5 Best Vegan Leather Wallet Brands for 2023
Animal welfare does not have to take a back seat to fashion or money-holding accessories. And with these vegan leather wallet brands, you can stay true to your values while still looking stylish.
The good news is 2023 brings about a wide range of options, from cool and vintage styles to ones brimming with luxury.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Vegan Leather Wallets
How do you find good vegan leather wallets?
Finding one that’s good for you comes down to personal style and affordability. That’s why I’ve stuck with a range of options here, from those who only want to spend a few bucks to those that are suited for the lover of luxury items.
Is vegan leather eco friendly?
This question is such a double-edged sword, and whether it is a sustainable and eco friendly fabric depends on a few factors.
The short answer to “is vegan leather eco friendly?” is … yes and no.
There are a few caveats to keep in mind when shopping for vegan leather wallets.
I touched on this in my article on best vegan leather journals, but I’ll discuss it briefly here too.
Based on the research I’ve done, the most harmful type of vegan leather is PVC.
PVC vegan leather is made from polyvinyl chloride, which contains MANY toxic chemicals that can harm the environment, not only during manufacturing but when that piece of leather ultimately ends up in the landfill, because it is not biodegradable.
Additionally, PVC leather releases chlorine-based compounds when it’s being produced, which is toxic to the land, water, and air we breathe.
Not-so-fun fact: Estimates show that the production of PVC leather accounts for 40% of chlorine use in the U.S.
PU (polyurethane) is another type of vegan leather. It is typically more malleable and flexible than PVC as well as more breathable. But PVC is stronger and can take more of a beating and not show it.
Also, PU leather is more porous and can wrinkle and become discolored just like real leather.
Actually, this appeals to a lot of people.
Because of these features, you’ll generally see PU leather used in clothes, and PVC leather used for furniture and that sort of thing.
But is it more eco friendly?
Yes. PU leather is more eco friendly because it does not give off all the hazardous chemicals that PVC does. Also, a lot of manufacturers are switching to water-based solvents when making PU, so it’s headed in the right direction there.
Are there any other eco friendly options for vegan leather?
Absolutely! cork is one, as well as kelp, pineapple leaves (Pinatex), apples peels, vegetable waste, and anything that uses recycled or upcycled materials. You’ll see examples of those items right here!
So let’s dive right in to see what’s looking good this year.
What are the best vegan leather wallets for 2023?
Couch Vintage Volkswagon Wallet
Coming in at the top spot for no other reason than I love all things vintage, is this unique vegan wallet from Couch.
Made with recycled materials like vintage vinyl from the 70’s and 80’s – the same vinyl that was used to upholster Volkswagon Beetles and Jettas, it’ll get you groovin’ in no time.
You can get them with or without snaps or a coin purse section, and they currently come in 3 different colors:
- red
- green
- light brown
Couch even hand die-cuts these vegan wallets to ensure each cut is just right.
Couch vegan leather wallets are PETA approved and modestly priced at $32, you won’t have to dig deep in your current wallet to invest in this cool option.
Matt & Nat Sublime (Dual Zipper)
If you’re anything like me, sometimes you just in the mood for a fat wallet. Or at least one that can get fat and chunky.
And these vegan leather wallets from Matt & Nat are designed just for that.
What I find fascinating about this particular option is that everything from the Purity line at Matt and Nat is made from a material called PVB, which stands for Polyvinyl butyral – a non-biodegradable component of multiple types of glass.
PVB is a much preferred type of vinyl to PVC, which contains known toxins.
So these wallets in particular are composed of recycled windshield glass resin, which makes this type of vegan leather a totally sustainable fashion choice. And they even have vegan handbags made of the same material.
Aside from the pretty daffodil color, the body and lining of these wallets are made with recycled materials, and the interior linings of their bags and wallets are made up of 100% recycled plastic bottles and have the following features:
- Dual zip-around enclosure
- 26 total slots for credit cards
- 4 separate dollar bill compartments
- Zipper coin pocket for loose change
And you can feel confident shopping from Matt & Nat as all their products are vegan and cruelty free as well as PETA approved.
If you’re not a fan of this particular design or you’re looking for something a little smaller, they have tons of other vegan leather wallets to choose from in the following colors:
- Black
- Red and orange
- Teal and blue
- Brown and taupe
- Yellow or mustard
- Various shades of green
- Several vintage themed colors
Stella McCartney Falabella Small Flap Wallet
Dedicated to sustainability and using only vegan products, Stella McCartney is a top contender in the world of vegan luxury fashion.
