Yesterday we posted a What’s in her Bag feature with one of my personal favorite singers, Colbie Caillat. Before Vlad and I met the talented and supremely gorgeous Caillat, I did a bit of research on our featured lady. Turns out Colbie tries to stay away from leather products and is an animal rights activist.

Upon reading that, I remember feeling slightly panicked. If you read our site you know the vast majority of the arm candy we post is made from one kind of animal product or another. I not only needed to change up my questions for Colbie a bit but also felt the urge to see what vegan options are out there in the handbag world. And that is where I began to appreciate the brand Matt & Nat in a major way.

Though I already knew of the brand and we have reviewed its bags on PurseBlog, I never fully delved into the company’s mission and products. I called up Matt & Nat and spent a bit of time talking with its founder, Inder Bedi. Matt & Nat’s mission statement is simple: To live beautifully. With so many animal products being utilized in the world, the brand not only focuses on vegan bags but also on sustainable products. The linings of its bags are made from an average of 21 recycled plastic bottles, packaging is made from recycled materials, and all of the products are vegan, meaning they are void of all animal by-products.

In a world filled with leather bags, staying away from such a commonly used commodity remains hard. Yet Matt & Nat has created a vision and a brand that stays true to its roots, combining fashion with eco-friendly products, which gives anyone looking for vegan options in the fashion world amazing accessory options.

The two bags pictured are one of my favorite designs from Matt & Nat, the Santogold, which retails for a mere $195. The clutch is extremely spacious but not overly cumbersome. I love the blue-hued Ikat version, but the pink gives a solid color option as well. I have no idea how a bag that uses no leather feels so supple (the Ikat version is canvas while the pink version feels similar to leather). Though the products used vary tremendously from what the average bag lover expects, the quality of the workmanship has not diminished. Make sure to check out Matt & Nat not only if you want a vegan fashion option but also for a flat out great bag. More via Matt & Nat online.

I’ve spent a lot of time and energy in this space complaining about how designers keep trying to make fur bags happen, and usually during those rants I also wonder about why more companies aren’t using faux fur for their ill-advised fuzzy bags. Few designers hesitate to use stamped croc or python, so why not a little fake mink or chinchilla? The primary argument that I see people making for real fur in outerwear is the warmth that it provides, and my phone and keys certainly don’t require my handbag to maintain any particular temperature.

It looks as though Prada has answered my prayers, as it so often does. The brand has debuted a line of faux fur bags for Fall 2011, and not only are the prices half that of most real fur bags, but no cute little critters had to give up their coats to make these designs happen. That’s right, I still don’t really love these bags, but I dislike them less than if they were real fur and twice the price. If that makes the sense.

Actually, I should amend that. I’m not mad at the Prada Mohair Garden Tote, right, because it uses faux mohair that’s short enough that the structure of the underlying bag isn’t totally lost. And that’s my biggest gripe with fur bags – the material almost always overwhelms the shape. The combination of a short fur and simple shape prevents that from happening with this bag, so it gets my tentative seal of approval. You know, if you’re looking for a fur bag.

The Prada Eco Pelliccia Faux Fur Wristlet isn’t bad either, if only because a bag like that doesn’t necessarily lose anything if it looks like a puff ball. It’s small and without structure, which makes up for a multitude of fur’s normal sins. The only stinker\ of the three is the Prada Mongolia Garden Tote, which uses faux fur that’s too stringy and long to really be attractive on a handbag. But still, with all three designs showing three-figure price tags, I can’t complain too much. If you’ve been wanting a fur bag, here’s the best way to do it.

Prada Mohair Faux Fur Garden Tote, $995 via Saks.

Prada Eco Pelliccia Faux Fur Wristlet, $370 via Saks.

Prada Eco Mongolia Faux Fur Garden Tote, $995 via Saks.

