Gucci debuts vegan version of its iconic Horsebit 1955 bag, and it’s got Billie Eilish’s seal of approval

Gucci has debuted its luxury Horsebit 1955 shoulder bag made using an in-house alternative to animal leather – and Billie Eilish approves…

Gucci has debuted an innovative vegan bag as part of a new campaign featuring vegan pop icon Billie Eilish.

Using animal-free alternative material Demetra, the brand has released a vegan version of its heritage Horsebit 1955 bag.

Priced at more than £2,600, the shoulder bag, which features an archival equestrian emblem, is available in a beige monogram print or plain black.

Gucci has created the bags as part of its ambitious plan to make the fashion industry more sustainable by introducing new eco-friendly bio-based materials.

Gucci’s vegan leather

Gucci first showcased its innovative vegan leather alternative back in 2021 when it debuted its first line of vegan shoes.

Inspired by the Greek goddess of harvest Demeter, the faux-leather material is made from an impressive 77 percent plant-based raw material. Just like animal leather, Gucci’s vegan leather is tanned in the same fashion to make it durable.

Developed in-house over two years, Demetra is made from 100 percent GMO-free wheat, responsibly sourced viscose, corn, and wood pulp. To make sure the material as eco-friendly as possible, Gucci has sourced the wood pulp from sustainably managed forests.

Furthermore, scraps of the vegan leather alternative will not go to waste as they will be processed and repurposed under the Gucci-Up program which aims to create a circular economy.

Although the rest of the materials used in the bags still features some synthetic materials, the fashion giant is seeking ways to reduce the amount using more bio-based inputs as part of its commitment to improving the sustainability of its fashion lines.

Gucci is hoping to patent and trademark its Demetra leather so that it can be licensed for use by other brands owned by its parent company Kering.

Billie Eilish X Gucci

According to Vogue, Eilish – who often uses her platform to advocate veganism – said she was ‘honoured’ to be part of the brand’s ‘evolution in rethinking tradition’.

“It’s a new understanding, and one that isn’t afraid to evolve in a new direction, that truly matters to me,” she added.

Vegan leather bags

Gucci is the latest fashion house to turn its hand to creating stylish and sustainable vegan leather bags, joining the likes of Stella McCartney and Hermés.

Earlier this year, Stella McCartney released its iconic Falabella and Frayme bags in vegan leather alternative Mirum for the first time.

Additionally, Hermès has teamed up with biomaterials tech company MycoWorks to launch a vegan version of its Victoria shopper bag made from Sylvania, a bio-based material made from mushrooms.

Didn’t know Billie Eilish was vegan? Find out who else is in our ultimate guide to vegan celebrities

Photo © Gucci