Our Story
From burning
to earning.
La Baggio is a woman-owned studio crafting bags from plant-based leather — made from agricultural waste that Indian farmers would otherwise burn. PETA-approved. Made by hand.
— Bhavna & Nikita Belani, Founders
The Beginning
It began with a daughter saying no.
For thirty years, Bhavna Belani made leather bags for the world — manufacturing and exporting fine leather goods to brands across continents from her workshops in India.
Then in 2019, her teenage daughter Sanjana refused to carry one.
"It's beautiful. But it's leather. Animals died for this." — Sanjana Belani, 2019
That single sentence rebuilt the company.
La Baggio was founded that year — a mother-and-daughter studio between Bhavna and her younger daughter Nikita — with one quiet question at its centre: could we make bags as beautiful as fine leather, without the leather?
Most "vegan" alternatives, we discovered, were plastic. PU. PVC. Materials as harmful to the planet as leather is to animals. We didn't want plastic either.
So we went to the farms.
The Founders
Two generations.
One studio.
Bhavna brings three decades of craft — every stitch she made for the world's leather brands, now refined for a new material. Nikita brings the next generation's questions: about animals, about waste, about what fashion owes the planet.
Between them, La Baggio is built. Old hands, new ideas. The same workshop, a different conscience.
Bhavna & Nikita Belani
Founders · La Baggio
From the Field
From burning
to earning.
Every winter, farmers across North India burn millions of tonnes of crop residue — rice stubble and other agricultural waste — because clearing the fields any other way costs more than they can afford.
The smoke is one of the largest contributors to the air pollution crisis in Delhi and across the region.
We work with suppliers who buy that waste from farmers — paying for what would have gone up in smoke. The waste is then transformed into the soft, durable, plant-based leather that every La Baggio bag is made from.
Every bag is one less fire.
Every bag is income for a farmer who would otherwise have lit a
match.
What We Stand For
Three things, done well.
I
Plant-Based
Made from agricultural waste, not animal hide and not virgin plastic. A third path — soft, durable, and honest.
II
PETA-Approved
100% animal-free, certified by PETA. No leather, no animal glue, no animal-derived linings. In full.
III
Made in India
Cut, stitched, and finished by women artisans in our workshop. Thirty years of craft, refined for a new material.
A Quiet Promise
We exist because we believe luxury and conscience
were never meant to be a trade-off.
Bhavna & Nikita
La Baggio · India
Sustainability at La Baggio
Eco-friendly & sustainable
alternative to animal leather.
At La Baggio, sustainability isn't just a buzzword — it's a core value that shapes everything we do. Our commitment to the environment starts with the materials we choose.
Materials
Plant-based, by design.
We proudly use plant-based leathers made from innovative agricultural waste by-products. These materials offer a luxurious, cruelty-free alternative to traditional leather.
They also help reduce agricultural waste — giving new life to what would otherwise be discarded or burnt. By transforming these plant wastes into high-quality, durable fashion pieces, we take a stand against the environmental impact of the fashion industry.
Our Process
As gentle on the planet
as they are beautiful.
Our process minimises resource consumption and lowers carbon emissions, ensuring that our products are as gentle on the planet as they are beautiful. From the field to the finished bag, every step is designed to leave a smaller footprint than conventional leather goods.
Our People
Ethical practices, uplifted lives.
Beyond materials, we focus on ethical production practices. We partner with women, farmers, and artisans — particularly in rural communities — to create opportunities that uplift lives while maintaining a minimal ecological footprint.
Every La Baggio bag carries the work of many hands. We believe a sustainable supply chain begins with the people inside it.
A Quiet Promise
Each piece of La Baggio reflects our dedication to a sustainable future — one where fashion is as responsible as it is stylish.
Awards & Recognition
Recognised for what we build.
Our commitment to excellence and sustainability has been recognised at the highest levels — by government bodies, industry associations, and entrepreneurial platforms across India.
-
2023
Emerging Woman-Owned Business
MSME & Government of India
-
2024
Woman Entrepreneur of the East
Indian Leather Products Association (ILPA)
Honours & Platforms
From Bengal to Dubai.
FICCI awarded La Baggio a gold medal at the Bengal Business Summit — a recognition of our work in sustainable innovation. We were also selected by TIE Kolkata for the TIE Global Pitch in Dubai, a platform that celebrates entrepreneurial excellence on the world stage.
FICCI · Bengal Business Summit
TIE Global Pitch · Dubai
A Different Path
Where many brands still rely on chrome-tanned leathers, La Baggio chose another way — premium materials that are kinder to the planet, and built to last.
