Sustainable, Durable and Ethical Made in USA handbags

 

Discover how we design bags that are beautiful, built to last, and better for the planet. At Crystalyn Kae, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s how we design, how we source, and how we care for every bag over its lifetime.

✨ Here’s what makes our bags different:

♻️ Upcycled leather from NYC sample rooms—full hides that never made it into production

🧵 Vintage upholstery fabrics from the 1960s–70s—geometric jacquards, velvet brocades & more

💧 Washable coated canvas—lightweight, water-resistant, and made to patina beautifully

🪡 Built to last—with affordable zipper & strap fixes available for the life of your bag

👩🔧 Woman-owned since 2001—we proudly produce in small batches here in the USA

👜 Each bag is unique—crafted in limited editions using rescued materials

We reduce fashion waste by rescuing premium materials before they hit the cutting table—and transform them into ethically made handbags you’ll carry for years.

Our Sustainability Mission

♻️ Crafted to Last

At Crystalyn Kae, sustainability means more than recycled materials—it’s a promise to create timeless handbags with purpose, responsibility, and care.

Our guiding principle is simple:
Best available, least impactful.

Proudly woman-owned since 2001, we believe sustainability also means supporting ethical, creative livelihoods here in the USA.

Color swatches and fabric samples at crystalyn kae design studio
Where Our Materials Come From

✂️ Before the First Cut

Most people think fashion waste happens after a bag is sewn. But the truth is, some of the worst excess happens long before a product is ever made.

Luxury fashion brands, especially in New York City, are some of the biggest drivers of this hidden waste. Because they charge top-dollar for their finished goods, they can afford to over-order—and mills and tanneries are more than happy to flood them with options in hopes of being selected.

📊 "It is estimated that over 600,000 pounds of fabric are discarded by NYC design houses every year—much of it never even making it to the cutting table." - Fabscrap.org

These aren’t scraps—they’re premium, high-end materials left behind before manufacturing ever began. We see their potential and bring them to life through creative, small-batch craftsmanship.

Vintage and One-of-a-Kind

🧵 Upcycled Fabrics

Driven by the spirit of discovery—Crystalyn is always on the hunt for exceptional vintage fabrics from estate sales, design archives, and flea markets. Many come from discontinued interiors collections or mid-century upholstery sample books from the 1960s and ’70s. Bold prints and retro textures you won’t find anywhere else. Each one was made to last and tells a story no mass-produced brand could replicate.

These are standout materials—velvet brocades, geometric jacquards, and other upholstery fabrics built to last decades, then reimagined into something distinctly new.

Stack of various colored leather hides with tags ostacked on a cart at fabscrap rescued leather
Full Hides from NYC Sample Rooms

♻️ Rescued Leather

We don’t use leather scraps for our bags. We rescue full hides—premium leather set aside in New York design studios before they ever made it to production. In luxury fashion, it's common for brands to order 6–8 hides per color, across dozens of styles, three times a year. Most of it goes unused—abandoned before production even begins.

🐘 It’s estimated that just one designer brand can generate 2,160 unused hides per year—that’s the weight of 25 elephants in high-end leather that never got used.

These hides are the result of an industry that rewards excess—a collateral of consumption, most are never selected.

Overlooked, not unworthy: these exceptional materials were already made with care, resources, and from a living animal. We see their beauty and transform them into small-batch bags that are as practical as they are uncommon.

see how we give leather a second life
Lightweight, Washable, Built to Last

💧 Coated Canvas

Our signature glaze-coated canvas is why so many of our bags are still going strong after a decade or more. Originally developed for luggage and upholstery, this heritage material only gets more beautiful with time—developing a rich, supple patina like well-loved leather, without the upkeep.

With a degree in Textiles and decades of hands-on experience, I’ve worked with nearly every material out there. Coated canvas is the one I trust—and thousands of happy customers do too. It’s proven, durable, and made to thrive through real life.

This isn’t faux leather. It’s better.

Why we love it:

✨ Lighter than leather, just as durable

💦 Water-resistant and machine washable (yes, really!)

💼 Scratch-resistant and strong enough for daily wear, travel, and everything in between

“I tossed my bag in the wash and it came out looking brand new. Total game-changer!”

shop coated canvas bags
machine-wasahble Turquoise and orange tote bag with floral pocket hanging on a washing machine.
Close-up of hands offering bag repair service
Thoughtful Repairs for the Bags You Love

🛠️ Built to Go the Distance

Our bags are made with thoughtful, deliberate craftswomanship. Every curve, stitch, and choice of material is guided by care: for quality, for sustainability, and for the long haul. When your bag has been by your side for years, the last thing we want is for it to end up in the landfill.

Even if you’ve had your bag for ages, we’re still here to offer affordable zipper and strap repairs to keep it going strong. If a repair no longer makes sense, we’ll help you find the next best path forward—like downcycling it in our studio.

“My Foxtrot Hobo is almost a decade old and still my favorite purse. When the zipper finally wore out—let’s just say I’ve been known to over-stuff—I was so relieved I could just send it in for repair!”