This startup's vegan leather bags could fool anyone into thinking they're real - and they're all under $200

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Matt & Nat Facebook

• Matt & Nat is a popular vegan label that makes luxe-looking bags for under $200.
• The linings are made of recycled plastic bottles, with each bag recycling ~21 bottles.
• We tested three bags: The Laverne, Mitsuko LG, and Sheenan to see how they performed in person.
• You can find Matt & Nat at Nordstrom, Zappos, Amazon, Urban Outfitters, and their home site.

If you're a conscientious shopper - or someone who appreciates on-trend bags for under $200 - you probably know the name Matt & Nat.

The Canadian company produces everything from tiny dog accessories to surprisingly luxe-looking bags without using animal products.

Though the label is technically vegan, it's also increasingly a mainstay for shoppers who may not initially be able to tell the difference. Despite their looks, these bags are accessibly priced and easy to find (they're available at Zappos, Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters, Amazon and on their home site).

The collection runs the gamut from clutches to backpacks to weekenders, but most cost between $100 - $175. The ruling design theme finds a sweet spot of rich minimalist color palettes and clean, structured silhouettes that appear distinctly "en vogue" from a distance.

As an added incentive for the conscientious customer, the company uses recycled water bottles for their bag's linings, recycling approximately 21 bottles per bag since implementing the practice in 2007. Recently, the label also started using recycled bicycle tires as new material.

Matt & Nat

The Laverne bag, $160.

However, it's worth mentioning that shopping for vegan bags can be a complicated matter if its ethics are your motivators. Some companies (Matt & Nat included) source comparatively eco-friendly materials like nylon, cork, and rubber, but popular synthetic vegan leathers aren't good for the environment, and some, like PVC, have a pretty significant impact. If you feel drawn to both eco-friendly causes and animal rights (and don't conveniently fall in love with something made out of cork), it comes down to which values you feel most strongly about prioritizing - or which you feel most confident you can sufficiently supplement in other areas of your life.

In an effort to buck this caveat of vegan bags, Matt & Nat says they have been experimenting with different recycled materials (such as the aforementioned recycled nylons, cardboard, rubber, and cork) to produce a more sustainable collection, as well as a cruelty-free one.

Independent from its veganism, though, the company's on-trend, inventive, and intuitively minimalist designs are perhaps incentive enough - especially with a product line that somehow doesn't top $200.

Since buying vegan bags online can be hit or miss, we took a look at a few Matt & Nat bags in person. If you want to know a bit more before deciding if it's worth getting one for yourself, check out our individual experiences below.

We tested the Matt & Nat bags in person. Here's what we thought:

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