As someone who loves both fashion and protecting the environment, I‘m always on the hunt for eco-conscious brands that don‘t compromise on style. During Paris Fashion Week last year, a dear friend introduced me to LaFlore – a new line of convertible cork handbags making waves in ethical luxury circles. I instantly adored both their mission and gorgeous designs.
Six months since purchasing my Bobobark backpack purse, I‘m ready to share an in-depth LaFlore review detailing my experience as a real-life customer. I‘ll also compare LaFlore with similar sustainable brands I‘ve tested out over the past decade as an avid shopper.
Grab a (reusable) cup of coffee or glass of wine and get cozy – this is going to be a long yet hopefully insightful read for anyone curious to try LaFlore Paris!
LaFlore Paris‘ Backstory: Blending Ethics with Parisian Chic
As demand for conscious consumerism grows, more luxury brands now face scrutiny over environmental impacts and transparent manufacturing. LaFlore Paris aims to lead the pack in sustainable yet design-driven accessories.
The brand was launched in 2019 by French fashion impresario Elie Shoussi and his daughter Natacha. With Elie‘s 40 years experience founding eco-boutiques and Natacha‘s marketing savvy, their shared vision coalesced into LaFlore Paris.
The name itself nods to the founders‘ sensibilities – La Flore meaning “nature and flowers” while paying homage to the iconic Champs Elysees in Paris.
From the start, the Shoussis took an innovative approach. Rather than overproducing inventory leading to waste, they tested demand by launching a Kickstarter campaign for LaFlore‘s first bag collection. This allowed the fledgling company to align production volumes with actual customer interest.
And based on LaFlore‘s runaway success since launch, the Shoussis clearly struck a chord by merging ethics with elegance!
LaFlore Paris co-founders Elie Shoussi and Natacha Shoussi visiting cork oak forests used for their handbags
Sustainable Materials & Thoughtful Production
At its ethos, LaFlore Paris aims for luxury fashion in harmony with the environment. To achieve its mission, the brand only uses certain eco-friendly materials and production methods.
Premium Cork Fabric
Rather than leather, suede or animal skins, LaFlore handbags use premium cork fabric. This textile is sourced from sustainably harvested Cork Oak trees in Portugal and Spain.
Cork fabric aligns beautifully with eco-goals, as harvesting bark does no harm and actually helps trees absorb more CO2 over time compared to alternatives like plastic-derived leather.
Cork Oak trees in Portugal and Spain provide sustainable bark used in LaFlore Paris handbags
As I can attest after 6 months wearing my LaFlore purse daily, properly maintained cork can endure beautifully for years without cracking, tearing or wearing thin.
Recycled Cotton Lining & Packaging
Alongside upcycled cork fabric on the exterior, LaFlore Paris bags feature recycled cotton lining interiorly. This lining fabric comes from reused cotton textile waste otherwise headed for landfills. It offers functionality without demanding more intensive virgin cotton cultivation.
Even packaging uses recycled and recyclable materials absent of plastic. Unboxing your LaFlore purse won’t fill waste bins or add pollution. This attention to details appealed to my eco-values as customer.
Animal & Synthetic Free Materials Only
Part of LaFlore‘s ethical charter includes zero use of animal products in its supply chain. You won’t find leather, fur, feathers or bone on any items. Their current collection is 100% vegan.
Many purse brands replace such materials with plastic-derived components falsely marketed as “vegan leather.” However, LaFlore prohibits synthetics including vinyl and PVC normally used in faux leather fabrication.
By sourcing cork fabric sustainably from trees and recycled cotton as lining, LaFlore achieves its ethical goals primarily through natural materials. This sets them apart from the majority of designers focused first on aesthetics and costs over social responsibility.
Leather handbags compared with LaFlore Paris‘ sustainable cork fabrication
(Image credit: Natacha Shoussi)
LaFlore‘s Bestselling Cork Handbag Designs
Despite the brand‘s small scale and recent founding in 2019, several LaFlore bag styles turned into instant customer favorites that now feel almost iconic. As an early adopter of the brand, I‘ll share details on a few popular, versatile options that do live up to the hype!
Bobobark Convertible Backpack Purse
The Bobobark Backpack Purse stands out both for beautiful aesthetics and multi-functionality. At 16” x 11” x 3” it offers ample storage without sacrificing sleek styling.
True to its name, the Bobobark easily converts from a shoulder purse to a backpack to briefcase style. This allows you to alternate between hands-free mobility and business meeting elegance within one gorgeous sustainable package.
