Hemptress

Description: Hemptress is a contemporary fashion handbag and accessory brand, who's bags are primarily made out of hemp. Hemp is the strongest and most sustainable fiber on the planet. Many Hemptress bags have “reborn” recycled leather trim (repurposed from scrap leather) and they are all luxuriously lined with a silk/hemp blend lining, except for the vegan collections which have a lining of hemp and recycled plastic bottles. Our metal zippers are top quality (because a bag is only as sustainable as its zipper) and our inside zippers are made from recycled nylon. Additionally, we use factories that adhere to fair labor practices.

But we don’t stop there. Our labels are made of hemp, our hangtags, business cards, and all collateral are printed on recycled paper with soy ink, and our shipping boxes are made from 100% post consumer waste. We also donate a portion of our profits to a local animal rights group, Heal the Bay, League of Conservation Voters and Vote Hemp.

What is innovative about Hemptress, is that it is fashion-focused AND eco-friendly. We focus heavily on trend analysis, so these fashion-forward bags are doubly sustainable, and will stay stylish for years to come.

Hemptress handbags are designed in Los Angeles by Arlene and Håkan Nilsson. Håkan, originally from Sweden, comes from an advertising and marketing design background. Arlene has been designing handbags since 2001, designing for various handbag companies including BCBG, Zina Eva, Rough Roses, Reveal Bags and others. Ms. Nilsson is no stranger to the fashion industry; Her family in France has been in the fashion industry for decades. She attended the Fashion Institute of Technology, NY, and has lived in Paris, London, Gothenburg, New York, and Los Angeles, picking up on fashion aesthetics along the way.