan Rockstuds and Accessories
My favourite ‘accidentally vegan’ items from Valentino are their rubber Rockstud sandals (spring/summer collection) and rain boots (fall/winter collection). Browsing the Valentino website today (Feb 16, 2021), I don’t see any of the Rockstud rainboots right now. Check back closer to fall or in winter to see if these get restocked. In the meantime, how cute are the vegan Rockstud rubber sandals? These must have a good response from buyers since Valentino has continued to release this style over and over.
Sunglasses and jewelry are other vegan options from Valentino. Valentino is known for its elegant dresses. Thankfully, you can usually find several designs that are made from vegan materials. Depending on the season, occasionally there are vegan trench jackets and puffer coats.
Photo examples are from the brand’s early 2021 website selection. Their current selection may vary.
Vegan Versace: A Small Goldmine of ‘Accidentally Vegan’ Luxury
I’ll admit that I’m a little bit of a Versace fan girl. I’ve always adored this Italian luxury brand, and I find that their designs are more curve-friendly than many other high-end brands. (I’m a petite pear-shaped gal.) So I tend to browse Versace more frequently than the other labels on this list. However, they seem to regularly have many ‘accidentally vegan’ items across the board. Don’t forget that Donatella was one of the first luxury designers (besides Stella McCartney of course) to declare that “fur is over.” She’s also released a few sustainable capsule collections. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Versace starts experimenting with vegan leather alternatives.
The same general vegan-friendly rules apply to Versace: fine jewelry, fashion jewelry, and sunglasses are always a great place to start. Viscose dresses, Medusa slides, lux bathrobes, swimwear, home slippers, and edgy cotton t-shirts seem to always be available too. Their very luxurious home collection also stocks linens, towels, decor, and kitchen items that are 100% vegan.
Photo examples are from the brand’s early 2021 website selection. Their current selection may vary.
