HomeLifestyleThe Fall Leather (& Vegan) Bags You’ll Reach for Again and Again

The Fall Leather (& Vegan) Bags You’ll Reach for Again and Again



There’s so much to love about autumn: the crisp air brushing against our skin, the kaleidoscope of crunchy leaves under our boots, and the scent of pumpkin and spiced candles drifting through homes, cafés, and bookshops. It’s the season of cozy dinners, pumpkin patch adventures, spooky nights with friends and family — and, of course, timeless fall outfits.

And nothing complements the warmth of turtlenecks, blazers, and cardigans quite like a leather handbag. This season, some of our favorite brands have released stunning collections of satchels, totes, mini bags, crossbodies, and weekenders in rich browns, deep reds, forest greens, and burnt oranges.

Whether you love the polished feel of genuine leather built to last, prefer reimagined pieces crafted from recycled materials, or choose vegan alternatives to lighten your carbon footprint, we’ve curated our favorite fall handbags from Latine-owned and Latin American-operated brands that embody craftsmanship, culture, and style.

All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.

Taiwanese-Argentine designer Melissa Song launched Melie Bianco in 2003 with the goal of creating handbags for those who “want quality fashion without paying the expensive price tag” and care deeply about how their products are made. The PETA Award-winning brand crafts handbags from premium vegan leather materials like polyurethane, which not only look and feel like genuine leather but are also cruelty-free, eco-conscious, and designed to minimize environmental impact.

Right now, I’m loving the Rue Burgundy Recycled Vegan Top Handle Bag. This structured bag features a deep burgundy recycled vegan leather exterior, a sturdy top handle, and a detachable crossbody strap for versatility. Meanwhile, gold-tone hardware, a zip-top closure, and a roomy interior make it as functional as it is gorgeous. Its warm, rich color and classic silhouette make it the perfect accessory to complement fall’s warm layers and seasonal tones.

Melie Bianco Melie Bianco’s Rue Burgundy Recycled Vegan Bag, $, available at Melie Bianco

The biggest fashion trends often start in Black and Latine communities, so it’s no surprise that CIRIACO, the asymmetrical it-bag of the moment, was born in the Bronx, New York, from Black Dominican-American designer Ashley Ciriaco. Handcrafted in premium vegan and genuine leathers and sustainable materials, the self-taught designer resists the fast-fashion cycle, creating bold, statement handbags that are ethically made and built to last.

Currently, I can’t get enough of the Woven Ashley Minimalist Baguette. Its rich brown woven leather, sculptural crescent silhouette, and structured top handle make it a perfect companion for fall. Whether tucked under your arm at a coffee shop or draped over a blazer for evening outings, it’s a statement piece that will add warmth and sophistication to any autumn outfit.

Ciriaco Ciriaco’s Woven Ashley Minimalist Baguette, $, available at Ciriaco

After quitting her corporate fashion career in 2020, Puerto Rican-born designer Mónica Santos Gil founded Santos by Mónica, a New York City-based brand celebrated for sustainable apparel and handbags crafted from cactus leather. Collaborating with Desserto, a Mexico-based supplier of plant-based materials, each piece is handmade to order in the U.S.

Sustainable and timeless, the Agave Triangular Tote in Green is perfect for the cooler months. Its triangular silhouette and structured body make it both visually striking and practical, while the rich forest-green cactus leather adds a warm, autumnal touch. The spacious interior, secure top handle, and minimalist aesthetic make it ideal for layering with cozy fall outfits, like oversized sweaters and tailored blazers.

Santos by Monica Santos by Mónica’s Agave Triangular Tote in Green, $, available at Santos by Monica

Everything about Única Leathers is inspired by founder and designer Nicole’s upbringing in Jalisco, Mexico. “From the natural textures to the way of life, that sense of beauty and authenticity shaped how I create,” she says. From the beginning, Nicole’s goal was to create a brand that was 100% Mexican — and she has. From suppliers to leather craftsmen to metal workers, every one of her small-batch collections is made entirely in her home country. For her, this ensures that “every collection and every bag is truly única.”

If you’re looking for a new staple for your closet, I’m currently obsessed (no, literally) with the Carolina Bag in Merlot. This bold, ‘90s-inspired shoulder bag combines style and functionality. Despite its compact size, it offers ample space for all your essentials. Crafted from high-quality full-grain cowhide leather and featuring 24k gold-dipped hardware, the Carolina Bag stands out while complementing any outfit. Its rich Merlot hue adds a polished touch, making it perfect for year-round wear, especially during the autumn months when deep, warm tones are in vogue.

