From Banana to Bag: Alma's Quiet-Luxury Answer to Leather

NATIONWIDE - SEPTEMBER 2025 - (USAnews.com) Alma began with a feeling as much as a sketch. Designer Disha Agarwal wanted a bag that looks composed and feels kind, a piece that carries more than objects. The NYC-based label works with a plant-based leather derived from banana crop waste to craft sustainable, vegan handbags. It diverts banana crop waste from open-fire burning, reducing smoke and local air pollution. The brand turns it into quiet, architectural shapes that move with you through the day, drawing inspiration from Zaha Hadid’s fluid, curve-led forms for line and proportion.

“Our pieces should bring a little calm,” says Disha Agarwal. “When a bag holds its shape, sits softly on the shoulder, and keeps life in order, you feel it.” Alma designs sustainable handbags in New York with a calm, architectural profile.

Banofi, the material partner, is PETA certified, REACH certified for Europe, and CAL-PROP certified for the United States, with a 2023 Hult Prize win for its banana-leather innovation. Reported lifecycle results indicate about 95 percent less water use and roughly 90 percent lower carbon emissions than animal leather, along with the removal of toxic-waste outputs.

When luxury meets sustainability, it often feels like a trade-off. But for Alma New York, the juxtaposition of high-end design and environmental responsibility isn’t a compromise, it’s a reinvention. The founder and designer Disha, set out to disrupt the traditional notion of luxury fashion by launching a brand that embraces plant-based materials, small-batch production, and thoughtful design. Alma’s bags represent a new kind of luxury: beautiful, functional, and, most importantly, kind to the planet.

The brand’s breakthrough came from an unexpected place, banana trees. Alma’s signature material, Banofi®, is a premium plant-based leather made from the waste of banana harvests. The upcycled fibers offer a sleek, luxurious texture with a remarkable environmental benefit: Banofi® leather uses 95% less water and 90% fewer emissions than traditional animal leather. This innovation is proof that sustainability doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style, and Alma’s products are the epitome of that belief.

Alma’s commitment to sustainability goes beyond the materials it uses. The brand operates on a small-batch model, ensuring each bag is crafted with care by artisans in India. The bags are produced in limited runs to preserve quality, longevity, and a human connection to the craft. The result is luxury that feels personal, authentic, and intentionally exclusive, something that speaks to modern consumers who are looking for more than just a product; they want a story.

Every release is handcrafted in small batches with highly skilled artisan partners in India. Corners are reinforced at high-wear points, seams are finished clean, and hardware is chosen for reliability. After almost two years of trials and testing, the debut collection is ready for you to carry, style, and enjoy. The guiding value is simple and non-negotiable: no compromise on style, no compromise on design, no compromise on sustainability. The range includes crossbody, shoulder, tote, and more.

The signature arc appears across the debut collection as a quiet marker of intent. It is not a full circle by design, a reminder that progress matters more than perfection. Born in New York, a city of repeating right angles and gridlines, Alma softens that rhythm with gentle curves and fluid edges. The unboxing experience design follows the same thinking, creating an eco-friendly unboxing moment. Packaging is made from cotton rag and banana waste fibers so choices stay consistent from workshop to doorstep.

On October 14, 2025, the label plans to open its first chapter on Kickstarter, offering early access to the debut collection, multiple colorways, and clear updates on fit checks, finish standards, and production milestones as the first batch moves from brand to backers. Explore Alma’s banana leather handbags on Kickstarter starting October 14, 2025.

The debut collection from Alma is a testament to the brand's ability to merge form with function. From the Aurum work-and-travel tote, which features a laptop sleeve and trolley passthrough, to evening-ready silhouettes with intuitive pocketing, each bag is designed to meet the needs of modern life. "We design for wardrobes, not seasons, quiet silhouettes, real pockets, zero compromise," says the designer. Alma’s bags are built for real-life use, offering both practicality and elegance in a single, beautifully crafted accessory.

"Our bags are shaped by hands, guided by heart, and born from nature," Disha reflects, acknowledging the deep connection between the product and the people who create it.

As Alma continues to grow, the brand’s focus on community remains at the forefront. Alma's values-first launch model invites supporters to become part of the journey, with early supporters gaining exclusive access to limited-edition pieces and special pricing through their Kickstarter campaign. By scaling intentionally with a committed community rather than relying on overproduction, Alma is ensuring that its impact is not just measured in sales, but in the quality of life it creates for both its customers and the planet.

To learn more about Alma New York’s mission and shop their collection, visit Alma New York or follow them on Instagram at @alma.newyork.