I happened to find myself in completely new circumstances many times in the past. I’ve been moving around a lot and easily stepping out of my comfort zone. (...) You can’t change the reality, you can change your attitude though and remain flexible to whatever life throws your way. And while there’s no guarantee that reinventing yourself will lead to more happiness, better health or more satisfaction with life, it will at least give you a learning experience.

Hand craftsmanship with integrity is one of NOWIŃSKA HANDBAGS core values, along with being a brand that is created by woman for women and is socially responsible.

LOCAL PRODUCTION AND HIGH QUALITY

All leather handbags are handcrafted by local purse makers in a small-scale, family owned workshop in Warsaw. Backed by years of experience, our bags and accessories are distinguished by master craftsmanship and quality. We maintain the leather-making traditions and use only the highest-quality Italian leather for production, finessing the smallest details in a thoughtful and sustainable way.

SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS

We use raw materials that meet the highest sustainability and sourcing standards. Cow leather used in the production of our bags comes from renowned Italian tanneries and is a by-product of the food industry. We source leather stocks from the surpluses of other brands and fashion houses. By using excess recycled materials, we reduce the environmental impact of overproduction as well as the harmful effects of chemical tanning processes and water consumption.

We’re expanding the range of our accessories with other sustainable materials, such as hand-woven bags made of sun-dried Indonesian palm leaves. Thanks to this collaboration, we can support local artisans from Bali who deserve fair compensation for their outstanding work.

We’re also preparing a collection of accessories made from vegan "leather", in other words, plant-based bio-materials, as well as innovative and sustainable materials coming from the circular economy.

We do not use polyester in our linings and packaging, we replace it instead with linen and cotton canvases.

In 2018, we phased out our best-selling bags made of merino leather imported from New Zealand because we were unable to check the supply chain and verify that they were “mulesing-free” (a horrible procedure involving sheep). 

 RESISTANCE TO GREENWASHING

We have a built in internal radar for using ecology and environmental protection covers when it comes to marketing and sales. We are sensitive to greenwashing, because we take seriously our environmental responsibilities.  We’re constantly educating ourselves and looking for optimal solutions. Sustainably sourced natural leather is the most durable and environmentally friendly material. Some high-emission vegan materials, confusingly called eco-leather, are an ecological disaster. An alternative is "hides" of plant origin, where the biomass exceeds 70%. For more more information, visit our blog. We’re a highly environmentally conscious brand and we are aware that we can do even more and better. We stand by this philosophy. 

I want to create in a new way, design handbags that women would treasure but that would also empower them.  - Maria Nowińska

NOWIŃSKA HANDBAGS are made by a woman for women. Our mission is to support women, giving them confidence and the courage to live authentically, in alignment with themselves.

We want girls to grow up to be brave women, to believe that they can accomplish anything and that there are no barriers or glass ceilings to the heights they can climb. We want females to be inspired by other women and to have role models and supportive environments to grow and flourish.

This is why we are actively involved in social campaigns supporting women and female founders. In March 2021 we donated 100% of the profit from the sale of lightning key rings to the National Women's Strike. 

Join our journey of creativity, championing women and giving back. Together we can and will make a difference.