August 11, 2021 4 min read

Why Choose a Vegan Backpack?

We love a good vegan backpack at Doshi, but we may be a little biased. That doesn’t mean we’re not right, though! Designer vegan backpacks are convenient, fashionable, and ecofriendly. They’re an excellent choice for anyone on the go.

If you’re looking for a new bag, we think you should consider a non-leather backpack. Here’s why.

A Backpack Makes Traveling Easier

Carrying a traditional handbag through a significant amount of travel can be exhausting. You have to focus on balancing the bag’s straps on your shoulders, or keeping a crossbody bag out of the way. Regular handbags are great for daily life, but for long trips, a backpack is simply more convenient.

Backpacks are typically more spacious than handbags, with more pockets. Many have the added security of a back-facing pocket for things like your tickets and passport, as well as side holders for water and snacks. Plus, most backpacks make room for your laptop or tablet, meaning you can work on the go.

Even if you’re just using it for daily trekking and chores, and especially if you’re working in a fast-paced environment or have a long city commute, you might consider joining the huge trend of women bringing backpacks into the office.

Leather Backpacks Are in Style

Let’s face it – backpacks have been in style since their creation [internal link – history of backpacks], and for good reason! They’re comfortable, versatile, and cute. They’ve been a mark of status for school-going teens and college kids for years, and have recently become the go-to bag of busy adults.

Backpack design has also become a major industry. Luxury handbag brands are more and more often releasing new backpacks with their lines, and they’re incentivized to keep doing so. Sales of backpacks have jumped massively as people start to realize how wonderful they can be as a day bag.

This is, as mentioned earlier, even true among the white-collar office crowd. According to the Atlantic, sales of backpacks jumped 28% in 2019, and they’ve been on the rise since. Stylish, simple leather backpacks provide the aesthetic appeal of the purse with the convenience of a traditional backpack.

Vegan Leather Backpacks Are Even More in Style

If leather backpacks are in style, then vegan leather backpacks are even more so! Vogue Australia listed vegan products as one of their top 20 must haves in recent years. If that isn’t enough to convince you, then the fact that major brands are jumping on vegan products might be. Birkenstock, Kat Von D, and many others have launched vegan products to try and tap into the booming market.

Celebrities have taken up the call as well. Megastars the likes of Miley Cyrus, Serena Williams, and Rooney Mara have all been remarkably outspoken about their support for veganism and its benefits for the environment. More are joining in the call every day, and happily endorsing their favorite brands.

With support like this, is it any surprise that vegan leather backpacks have exploded in popularity in recent years? Carrying on the trend of convenient bags with an animal-friendly spin seems like the natural progression of the industry.

Vegan Backpacks Are Cruelty Free

By definition, an animal has to die for a traditional leather backpack to be made. The leather industry is fraught with cruelty and abuse even before animals are led to the slaughterhouse [Link internally to “Why Vegan Leather”]. They’re kept in cramped, dirty conditions, fed poorly, and separated from their young. By purchasing traditional leather goods, you’re supporting this dangerous and painful cycle.

Vegan backpacks are completely cruelty free. The synthetic leather is made by hand rather than ripped from a living creature, so you get all the stylistic benefits and none of the guilt. It’s just as beautiful, coming not just in classic blacks, browns, and tans, but also in many other patterns and colors.

Older vegan leather options have been criticized for being less durable, but this isn’t the case anymore. In fact, it’s quite the opposite! Synthetic leather is also becoming more durable and useful than traditional leather, as it can be made to be waterproof and easily cleaned.

Vegan Backpacks Are Environmentally Friendly

Not only is the leather industry cruel, it’s also dangerous for the environment. Leather is treated with chemicals that leave toxic waste byproducts to be disposed of. Oftentimes, this disposal is handled poorly, and those chemical byproducts are leaked into neighboring ecosystems, disrupting and destroying the natural homes of plants and animals. It can even endanger the water supplies we use.

Vegan backpack production produces significantly less waste than leather production. There’s no tanning process, so those chemical byproducts are never created, and local ecosystems are allowed to flourish.

With new methods of production constantly in development, the vegan alternative is getting cleaner every day. On top of this, most vegan leather backpacks can be easily recycled. Once your bag has done its work for you, you have the option of passing it on to someone else, or – when given to the proper receptacles – letting the material be reused instead of sitting in a landfill.

Additionally, many vegan fashion brands are dedicated to helping the environment to thrive. For instance, did you know that a portion of every Doshi purchase goes toward environmental activist organizations?

Why Choose Doshi Vegan Leather Backpacks?

Doshi’s backpacks carry all the benefits of designer vegan backpacks. They’re fashionable, built to last, and cruelty free. In fact, they’re a cut above the rest.

All the materials used in Doshi’s products are hand picked by our founder, and crafted by artisans into fantastic, high-quality bags that will last you a long, long time. Through daily grind and special occasions, Doshi’s got your back when it comes to environmentally conscious fashion choices – and you’re giving back with every purchase you make! [Link internally to “Who we support” page]

Ready to find your perfect bag? Shop Doshi’s best vegan women’s backpacks.