Most bags begin in a chemical plant.
Ours begin in a field.
Between those two sentences lies a completely different idea of what fashion can be — and what it should cost. Not in price, but in impact.
In this article, we show you how a Plant Inside bag is actually made. Not as a marketing story, but step by step — from raw material to the package on your doorstep.
How is a plant-based bag made? 6 steps
- Choosing the plant-based material (Viridis®, Vegea® or Washpapa®)
- Selecting colour and surface finish
- Design and pattern — 2 to 3 months of development
- Prototypes and real-life testing — before every production run
- Handstitching in a dedicated workshop in Poland
- Plastic-free packaging and shipping
Step 1: The Material — From Plants, Not Petroleum
Before any bag exists, everything begins with one question: what should it be made from?
At Plant Inside, there's only one answer: materials with no animal ingredients, no PVC, and no petroleum as the main component.
We work with three materials:
Viridis® — plant-based leather made from European corn and wheat, produced in Italy. Up to 69% of its structure comes from renewable raw materials. Viridis® is water-resistant, durable and available in different surface finishes — matt or nubuck. It's the main material for our Laptop Bags, Crossbody Bags and Shopper Bags. More in our article What Is Viridis®? The Plant-Based Leather from Europe.
Vegea® — leather made from wine production waste, developed in Milan. A byproduct of the wine industry becomes the basis for a high-quality material — no animal hide, no plastic. We use it for our Shopper Bag in Black Matt.
Washpapa® — washable kraft paper from Germany. Surprisingly robust, water-resistant and lightweight — ideal for our Lunch Bags and Laptop Sleeves. More in our article What Is Washpapa®? The Plant-Based Paper Textile from Germany.
All three materials are ordered for specific production runs only — no stockpiling, no overproduction.
🌱 Did you know? Over 60% of all textile fibres used globally come from petroleum — mainly polyester, nylon and acrylic. Every time these materials are washed, microplastic particles enter the wastewater system. Plant-based alternatives like Viridis® address this directly — with renewable raw materials instead of fossil fuels. (Source: European Environment Agency, 2021)
Step 2: Colour and Surface Finish
We don't choose colours by season.
We look for tones that look just as good in three years as they do today — and that work with as many outfits as possible. No trend orange, no seasonal green. Instead: Black Matt, Dark Brown Nubuck, Camel Nubuck, Navy Blue.
The surface finish isn't a minor detail either:
- Matt — smooth, structured, timeless. Develops a subtle patina over time, particularly in Dark Brown Matt.
- Nubuck — velvety, soft, with a distinctive texture. Care recommended for lighter shades like Camel Nubuck.
Both finishes come from the same base material — but they feel and wear differently. Which one fits better depends on your own style.
Step 3: Design and Pattern
From the first sketch to a finished pattern, the process typically takes 2 to 3 months.
We don't work with a fixed internal design team. Instead, we collaborate with a network of experienced practitioners — people who understand how a bag needs to function in real everyday life. Our product designer Kinga designed both the Shopper Bag and the Baguette Bag — and carries the Baguette Bag herself every day.
During this phase, we make decisions about:
- Number and layout of compartments
- Zipper quality and type
- Strap position and length
- The lining — always 100% certified organic cotton with the Plant Inside logo
Every detail is tested for function, not just appearance. A bag that looks beautiful but feels awkward to carry is not a finished product for us.
Step 4: Prototypes and Real-Life Testing
Before any model goes into production, we make 2 to 4 prototypes — and test them ourselves in everyday life. For weeks, sometimes months.
This isn't a quality assurance checklist. It's real use: trade fairs, commuting, grocery runs, rain.
Our Camel Nubuck Laptop Bag has been used daily for over 4 years — no cracking, no discolouration, no structural issues. The same goes for our early Crossbody prototypes, worn for months by friends of the brand before we committed to the final version.
We bring these bags to trade fairs — and the reaction is always the same:
"That's really 4 years old? You can't tell."
How plant-based leather actually holds up after years of intensive use is covered in detail in our article How Durable Is Vegan Leather? Real-Life Tests After 2–4 Years.
Step 5: Handmade Production in Poland
After successful testing, every model is produced in a dedicated partner workshop in Poland. Not across multiple factories, not with rotating suppliers — always the same people, always the same hands.
There's a reason for that: quality comes from repetition and trust, not from scaling up.
Our workshops:
Anna in Malbork is a master craftswoman with over 20 years of experience. Every prototype is developed with her, and every new model begins its life in her workshop.
Iwona in Elbląg stitches our Laptop Bags, Lunch Bags and MacBook Cases.
Seweryn in Nowy Sącz produces further models from our range.
Each workshop has its own story, its own way of working — and its own standards. What connects them: the conviction that every bag should be sewn as if it were made for someone in your own family.
Find out more about the people behind our bags in our article Inside Craft – The People Behind Your Vegan Bag. And why we deliberately produce in Europe is explained in Handmade Bags Made in Europe: Why We Produce in Poland.
Step 6: Plastic-Free Packaging
The finished bag leaves the workshop — and makes its way to you. This last step is also a decision.
We use:
- Recycled cardboard boxes with paper tape
- Stone paper as wrapping material — made from construction waste, not wood pulp
- Organic cotton drawstring bags for Laptop Bags, Crossbody Bags and Shopper Bags
- Skropak as padding — a starch-based filler that dissolves in water
No plastic. No exceptions.
FAQ
Why does developing a new bag take 2 to 3 months?
Because we don't work from standard catalogue templates. Every model is developed from scratch — with real usage testing, multiple prototype rounds and careful attention to detail. It can be done faster, but not better.
Are all bags made in the same workshop?
No — each model has a dedicated workshop that produces it. This ensures consistent quality and a close working relationship between us and the people doing the stitching. A model doesn't move between different production sites.
What makes plant-based leather better than conventional faux leather?
Conventional faux leather is usually made largely from PVC or other petroleum-based plastics. Plant-based materials like Viridis® replace those components with renewable raw materials — no animal ingredients, no PVC, independently certified properties.
Can I find out where my bag was made?
Yes. Our Transparency page gives you information about our materials, workshops and production processes. We show what others prefer to keep hidden.
How long does a Plant Inside bag last?
Our own experience: with daily use and normal care, at least 4 to 5 years without visible quality loss. Our Camel Nubuck Laptop Bag is still in excellent condition after more than 4 years of intensive daily use.
What is Skropak?
Skropak is a biodegradable padding material made from starch — an alternative to polystyrene or bubble wrap. It dissolves in warm water and is fully compostable. We use it because it protects without leaving waste behind.
In the End: Not a Bag. A Process.
Every Plant Inside bag is the result of decisions — about materials, people, methods and standards.
Not all of them are visible. Most of them you only feel after months or years of daily use.
That's not a coincidence. That's the point.
Explore all models in our vegan bag collection — and find the one that fits your everyday life.
Updated: June 2026