So if you’re looking for a luxury vegan wallet that is also eco friendly, this is an excellent choice.
I love the stylish look of this vegan leather wallet. With the chain and the cool blue tone, it seamlessly combines “rugged” with dainty.
But there are plenty of other colors to choose from if you don’t like blue. Some other features include:
- Trifold wallet with 6 card slots and zipper coin pocket
- Diamond-cut chain made of recycled brass and aluminum
- Engraved medallion charm
- GOTS Certified cotton lacing
- Lined with recycled materials
- Made from Shaggy Deer fabric
The Stella McCartney brand is committed to using recycled and responsibly sourced materials, particularly with their use of vegan leather. And they are a company that’s backed by PETA.
And side note (for those who pay attention to celebrity fashion): celebrities who’ve been spotted wearing or using Stella McCartney’s line include Kate Moss, Selma Hayak, Rihanna,
But let’s talk about this “Shaggy Deer” fabric for a moment.
The best I can tell is this vegan leather is exclusive to the brand. It’s incredibly expensive to make but beautifully and sustainably imitates the look of suede but is covered with something called a “glossy pebble.” It’s strong and holds it shape well, and is resistant to water.
I don’t own a lot of luxury anythings. In fact, I may not own a single luxury item! But when it comes to owning a vegan luxury wallet, this is one brand I’d feel good about supporting.
Labante Brave Vegan Bifold Wallet
If you’re looking at vegan leather wallets for the man in your life, this one by Labante is a good option.
It’s simple yet sleek, and it’s made with 100% PVC FREE vegan leather.
Here are some features of this vegan leather wallet:
- PETA approved
- Free shipping to USA
- Made with recycled materials
- Lining made from recycled plastic bottles
- Has 6 compartments for credit cards
- Fits bills from all countries
- Light brown or dark brown available
These wallets are made in China, which may be off-putting to some, but they are made in a “sweatshop free” factory in a wealthy province called Guangzhou. Labonte guarantees their workers are paid high wages, and their seamstresses get paid maternity leave.
Labonte only works with factories that are SEDEX Certified, and their leather comes from vegetable waste. They also reuse their own byproducts when making their vegan wallets and other things in order to ensure that no scrap gets left behind.
Doshi Mini Vegan Wallet
Doshi is a fashion forward, California based company that specializes in all vegan fashion. The founder, Paras Dashi, is definitely on the up-an-up when it comes to keeping things leather free and avoiding animal derived materials.
He is passionate about avoiding animal leather, as most of these other brands are, and goes into a pretty interesting description on how some companies refer to their products as vegan “leather” when they don’t actually mimic animal leather at all.
Doshi uses microfiber PU, and they refer to it as the highest grade of synthetic vegan leather and most closely resembles the look and feel of real leather.
They’ve also recently started using Kraft paper and Piñatex, and they’ve looked into mushroom leather, but it’s currently outside of their price range, and they don’t want to have to pass on that cost to the consumer seeing as so many of their vegan wallets are affordable for most.
Doshi has several luxury vegan wallets and other accessories to choose from, but this mini wallet is perfect for the budget conscious person.
You can choose from a a couple of different types of sustainable materials like cork or microfiber, and also has:
- A detachable wrist strap
- RFID protection
- PETA’s approval
What are some other vegan leather wallets?
I will be adding to this list of vegan leather wallets on a regular basis. But for now, I’ve compiled a quick list of other brands you can shop at your leisure.
- Tearojoy
- Roandco
- Corkor
- Cork by Design
- Dynomighty Design
- Paperwallet
- Slimfold
- dosh
- 36 Chambers
- Herschel Supply Company
- Stewart/Stand
- Quicksilver
- Will’s Vegan Store
- Tree Tribe
- HfS Collective
- Pixie Mood
There are other brands of vegan leather wallets out there but not all of them are sustainably sourced. So they may not be mentioned here. But just because I haven’t mentioned a particular vegan brand does not mean it’s not eco friendly or sustainable.
If you’re looking for some vegan leather alternatives to a vegan wallet, maybe some that aren’t mentioned here, you’ll want to look for cruelty-free items made from cork, pineapple leaves, Piñatex (pineapple leather), Desserto (cactus leather), Vegea (grape leather), mushroom or mycelium leather, recycled plastic bottles, recycled polyester, or pretty much recycled anything.
After all, whatever you can do to keep trash and unused items out of the landfill is a win/win for all.
