As you probably know, we love brands who produces sustainably made goods. We have had the chance to work with some of the best brands from around the world who produces sustainably made goods. We had Wyilda Af Norden with their sustainably made scarves, Laadi Designs with their sustainably made artisan sandals and Corkonto with their amazing cork accessories (unfortunately Corkonto is no longer trading). This time we introduce you Rok Cork, producing the best cork handbags, sustainably.

Who is Rok Cork?

Rok Cork was founded back in 2013 by Elizabeth Roque and is based in Canada. But Rok Cork beginning was not your traditional business. Rok Cork is seen as a lifestyle rather than just a brand, combining high quality old tradition craftmanship, sustainable material and ethics to create stunning statement pieces for both men and women.

So how did it start?

Every year Elizabeth travels back home, in other words Portugal, where she would enjoy the beautiful climate, see family and friends, and feast on the mouth-watering culinary treats. There, Elizabeth was introduced to cork made products and she was amazed of the usefulness and versatility of cork. From there, Elizabeth knew what her next journey would be and Rok Cork was born.

With the help of her dad, now 71 years of age and a shoemaker since the age 12, Rok Cork has gone from strength to strength in North America with many upscale boutiques, retailing these amazing and best cork handbags you could probably feast your eyes on.

However you can argue that there are many cork handbag brands popping up, and you are not wrong. However, what makes Rok Cork distinct and unique is that each handbag and purse has been personally designed by Elizabeth. Each piece is a reflection of Elizabeth’s love for her Portuguese heritage and  her vision of bringing classic shapes to life with playful colors and textures season after season without compromising the quality and functionality.

“Each bag was inspired by someone I met along the way, you will notice that all of my handbags have a name, making our products extra special, and close to the heart. ”

Elizabeth Roque

Rok Cork Values

Rok Cork has two values which they uphold at the highest level and are at the forefront of their brand. One of the value is of becoming a key factor in the sustainability of cork fields in Portugal, where the flora and fauna is diverse. The other mission is to help the declining economy.

Instead of producing the cork handbags and accessories is the masses, Rok Cork runs small family workshops. By doing so, this helps to reduce the waste during production and also the production techniques used by the local artisans, make Rok Cork products beneficial to the environment.

To further establish themselves as a sustainably run brand, Rok Cork reduce their carbon footprint by ethically and locally sourcing the material used while also making sure their vendors engage in production methods that minimize negative impact on the environment. Rok Cork is also PETA approved!

In terms of helping the local community and also economy, Rok Cork uses Portuguese artisans who have been trained and acquire skills which have been passed on from generations. Rok Cork makes sure that each employee is enjoying excellent working conditions, and is paid above fair wage levels.

Rok Cork has not only been helping and supporting the environment and economy in Portugal but they also have made significant contribution if Canada. They have been supporting fellow Canadian institutions such as The Green Fashion Show, Live Green Toronto, Queens University and many more institutes.

How The Cork Handbags Are Made?

There are approximately 3-4 steps in turning the corks into cork handbags. First you have to harvest the cork from the Cork Oak trees. This is done by hand by skilled cork harvesters with a machetes. When harvesting the cork, each tree is marked and will not be harvested again for another 10 years. The Cork Oak trees is the only trees whose bark can be harvested every 10 years for 200 years without dying.

The second step is to soak the cork in boiling water in order to make the cell expand which will make it easier to work with and also pliable. The cork is then shaved down to a thickness as paper and glued to cotton/ polyester or any other material, ready to be moulded into handbags or other accessories. The cork is sometime sealed with coating of sealant, which is non toxic and environmentally friendly, to protect the fabric from dirt.

From there, the local artisans will use the designs from Elizabeth to turn the fabric into cork handbags and other accessories.

The Collection

Rok Cork does have an extensive collection of cork handbags and also other bags for both men and women. So we will show you the collection which we think you are going to like the most.

Julia Hobo Bag | Natural/Brown

The Julia cork leather shoulder bag with crossbody option is the perfect size to carry all of your daily essentials including a laptop or tablet. Great option for a commuter bag to get you to and from the office in style.

Carminda Tote | Black

The Carminda cork tote bag in classic black has a minimalist yet spacious design that is versatile enough to take you from home, to work, to play. Spacious and lightweight, it will fit all your essential including your laptop, notebooks and personal items. Polished grommets add a hint of glamour to the supple cork finishing.

Dorci Color Block Crossbody | Saphire Blue

Designed for the fashionista on the go, the Dorci Mini Cork Crossbody is the ideal size to carry your essentials when you’re out on the town or special event.  With a feminine silhouette, and versatility carry it by its elegant top handle or as a hands-free crossbody.

Ewelina Crossbody Purse | Sapphire Blue

This is just a stunning purse. The Ewelina Crossbody purse is versatile for business or pleasure ,2 in 1 bag , crossbody, top handle hand bag. Sleek, stylish and practical with generous interior space.

Jessica Luxe Backpack | Tri colour Black/Grey

Luxuriously designed, our signature Jessica cork and leather backpack holds all of your essentials and has the ultimate versatility. The unique 3 in 1 design converts this backpack to a handbag or shoulder bag.

Suzy Q Backpack | Black

Small but mighty, Suzy Q is a cute mini cork backpack that will be your favourite go to cork backpack. With versatility at its best and modern design, it can convert to a shoulder bag, crossbody, and even a handbag.

Carolyna Purse | Black/Natural

Designed to go anywhere, the Carolyna is a timeless purse that you will use year-round. The classic silhouette provides a choice to switch between the elegant top handles for use as an evening bag and a removable and adjustable shoulder strap for lunch with the girls. A light weight handbag, the Carolyna is a deceivingly spacious and fits a tablet along with all your personal items.

So that was Rok Cork collection and our post on Rok Cork. If you would like to find out the prices and also to see different colours of the cork handbags collection, do visit https://rokcork.com/ to find out more!

Unfortunately we do have a discount code to share with you at the moment, but Rok Cork is having a sale right now and the prices have been slashed. So do visit their sale to get our own Rok Cork now!

Use NEWLABELS10% for 10% any Rok Cork products. Not applicable on sales items.

Before we leave, we would love to know which is your favourite cork handbag from Rok Cork Collection? Do let us know in the comment below!

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