This Meghan Markle-Approved Sustainable Shoe Brand Just Launched Handbags

In 2018, when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry visited Australia on a royal tour, comfort and sustainability seemed top of mind when it came to Markle’s wardrobe. Case in point: the sleek Rothy’s flats she wore on more than one occasion during the trip.

Based out of San Francisco, the brand’s flats are made out of recycled plastic. According to Business Insider, the “upper knits of the shoes are made from 100% post-consumer plastic water bottles, which are hot washed, sterilized, then fused into a fibre that is then knit into yarn.” With the launch of its first style in 2016, the brand quickly made a name for itself in the sustainable footwear space. Aside from the pointy-toe flats favoured by Markle, they produce a wide range of other styles including loafers, Mary Janes and slip-on sneakers. And now, the brand has announced the launch of handbags.

Sustainably knit from 100% recycled materials, including ocean-bound marine plastic, the line of bags is entirely machine washable. The range offers five different styles—a tote, cross-body bag, sleek clutch, top-handle bag and zip-up catchall—in a largely neutral colour palette (think navy, grey and olive) aside from pops of neon and orange. Each handbag style comes in various colourways, with solid, striped or camo options.

“This expansion into handbags is a natural progression of our strategy to make sustainable products with environmentally-responsible manufacturing,” brand founder Roth Martin told CNN. “We have essentially designed our machines and our entire manufacturing process around using post-consumer waste.” As CNN notes, each bag is knit to shape in an effort to reduce waste. “This is unlike traditional traditional handbag manufacturing that involves taking a pattern and cutting out the panels out of one sheet of fabric and then assembling it.”

Rothy’s bags and shoes are available for purchase on their website, which ships internationally.