Carry Courage is an independently-owned accessories brand that hand-produces zipper pouches, purses, tote bags, and travel accessories in small batches from a home studio in Portland, Oregon. All products are predominantly made with vegan cork leather, a low-impact material whose harvesting promotes greater carbon sequestration from the root tree. As a small business run by an individual founder and an assistant seamstress, impact is inherently reduced, though brand reporting and third party certification are not yet in place. Awarded our overall rating of “Disrupting”, the brand scores in the top 10% of brands in the Bags & Accessories category.
About Carry Courage
Founder and mother of two Marisa Hilarides started Carry Courage with a seed of an idea in early 2018 in central California. By November 2019, the brand relocated to Portland, Oregon and began launching the current version of Carry Courage with a curated collection of cork bags and travel accessories for those looking to reduce their environmental footprint. With a focus on made-to-order high quality products, Carry Courage’s accessories come highly rated by their loyal customer base worldwide.
Product Categories
Attributes
Circular
All or some products are circular in nature - such that no part of the product needs to end up in landfill at the end of its lifeHandcrafted
Products have been made by hand, typically by an artisan or group of artisans.Locally Made
Products are made local to the brand's headquarters.Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxicOrganic
Products are made from organic materials.Repairs Offered
Product can be easily repaired directly by the brand.Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.Vegan
This brand does not use any animal products or by-products in their productsWoman Owned
This brand is owned by a woman or a group of women.Certifications / Memberships
Location
Portland, Oregon
Pricing
Ships from
Ships to
Reviews & Testing From Our Team

Advocate Tote
Their Advocate Tote has become one of my favorite bags. In fact, I take it to the farmer’s market every single weekend when in season, since its expansive interior is perfect for packing to the brim with locally grown goodies. Plus, the cork not only looks stylish, it’s easy to wipe clean so I don’t need to worry if I set it down in something dirty.
Review Summary From Other Customers
Pros
- There is consistently positive customer feedback and the brand is largely praised for the durability, quality, and design of Carry Courage bags and products.
- Etsy reviews were all five-stars at the time of writing.
Cons
- A limited number of reviews mention a need for clarifying product functionalities.