German Luxury Brand Launches New Futuristic Vegan Handbag

Edited by The VEGPRENEUR Team

MELINA BUCHER, the award-winning German luxury label known for its material-forward design, unveils its latest design innovation: a sculptural handbag crafted from ELEVATE®, a next-generation material innovation by bio-tech company UNCAGED.

Available in two exclusive holographic finishes—grey and black—the piece marks the worldwide debut of ELEVATE® i and will be available for pre-order beginning May 4, 2025.

The NUBIAN handbag, designed and handcrafted in Germany in MELINA BUCHER’s atelier, embodies a new generation of luxury: consciously made and radically forward- thinking. It explores movement and transformation through a design that shifts with every angle. Inspired by futuristic architecture and the contours of aerospace design, the silhouette is ever-changing. The ultra-reflective holographic surface, developed exclusively for this release, amplifies the bag’s dimensionality and movement.

ELEVATE®, engineered by UNCAGED from grain proteins and natural materials, is a 100% biobased, recyclable material free from fossil-fuel plastics. Combining structural performance with a refined aesthetic, it is USDA-certified organic, PETA-approved vegan, and designed for a circular future. Its composition includes 95% biobased content, 4% natural minerals, and 1% bio-based PU coating.

“This collaboration unites two visions—ours in luxury design and UNCAGED’s in material science—to explore what the future of accessories can be” says Melina Bucher, founder and creative director. “ELEVATE® allows us to push the boundaries of materiality without compromising our values.”

The limited-edition handbag launches on May 4, symbolically chosen as a nod to the forward-facing spirit of both brands. It will be available for pre-order exclusively via www.melinabucher.com in a small series, reflecting the slow production principles of the MELINA BUCHER atelier.