Freja review: We put the Instagram-famous vegan leather brand to the test

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

If your Instagram feed is anything like mine, then you've seen these bags from Freja everywhere. They hit on all the current trends with staying power — their work totes are described everywhere as the epitome of the oft-overused "quiet luxury" aesthetic. And their handbags borrow from the silhouettes of the '90s with their elongated shapes and baguette-like clean lines. 

But it's easy to be dubious about vegan leather. After all, remember when we called it pleather? Just because the rebrand of faux-leather was successful doesn't mean that brands are completely out of the woods with the peeling and plasticky materials that characterized pleather. 

But Freja has found a way to make its materials resemble leather in everything from feel to durability. It's pretty remarkable, honestly. I even went so far as to search through the images of the bags on secondhand websites to see how they held up over time. And while you can see some wear and tear, there's no more than you would expect with a great-quality leather bag that's been loved and used. 

Here are my thoughts on three of Freja's most popular styles. And if you're interested in more of our bag coverage check out our articles on the best purse brands, the best work bags for women, and the best tote bags.

Freja Caroline bag review

Of all of Freja's bags, this was the one that I was most excited to try. There have been tons of celebrities spotted with it, including Hailey Bieber and Katie Holmes. Plus, I was particularly attracted to the elongated shape of the Caroline bag since East-West bags are both super trendy right now and notoriously roomy. 

Some of the features of the Caroline Bag that I love are:

• The material feels just like leather even though it's vegan. It's also easy to spot clean — I got makeup on it and wiped it away easily with a little water and a touch of dish soap.
• The two long handles make it easy to sling the bag on your shoulder and there's a snap to keep them together so one handle isn't constantly slipping off.
• It's so versatile that I can wear it to work or out at night. Seriously, you can fit a ton in this, and it works with nearly every outfit, from a long beachy maxi dress to a tailored suit. 

The only issue I have with this bag is that it doesn't have a magnetic closure. The flap isn't secured, so it won't close if it's even slightly overstuffed. This usually isn't an issue for me since the bag holds so much that I rarely need to overstuff it. But the gaps can pose a security risk, so it's something that you should consider before buying. 

Freja Paloma Tote review

Freja's Paloma Tote won the hard-earned top spot for best vegan leather work bag overall in our guide to the best work bags. Some of the reasons why we are obsessed with this bag are:

• The classic yet unique silhouette gives a little flair to your typical work bag. Freja has other work totes on their website, like the sleek Linea Tote, but they all have a chic but typical tote bag shape. The petal-like folds on this are stunning and make the bag a little roomier. 
• It can fit a 16-inch laptop, so your MacBook Pro will absolutely fit in this. 
• The hardware and lining are telltale signs of a high-quality bag. I absolutely love the marigold yellow lining, which feels exactly like suede but is really made from a vegan alternative. The gold hardware is also stunning, with a smooth zipper and strong magnetic closures on the outer slots. 
• There are five inner pockets for your phone, chargers, pens, or anything small enough to tuck away. Of these, one has a zipper.
• The straps are thick enough not to dig into your shoulders even if you're toting a lot. 

Though we love the Paloma Tote bag overall, there are a few drawbacks. First, this wouldn't be the best bag to double as a travel tote since the zipper doesn't go all the way across the bag. So if you stick it under the seat, you might run the risk of small items slipping out. 

Second, this bag doesn't have metal feet on it, so I'm a little worried about the wear it may take after being placed on subway floors for too long. The Linea Tote does have feet, so you should check that one out if feet are important to you. 

Freja Mini Chrystie bag review

The Mini Chrystie bag is a whimsically-shaped purse that makes a fantastic evening bag.

• Like all of Freja's bags, it is made of a vegan material that feels remarkably similar to buttery pebbled leather. Seriously, you wouldn't know the difference by touch.
• For how small it looks, it holds a ton. I took this bag on an evening out and had room for everything I needed and more. I put my phone, wallet, keys, and lipstick in it — plus,  I had enough room to fit a few more lipsticks and even a granola bar — all the essentials for a night out. 
• It's a surprisingly versatile size. At first, I thought this bag would be only an evening bag because of it's capacity. But I've started taking it on day outings that require a few more essentials (sunscreen, sunglasses), and it fits everything I need. 

Like the other two bags, I also think my only issue with these is security. There are gaps along the edges that I'd be nervous my keys might slip through if the bag didn't have an inner snap to keep your keys secured.