Única Leathers Única Leathers’ Carolina Bag in Merlot, $, available at Única Leathers

Cuyana, a San Francisco-based fashion brand, gets its name from a Quechua word meaning “to love,” honoring co-founder and CEO Karla Gallardo’s Ecuadorian roots while signaling to buyers how much they’ll cherish wearing its pieces.

While Cuyana creates stunning clothing and jewelry, it is best known for its timeless leather bags. This fall, the brand launched the Forma Satchel, a gorgeous and functional bag crafted in Turkey from Italian pebbled leather with a soft microsuede lining. Designed to carry your essentials with ease, its spacious interior fits laptops, water bottles, phones, and even a change of shoes, making it ideal for day-to-night wear or travel as your personal item. The rich autumnal tones and sophisticated silhouette of its Cherry bag make it a perfect companion for fall adventures, effortlessly elevating work and out-of-office outfits.

Cuyana Cuyana’s Forma Satchel in Cherry, $, available at Cuyana

In Colombia, fashion journalist-turned-designer Daniela Cote makes handbags that are inspired by and crafted from nature. Driven by a deep concern for the environmental impact of the fashion industry, her brand Matergea utilizes plant-based and bio-based materials such as cactus leather, fique fiber blended with coffee waste, and fabrics made from hemp, organic cotton, recycled cotton, and PET bottles. Meanwhile, its accessories feature handles crafted from tagua (vegetable ivory), bamboo, jute, and wicker.

This autumn, I’ve got my eye on the Senda Purse Coffee Grains Waste Handle. This elegant piece is crafted from a unique blend of fique fiber and coffee grain waste, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional leather. The purse features a distinctive handle made from repurposed coffee grains, adding a touch of eco-conscious luxury. Its rich, earthy tones make it a perfect accessory for the fall season, complementing cozy sweaters and warm hues. The compact design can carry all your essentials while definitely making statement.

Matergea Matergea’s Senda Purse, $, available at Matergea

Esthera is a Brazilian handbag brand founded in 2024 by sisters Stephanie and Nicole Chehaibar. Drawing inspiration from their family’s passion for fashion, they established Esthera with a vision to create handbags that transcend the ordinary. Like the brand’s name, derived from “estrela” — Portuguese for “star” — the designers want users to feel exceptional while wearing their pieces.

Esthera’s debut collection, AM | PM, captures the essence of daily life and is made to transition from day to night seamlessly. Each bag is named after specific times of the day. My fave is the 4PM Mini Handbag in Caramel. This structured leather bag boasts an architectural design with a cubic silhouette and precise proportions. It features organic cutouts inspired by the hourglass, Esthera’s signature symbol. Crafted from premium leather, it’s finished with tubular handles that adapt comfortably to the wearer, allowing it to be carried by hand or worn over the shoulder. Meanwhile, the rich caramel hue adds a warm, autumnal touch.

Esthera Esthera’s 4PM Mini Handbag Caramel, $, available at Esthera

SENTIENT was founded in Mexico City by Jimena Suárez Ibarrola, a Mexican environmental lawyer turned ethical fashion entrepreneur, with a vision to reshape what it means to wear luxury. The name Sentient underscores a core belief that all beings — human or animal — can feel, and that beauty in fashion shouldn’t require cruelty of any kind. 

All its pieces are handmade by skilled artisans in Mexico, using “next-generation” vegan materials like cactus leather, bamboo leather, apple leather, and other plant-based alternatives. The materials are chosen to reduce water usage, pesticide impact, and carbon emissions compared to conventional leather. 

My favorite fall look from SENTIENT’s timeless collection is the Panthera Tote in Olive Green. This structured tote is crafted from cactus leather, giving it a firm silhouette that holds its shape beautifully. The olive green tone feels warm yet versatile, making it ideal for autumn’s camel trenches, cream knits, and rich terracotta tones. The bag features dual shoulder straps and clean lines, offering both elegance and everyday functionality while elevating your seasonal look.

Sentient Sentient’s Panthera Tote in Olive Green, $, available at Sentient

Founded by queer Mexican designer Alejandro Miramontes, Sangre de Mar is a handbag and travel accessories brand that embodies the vibrant spirit of Mexico’s Pacific coastlines. Growing up in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, Miramontes joined his mother as a runner, helper, and salesperson for her leather goods business, selling leather jackets, belts, bags, and more. “Those experiences not only shaped my creative spirit, they gave me an unshakable respect for creativity, resilience, and the power of building something from nothing.”