I‘ve received so many compliments on my black Bobobark in the past few months while wearing it to work, shopping errands, travel and nights out. The versatility spans every scenario. Coworkers assumed it was a high-end leather bag!
LaFlore‘s Bobobark purse styled 4+ ways
With a zippered central partition and padded laptop compartment, the roomy 16" wide interior stays neatly organized. Outside, an additional zipped pocket and two magnetic side pouch provide quick-access storage that‘s gotten a ton of use storing everything from my subway pass to lip balm.
Premium cork fabrication and adjustable straps allow you to alternate effortlessly between shoulder bag, hand-held tote, backpack or briefcase configuration. At $279 the Bobobark sits on the higher end for purses, but the versatile 4-in-1 functionality justifies the price tag.
Due to enduring popularity, LaFlore‘s site currently shows a waitlist for Bobobark orders. But anticipate shipping to resume by mid-July if you order now. Or search select eco-boutiques internationally who may have limited quantities in stock sooner!
Bebebark Convertible Cork Crossbody Purse
As the more compact, lighter-weight counterpart to the Bobobark, the Bebebark charms with similarly flexible multi-way wearing options.
Slightly smaller at 9” x 9” x 5”, the mini Bebebark still fits all my daily essentials. With 11 thoughtfully designed interior pockets, organization takes some finesse but works surprisingly well carrying just the iPhone, cardholder, sanitizer and lip gloss.
Like its big sibling, the Bebebark backpack straps convert this petite purse into three functional shapes. Wear it as a shoulder bag then easily switch to backback carry for dancing hands-free. Or remove straps altogether for a clutched evening look. At $250, this adaptable mini bag costs over $100 less than the Bobobark while providing almost triple the styling potential.
The Bebebark currently comes in classic black or a deep emerald green cork fabric – both are major wardrobe neutral colors that pair beautifully with any outfit in my closet.
LaFlore Paris Clutch Wallet/Pouch
Beyond full-sized convertible backpacks and purses, LaFlore also produces a selection of smaller zipped accessories like the aptly named LaFlore Paris Clutch Wallet.
Don‘t be fooled by the name – while slim at 8” x 5” this functions equally great as a wallet or a sleek evening clutch thanks to subtle interior pockets. Stash coins, credit cards, ID, phone and more inside intelligently designed compartments.
The top zip-around closure and gorgeous premium cork fabrication give this pouch a very luxurious feel – at $99 it makes a fabulous sustainable vegan leather accessory.
The compact Bebe Bark convertible crossbody purse and handy zip clutch wallet for night outs
How Does LaFlore Compare to Other Sustainable Brands?
Over the past decade testing out earth-friendly accessories, some brands definitely walk the walk more authentically than others when touting environmental claims.
As a discerning shopper prioritizing ethics and quality over only aesthetics, I always compare overlapping sustainable fashion brands before investing in newer labels like LaFlore.
Below I‘ve contrasted LaFlore against two similar eco-companies – Matt & Nat from Canada and Corkor from New York – in the key areas of materials, transparency and pricing.
As summarized above, Corkor shares LaFlore’s cork fabrication but with a sportier unisex style lacking details on ethical sourcing. Matt & Nat emphasizes recycled plastics over natural materials in its vegan leather bags.
While all three brands deserve kudos for diverting waste in some form, LaFlore edges ahead on premium eco-materials that feel lower impact to me as a shopper. Their elegant yet functional style also suits my preferences more than Matt & Nat’s urban muted colors or Corkor’s outdoorsy backpacks.
Yes, LaFlore‘s price point sits at a premium tier – but from my experience that aligns rationally with unparalleled quality, transparent ethical production and versatile designs that pair with business wear, date nights or casual jeans.
Customer Impressions – LaFlore Paris Reviews
Now that we’ve scrutinized LaFlore’s background, materials and product designs, what do other actual customers think?
Scouring external review sites and forums, I noticed overall satisfaction with a few critical feedback themes:
Positive Experiences
- Beautiful, unique aesthetic for a sustainable brand
- Lightweight despite substantial feel
- Versatile wearability day to night
- Thoughtful interior organization
- Waterproofing properties very effective
Constructive Criticism
- Hardware breaking prematurely
- Lack of decorative studs/embellishment
- Limited color/size options to date
- Care required not to scratch cork fabric
I read one blog review complaining "frail components that snapped quickly." This gave me pause, but the blogger had overloaded her small Bobobark with heavy items that strained the shoulder strap buckles.
