New York-based brand Angela Roi believes that personal style before the environment for far too long. The brand prioritizes both craftsmanship and sustainable fabrics in order to deliver ethical fashion that is approachable to all women. The brand designs a gorgeous line of vegan leather tote bags. Timeless and cruelty-free, the bags are exquisitely crafted out of polyurethane leather (pleather), durable thread and quality fabric. Other purses available are the Barton Duffle Tote and the Hamilton Satchel, which are also meticulously handcrafted and sustainably made. No sweatshops are used in production and the bags are PETA-Approved. Many find it hard to believe that Angela Roi's high quality bags are not actually genuine leather. The bags are aimed at women of all walks of life: business women, vegans, omnivores and fashionistas. Angela Roi has mastered the philosophy of timeless elegance and future fashion. The brand's vegan and leather-free bags are ethically made by artisans who are paid a fair wage in clean factories. These vegan leather bags, cross-body and bucket bags are simple, with organized compartments, straps for ease of use and a pebbled textured finish that is both modern and minimalist. What is Vegan Leather? Also popularly known as synthetic leather, vegan leather is not made from animal skin. But not all vegan leather is eco-friendly. Popular leather alternatives include petroleum-based synthetic leathers, PVC and PU. Inexpensive PVC or polyvinyl chloride pose a risk to the environment and human health. In fact, PVC has been labeled "poisonous plastic" by the environmental organization Greenpeace. PU or polyurethane is more flexible, less toxic and is considered better for the environment than PVC, which is what Angela Roi has employed in its handbag lines. Many non-biodegradable options are being phased out by more environmentally friendly and highly innovative vegetable leathers. Made from waste extracted from a variety of vegetation and other natural materials, stylish wallets can be made from a wide variety of aesthetic vegan leathers, ranging from materials such as Piñatex made from pineapple leaf fibers to Malai made from coconut discards and even kombucha leather.
Cactus-Derived Leather Striving for innovative materials, Angela Roi launched a collection of bags last year made from cactus leather. Founded in Mexico in 2019, Desserto®’s cactus leather was created by Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez with the purpose of creating an alternative to animal leather. This cactus leather is distinguished by its softness while also offering optimal performance. Offering a wide range of applications from handbags, footwear, apparel to interiors, Desserto® complies with the highest quality and environmental standards. The cactus is derived from a farm in the Mexican state of Zacatecas and is a prime example of how innovation can be developed responsibly. The ranch is completely organic, omitting the use of pesticides and herbicides. Its harvesting process respects the natural cycle of the cactus plants, selecting only the mature plants to be cut every eight months. No extra irrigation systems are necessary as cacti grow healthy with just rainwater and earth minerals found in the area. After cutting the leaves they are then dried in the sun for three days until they reach the desired humidity levels. The raw material is then processed and mixed with non-toxic chemicals, shaped and colored. The end result is partially biodegradable and meets the technical requirements to be used in the fashion, leather goods, furniture, and automotive industries. The leather is durable, lasting up to ten years, breathable, and doesn’t stain.