After working in the corporate fashion industry in Mexico, he moved to Vancouver, Canada, driven to design leather pieces inspired by both his mom’s resilience and Mexico’s coastal beauty. That’s when Sangre de Mar was born. Crafted from recycled and plant-based leathers, each piece is designed to last and created with respect for the land, the people, and the ocean that inspired it.

This fall, Sangre de Mar is adding a new color to its Riviera Weekender: a deep, warm orange reminiscent of fallen leaves and seasonal pumpkins. Its spacious interior and sturdy design make it the perfect companion for weekend getaways or short trips, bringing a pop of autumnal color to any travel outfit.

Sangre de Mar Sangre de Mar’s Riviera Weekender, $, available at Sangre de Mar

Vita Isola is a Latina-owned, family-run luxury handbag and accessories brand. Handcrafted in Spain with roots in Puerto Rico and Mexico, the brand is led by a mother-daughter duo and two sisters. Their mission is to empower women — those who craft their handbags, those who wear them, and those who benefit from the brand’s charitable efforts. Each of their small-batch, no-waste, full-grain leather purses is crafted by women in artisan shops in Spain or Mexico. Additionally, a portion of sales supports the Puerto Rican community, with donations to PRxPR to alleviate food insecurity among elderly residents and to CAP, an organization helping children with cancer in Puerto Rico access treatment.

This fall, I’ve been wearing the Alondra in Camel, a versatile round crossbody bag that seamlessly marries chic design with everyday utility. Crafted from premium full-grain leather, it features a built-in pocket to securely hold valuable items and a removable strap for crossbody wear. Whether you’re navigating city streets or enjoying a cozy weekend getaway, the rich camel hue complements autumnal tones.

Vita Isola Vita Isola’s Alondra Leather Round Crossbody in Camel, $, available at Vita Isola

In Mexico City, designer Doris Izquierdo founded Doizpe in 2014. Known for its timeless, genderless designs and commitment to environmental responsibility and ethical production, Doizpe produces small batches exclusively using cactus leather, responsible vegan leather, and Napa leather. The brand’s dedication to sustainable practices and high-quality craftsmanship earned it “The Best Green Handbag” at the Independent Handbag Designer Awards in New York. More recently, Doizpe made its way to New York for a pop-up inside Nordstrom, showcasing its standout pieces to a wider audience.

Among the gorgeous handbags featured was my favorite: the Freedom in Bordeaux. This crossbody bag combines sophisticated style with thoughtful, sustainable design. Crafted from rich Napa leather, its deep Bordeaux hue is perfect for autumn, complementing cozy seasonal layers. The bag features a woven, dyed palm leaf appliqué on the front flap, made in collaboration with Taller Maya to support Indigenous artisans in Mexico. Inside, a purple eco-synthetic leather liner adds a pop of color and durability.

DOIZPE DOIZPE’s Freedom Bag in Bordeaux, $, available at DOIZPE

Luar is a New York-based fashion brand founded in 2011 by Dominican-American designer Raul Lopez. His designs have turned heads across the industry, earning him the CFDA Accessory Designer of the Year award in 2022 and a coveted spot on TIME magazine’s “100 Next.” Rooted in heritage, Luar is known for its bold avant-garde design, like mixing classic elegance with playful proportions and stand-out hardware. 

My favorite, the Classic Small Ana, is crafted in shiny leather and is accented with a signature circular top handle and a detachable crossbody strap, so you can wear it multiple ways. It’s small enough for essentials like your phone, wallet, and lipstick, yet expressive enough to elevate any outfit. As autumn settles in, the Ana in espresso-brown tones is perfect for pairing with warm neutrals, like camel coats, soft ivory sweaters, and chestnut leather boots.

Luar Luar’s Espresso Classic Small Ana Bag, $, available at Luar

Latico Leathers is a family-run brand that has been crafting heirloom-quality leather handbags, wallets, and accessories since 1980. Handmade by artisans throughout South America, the brand is known for its timeless and versatile designs that blend classic silhouettes with subtle modern touches, like crossbody totes, satchels, and foldover clutches. Each bag celebrates the natural texture and rich tones of the leather, which is responsibly sourced as a byproduct of the meat and dairy industry, materials that would otherwise go to waste. 

One standout for fall is the James Leather Crossbody in Black. Its compact silhouette is perfect for layering over chunky sweaters or under tailored coats, while the full-grain leather develops a subtle patina over time, adding warmth and character to your seasonal outfits.

Latico Leathers Latico Leathers’ James Leather Crossbody Bag, $, available at Latico Leathers

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