Usually, women only ask two things of their handbags: That they be fabulous and functional. Increasingly, though, some women are making a third request of their clothing and accessories: That it also has a sense of social responsibility. Admittedly not everyone cares about what impact their purchases have on the world or on the people who produced them, but the number of people who do are growing, which makes it fashionable for global brand to debut products like the limited editionYves Saint Laurent Muse Two Artisanal Recycled Bag, which was produced by artisans in Burkina Faso with Fair Trade cotton and recycled plastic bags. For real.

Although I’m betting that most people will balk at paying over $1700 for a cotton handbag even if it is part of a 60-piece handmade run that’s only available online to US and UK customers, the more luxury companies undertake projects like this, the better. Mainstreaming responsible manufacturing processes is a slow process, but this bag makes it hard to argue that the results aren’t every bit as good as their traditional counterparts. Available via YSL.com for $1720.

However, I will say that if you are not keen on actual python skin, you should check out the Stella McCartney Python Print Tote (and tell me what you think below).

Let me share with you why I cannot get on board with this design. Nearly $1,000 for nylon is rather absurd, and this is coming from the gal who talks about high end designer handbags all day long. I suppose the design of this bag itself is not helping, because while it is a good tote shape, it is rather boring. The nylon python-print adorns the bag and there are expandable zip-fastening sides. I simply get an overall blah feeling from this bag. I really like the chain detail tote, but my likings are not finding their way to this bag. Buy through Net A Porter for $995.

I am going to delve into a category that we rarely cover on PurseBlog but will try to cover more, eco-friendly handbags. One of the most well-know eco friendly designers has a famous last name and a line of clothing and handbags that grace red carpets, catwalks, and celebs.

Yes, it is Stella McCartney I am speaking of. Some of our favorite celebs who carry Stella McCartney bags include Rihanna, Kate Hudson, Carrie Underwood, and Liv Tyler.

The reason why Stella McCartney is a great go-to for faux leather is because her bags are still luxurious, still current, and still able to fit right in. McCartney is known for her chain bags, such as the Stella McCartney Chain Faux Leather Bag. This bag is an overall great look, black faux leather, silver-tone chain embellished trim, glazed finish. Actually, the casual rocker vibe that this handbag gives is great. What I have a hard time wrapping my head around is the price. This is a faux leather bag that costs $1,400. Clearly part of what you will pay for, as with many designers, is the name. McCartney is a big name! Buy through Net A Porter for $1,395.

Who is your favorite eco-friendly designer? Share with us below

Can someone, ANYONE, explain to me why this pastel-potholder-looking abomination against fashion costs 1100 freaking dollars?

Well, the line is owned by part of the Fendi family, so that should give you a clue to the price. And the bags are handmade from recycled materials, which is nice, but not really an explanation of how much we’re all expected to pay for them. I’m pretty sure that lots of small brands use similar manufacturing practices, make bags that don’t look like granny craft projects, and don’t charge nearly as much for the (much more attractive) end result.

As if the whole “green” factor wasn’t enough to make me feel slightly bad for hating this bag in such a visceral way, apparently they also donate some proceeds to charity. But when you’re making bags that are this ugly and this expensive, are you really doing anyone but yourself any favors? Wouldn’t more attractive bags at a slightly lower price point sell more units and, as a result, make more money for charity and do more to make the “green” movement seem palatable to fashionphiles? For $1100, I’m going to need them to do more than make a bag that looks like an irregular Vera Bradley laptop tote that got sent to TJ Maxx. Buy through Luisa Via Roma for $1131.

That being said, I wish she didn’t stick to doggedly to her principles, because I would absolutely love the Stella McCartney Chain-Detail Tote if it was real leather.

This take on the season’s industrial trends is decidedly simple and straight-forward, which is kind of refreshing when you consider the glut of studs, zippers, and chains that adorn everything we’ve come across recently. The shiny, thick silver hardware frames an enormous piece of matte black faux leather that I can only wish were real. I’ve never come across non-leather approximations of the material that I found at all inspiring, and I fear this may even smell funny in person, but I sincerely hope it does and that it fools everyone. But I doubt it will – the graining of the material is just too uniform to look like the real thing.

