5 years of vegan fashion & inspiring encounters: what Rive Claire has taught us

Five years ago, we launched Rive Claire with a slightly crazy idea: to prove that you can love fashion without compromise… neither on style nor on values. Since then, our vegan bags and ethical jewelry have traveled, met inspiring women, and built a beautiful and engaged community.

To celebrate, we’re sharing with you what these 5 years have taught us: the behind-the-scenes of our greatest successes, the products that made your hearts beat faster, the inspiring women who support us, the commitments that drive us… and what we’re preparing for tomorrow.

5 things we didn’t know when launching a vegan bag and jewelry brand

1. Making a bag without leather in Italy is a real challenge. Finding trusted workshops where authentic craftsmanship takes priority over large-scale production takes time. We also had to convince these partners to explore innovative materials such as AppleSkin or Viennese straw — far from traditional leather.

2. Vegan clients are extremely well-informed. Demanding, curious, and aware of their impact: they challenge every detail and push us to excellence.

3. The PETA-Approved Vegan certification is a true seal of trust. It reassures those who want 100% cruelty-free, with no animal-derived materials.

4. The reality behind the carbon footprint (and what we do to improve it). Materials, transport, logistics: everything counts. We learned to measure, optimize, and make more responsible choices — even if it meant saying no to certain conveniences.

5. The joys and struggles of purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Being an independent brand is exciting… and sometimes exhausting. But every message of support, every order, every piece of feedback reminds us why we do it.

The 5 cult Rive Claire products since our beginnings

✨ The small black Nomad bag — Our iconic piece, the one that made the brand known. A structured, elegant, and 100% vegan design that embodied our vision from the very first glance.

✨ The Dune tote bag — The very first bag to win over active and demanding women. It quickly became the emblem of a rare balance between elegance, functionality, and commitment.

✨ The Bali tote bag in Viennese straw — The aesthetes’ favorite. Even those who didn’t define themselves as engaged fell for its natural and chic look.

✨ The khaki Margaret earrings — The signature earrings of our first jewelry collection. For those who like to express their style with a bold piece, both retro and daring.

✨ The matte white Ondine earrings — The favorites of brides and wedding guests in search of lightness. Their organic shape and matte white finish appeal to those who love simple, natural elegance for life’s most precious moments.

5 inspiring women who wore or supported the brand

• Louise (@aliaslouiseblog), our committed ambassador, convinced by responsible and stylish fashion

• Ségolène (@segolene.hyppolite), the Parisian traveler who took our bags to every corner of the world

• Joanna (@lyd.dyl.architecture), the talented designer behind our iconic bags

• Sarah (@sarahgerbouin), committed coach and mentor, close to Rive Claire since the beginning and a supporter of ambitious women

• Audrey (@audrey.riveclaire), the passionate founder who embodies the brand every day

5 convictions that will never change

❌ Zero animal materials (no leather, no wool, no silk)

✅ Traceability and transparency in our materials and workshops

🌍 Small-scale production to limit our impact

✨ A sustainable, timeless style, far from throwaway trends

❤️ People at the center: in the team, with our partners, and with our clients

And now? The future of Rive Claire in 5 wishes

• Explore new eco-friendly materials

• Create exclusive capsule collections

• Collaborate with ethical artists and designers

• Strengthen our commitment to animal welfare

• Continue to inspire our community through meaningful content

Thank you for 5 years of style, commitment, and inspiring encounters. And since we don’t like blowing out our candles alone… stay tuned: a surprise will soon slip into your inbox 🎁 . In the meantime, discover all our vegan bags and jewelry at www.rive-claire.com.