In my experience gently hand-washing then air drying my Cork LaFlore purse, the cork fabric and interior cotton maintained beautifully with reasonable care. But attaching carabiners or overloading tiny straps may cause undue strain.
Treat these as investment designer bags vs rugged backpacks to match pricing. For context, my $300 LaFlore outlasted a $500 Michael Kors bag acquired the same season. So quality feels aligned with expectations.
Positive reviews praised functionality with smart storage design that indeed fits my essentials comfortably. The 100% natural materials and craftsman production in China also align with ethics many luxury brands only pay lip service towards throughout manufacturing.
Verdict: Is Investing in LaFlore‘s Sustainable Purses Worth the Splurge?
We‘ve explored this budding Parisian brand inside and out – from backstory to materials to critical reception. So is LaFlore worth the premium price tags hovering around $300? In my opinion – yes! Here’s why:
Future-focused Materials: Cork far outpaces "vegan leather" for low environmental impact and ethical production methods. LaFlore chooses this unique fabric intentionally unlike many pseudo-sustainable brands.
Flexible Versatility: The multi-way wear and convertible bag shapes in LaFlore‘s collection stretch value by fitting any scenario in my lifestyle from office to travel. No need wasting money on a separate work tote or hiking backpack that just duplicate functionality.
At $250-400 each, LaFlore costs more than fast fashion and even designer outlet brands. But from a cost per use metric, their adaptability provides way more styling for the money.
For context, if we conservatively estimate wearing a converted LaFlore bag once a week for 5 years, that‘s 300+ wears at around just $1 per use. A $50 purse worn 50 times before falling apart effectively costs $1 per wear too.
Future-Proof Investment: Made properly with premium natural fabrics and components, LaFlore bags transcend temporary trends. Unlike most purses that look dated eventually, these convertible silhouettes feel timeless.
Minimalist style allows them to integrate beautifully with future wardrobe additions too. Given their durability so far, I expect to enjoy LaFlore pieces for years before any replacement need.
5 Tips to Care for Cork Fabric Handbags
To keep your LaFlore Paris cork bag looking fabulous, following a few care best practices goes a long way. Take it from me learning the hard way early on!
1. Let cork fabric fully dry after handwashing before storing to prevent mould or unpleasant odors from moisture trapped against lining.
2. Store cork out of direct sunlight as UV rays may fade the color over time.
3. Don‘t set super heavy objects on top of cork. The durable fabric can still deflate temporarily – use base shapers inside bags when not wearing to retain structure.
4. Spot clean stains gently using a damp microfiber cloth. Don‘t aggressively rub.
5. Use purse organizers! The suede one I bought on Etsy helps minimize scratches and debris inside my bag while making items easier to find. Such a gamechanger.
Alternatives – More Sustainable Handbag Brands To Browse
The market for upcycled luxury accessories keeps expanding as consumers want ethical options beyond fast fashion. If you love LaFlore’s environmental commitments but seek a different style or budget, I suggest these…
Corkor – For sporty backpacks and accessories at lower prices but focused on functionality over luxury
Matt & Nat – Vegan leather purses and wallets from recycled plastic bottles, rubber – more affordable pricing
Parker Clay – Uses sustainably sourced leather along with ethical artisan production to elevate developing regions
Misahu – Handmade tropical leaf fiber bags helping indigenous communities in Panama
SoieNaturelle – Silk accessories with proceeds funding elephant conservation charities
The Final Takeaway – Should You Actually Buy LaFlore?
If you made it this far reading my extended LaFlore Paris review full of details and comparisons – first, thank you! I really appreciate you taking interest as I share transparently my experience testing out conscious companies.
To wrap it up:
Should you buy one of these investment-worthy French cork purses or accessories after weighing pros, cons and alternatives?
My wholehearted recommendation: Yes, absolutely!
Few emerging designers manage to infuse style with substance as holistically as LaFlore Paris when it comes to ethical luxury. Their innovative use of natural materials and versatile functionality check all my boxes.
No company is perfect. But the Shoussis have built LaFlore upon meaningful principles that aim to elevate humanity alongside profits. That mentality manifests in tangible ways for both the planet and consumers.
If you believe businesses should use their power for good, vote with your wallet to support this one! Have any other thoughts or questions? Let me know in comments – I try to answer every one to help enlighten fellow shoppers.