And also, it has to be said – the way that the chain is attached and forms the handle reminds me of the Chanel Coco Cabas totes from a few years back. There, I said it. I’m officially turning into one of those people that thinks that everyone rips off Chanel. Go ahead and put my out of my misery now, while I still have an original thought or two in my head. I still really like this bag, though. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $1145.

Last week we brought you the information that Hermes would have its own farm to breed crocodiles in Australia. PETA did not like that and neither did many of you. It only seems fitting that today we feature a socially responsible vegan line.

Matt & Nat handbags have long been on our radar and today we must tell you why they are buzz worthy. Matt & Nat goes beyond making Eco Friendly bags, the premise for the company and brand is social responsibility. You will read about ‘Duality 21′ on the Matt & Nat website which is the drive for the brand to explore eco fabrics on a whole new level. They have two full collections as well as the lining in each of their bags being made of recycled plastic water bottles. I am guilty myself of using water bottles rather than re-using the same container. But it is somehow plausible, that one of my recycled plastic water bottles has gone into the design of a Matt & Nat handbag. The number 21 is used because on average 21 bottles are recycled to produce the lining while as many as 55 bottles are recycled when the shell is included.

The paragraph above does not read as one that would follow a brand that can be found in major stores like Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, CUSP, and Bluefly. The bags are stylish. I would actually wear one and I can not say that when it comes to many Eco Friendly lines. The price point is amazing, most bags between $100 to $200. The main question is how the bags feel in person and this I should be able to tell you soon! We are going to have a batch of Matt & Nat bags to review in he office soon. The duality of environmental consciousness along with a design centric focus, Matt & Nat is a handbag line you should not disregard. Learn more and shop Matt & Nat bags via their website.

This bag is not just about being Eco Friendly, but it is for a great cause. Bergdorf Goodman just launched Lauren Bush’s newest FEED bag exclusively. The FEED 2 Kenya bag will help feed 2 people for one whole year for each bag sold.

Each FEED 2 Kenya Bag will feed two Kenyan kids in school for one year. The bag will cost $100 which is a donation to the United Nations World Food Programme’s School Feeding operations in Kenya. The FEED Kenya Bag is handcrafted by a coop of women in Kenya featuring colorful beading. The materials may not be worth $100, but the point of the bag is to donate to support the kids in Kenya while also supporting women artisans in Kenya. This bag is being sold exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman.

Over 350 million children go to bed hungry each night. Hunger and malnutrition kill more people than AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis combined. In fact, every five seconds a child dies because he or she is hungry. For a hungry kid, school is often not even an option.

Yet there is hope. When boys and girls are given a free, nutritious meal in school, research has shown that attendance increases by 100% and performance improves greatly.

For many kids this is the only meal they will receive all day, and it is enough to empower them to survive, learn, and improve their lives.

The FEED Kenya bag has been handcrafted in Kenya by a coop of women. Therefore, not only is your purchase feeding children in school, but you are also supporting women artisans in Kenya.

Thank you for supporting FEED Projects and the United Nations World Food Programme in the fight to end child hunger! We hope you enjoy your handcrafted FEED Kenya bag which is created in Kenya to benefit Kenyans. You have provided two full bellies, supported education, and brighter futures for two hungry children.

For more information about FEED Projects please visit, Feed Projects Org.

And then there’s the size issue. A lot of designers make these wallet-sized clutches, and I’m not really sure who they’re selling them too – people without cell phones, maybe? Certainly people without Blackberries. I could never wedge mine into it. Whoever they are, it seems like an extremely niche market. What I do like, however, is how subtle the zebra print is. It doesn’t yell zebra, it merely whispers it, and subtlety and animal print are two hard concepts to combine. She does it rather well here, but it’s not enough to rescue the bag as a whole. Buy through Net-a-Porter for $515.