PUT A CORK IN IT - New Vegan Bags from Pelcor

The players in the world of ethical wear have really raking in points on the feisty scale as of late. Gone are the days of shapeless hemp pants and baggy 'I Heart Animals' t-shirts -- well, those still persist, but are no longer the only cruelty-free contenders in town. Vegan fashion is now casting a much larger net and reeling in cutting-edge couture, worthy of sharing the walkway with mainstream wear. Stylish and no-animals-harmed is a tricky line to walk, but several emerging masters are proving it can be done.

Enter Sandra Correia and her brand Pelcor. Pelcor is a sustainable fashion label that masters in all things cork. Sandra herself comes from a legit cork dynasty. Her grandfather began by producing shoe heels and fishing rod handles fashioned out of cork and, years down the road, her father shifted to Champagne corks. Sandra stepped up the cork game by steering the family business toward fashion accessories. Though she's been blazing an eco-friendly trail for the last 11 years, her latest endeavor has been dazzling my vegan-handbag-loving eye. Pelcor's Fall/Winter 2014 line is delightfully punctuated with an assortment of wintry and sorbet colored plaid vegan bags, ranging from clutches to totes. 

Enough of the foreplay -- let's get to the goods. Feast your eyes on these crescent-shaped beauties: 

Plaid Half-Moon Pouch

 

Plaid Half-Moon Tote

Sandra sat down with Dirty Rotten Vegan for the inside scoop -- ok, so we emailed:

What inspired the design for this vegan line?

Few brands are designing pieces that are both stylish and cruelty-free. No one should have to sacrifice one for the other! The line was inspired by timeless patterns such as plaid and stripes, with a modern, fashion-forward twist using our unique materials. 

Sandra Correia

Favorite (vegan) designers?

Stella McCartney

Tell us about yourself. Name three things that most people don't know about you. 
- I am spiritual soul, linked to energy and helping others to open their conscience for who they are. 
- I am a Reiki Master, Aura Reader and now I am learning about Karuna Reiki.
- I’m a fan of the singer P!nk and love her music!

   

Favorite comfort food?

Organic Chocolate

Cat person or a dog person?   

Dog, definitely! I have a wonderful dog named Corky.

Can we get a hint or sneak peak of what's in store for Pelcor's vegan line?

Our Fall/Winter 2015 collection will feature a line of woven bags pairing woven cork skin with vegan faux leather. Following the success of Fall/Winter 2014’s woven natural cork handbags, we’ve refreshed the look with two new colors: Natural Cork combined with Deep Blue, and a mixture of Cork, Sunset and Peony.

There it is, folks. Go out, be merry, do a little holiday shopping and get a snazzy cork bag for the special lady in your life -- and if that special lady happens to be you...girl, treat yourself. 

xo DRV