This Festive Season, Shop Mindfully with Vivinkaa’s Truly Indian Cruelty-Free Handbags (2021)

Sustainability. Vegan. Cruelty-free. These are just some of the buzzwords of 2021 that pop up in any fashion-related discussion time and again. As a research recently reported, one in every five articles even remotely related to fashion and lifestyle products mentions cruelty-free production as a core ethical value.

But what exactly is being cruelty-free?

Simply put, cruelty-free is a term coined by animal rights activists to distinguish products or activities that do not harm or kill animals, from traditional methods that do. Products tested on animals or made from animals are not considered cruelty-free, since their production involves inflicting pain and suffering over millions of defenceless animal lives.

The fashion industry, for all its pretentious awareness about sustainability, continues to be one of the most backward communities when it comes to basics about cruelty-free production. If 101 Dalmatians' Cruella seemed a little too over the top, then rest assured, this is a daily reality of the research labs hidden behind the glamorous curtains of the fashion world. What if you were told that the leather of your handbag is the skin ripped off a live animal’s body as it screamed to death? What if you knew that to bring your favourite sling pouch to life, a bunch of innocent, defenceless animals were reared and brought up in despicable conditions only to be slaughtered mercilessly? Guilt in such cases is gut-wrenching, inevitable.

We, as consumers, wield massive control. Our buying habits have the power to revolutionise an entire industry. And hence the cruelty-free revolution. With a growing number of people focusing on how their products are being created and greater awareness about these back-end bloodbaths, fashion brands have been forced to reconsider their production methods and overall values.

Though India has been the first one to adopt cruelty-free production bans, very few brands care about where and how their raw materials come from. This is where a brand like Vivankaa stands out, giving you the chance to shop without compromising on your ethical beliefs and values as a consumer.

In a market overrun with organisations using unethical means to create their products, Vivinkaa has carved quite a name for itself. Established barely 5 years ago, the brand is already gaining popularity for its ethical and cruelty-free production of high quality purses.

After working across brands like Shoppers Stop, Future Group, etc. and many e-commerce start-ups for almost two decades, Vinod Naik couldn't help but notice the most permissible gap in the market. When it comes to an ethical pocket-friendly Indian fashion label, most of the brands focused on importing bags from China and selling in India, but not even one was exploring and utilising the plethora of raw materials available across India. Not only are these raw materials more durable and ethically usable, the easy availability of the same can help reduce the overall cost of the product by a large margin.

Vivinkaa believes in being a responsible and ethical Indian brand, celebrating India’s rich repertoire of cultural fabrics. Each collection at Vivinkaa is created using only the finest of animal-friendly vegan leather and cotton canvas. Apart from heavily utilising cruelty-free raw materials, the brand also employs a planet-friendly design process, with a major focus on ensuring quality and durability of the products.

Each product is not just budget-friendly but 100% exclusive. Vivinkaa creates its own original prints and the products are all handcrafted by local craftsmen using natural and hand dyed eco-friendly fabrics. Thus, every time you buy a Vivinkaa product, you are investing in a truly 100% Indian brand, while also empowering the indigenous Indian artisan communities.

This beautiful sling bag made of leatherette and cotton has 2 pockets. It has a printed pattern, has 2 pockets and its dimensions are 10 inches x 1 inch x 10.5 inches (LxWxH). It features a zip closure and is available for ₹ 500.00 here.

This unique canvas tote bag featuring a lazy cat lounging print is just the thing you need to complete your grocery shopping. It has 2 handles and a single pocket and can be wiped clean with a dry cloth to remove the dust. Its dimensions are 15 inches x 3 inches x 17 inches (LxWxH) and is available for ₹ 398.00 here.

This eye-catching handbag is made of high-quality leatherette and canvas and is ideal to carry your things to the office. It has 2 pockets, a zipper closure and its dimensions are 13 inches x 4 inches x 11 inches (LxWxH). It is priced at ₹ 698.00 and you can get it here.

We would be focussing on building our own D2C platform. Also, there is a lot of interest from large format stores & MBOs. We would be exploring that opportunity. We want to be known as a pan-India omni-channel brand. Also, by the end of next year we would be looking at a cross-border launch for the brand. We want to make it the next big D2C brand in the fashion accessories space.

This unisex laptop messenger bag in coffee and tan colour has a textured pattern and is made of high quality vegan leather. It has 2 compartments and can store your laptop comfortably. Its dimensions are 16 inches x 2.5 inches x 12 inches (LxWxH) and can be wiped clean with a dry cloth to remove dust. It is priced at ₹ 799.00 and is available here.

If you are looking for a high-quality, brightly coloured mini tote bag you will surely like this one. Featuring a rich ethnic floral design on a yellow base this hand bag is made of vegan leather and has 2 pockets and a zipper closure. Its weighs only 400 gm and can be wiped clean using a dry cloth to remove the dust. You can get it for ₹ 599.00 here.

This is an exquisite leatherette embroidered sling back in aqua colour featuring a magnet button closure. Its dimensions are 14 inches x 4.5 inches x 11 inches (LxWxH) and is the perfect handbag for all the stylish women out there. Priced at ₹ 500.00 you can get it here.