By Chloe Jo on December 21, 2009
Here’s some animal-friendly fashion advice from Chloe Jo. Meatless Monday focuses on our plates, but let’s not forget about the animals when we go shopping!
By Vaute Couture
We have all heard the expression “Eat like you give a damn.” But why not dress that way too? A true Glamazon eschews buying new wool, leather, fur, silk, or down, in lieu of eco-compassionate options.
Vegan shoe lines abound, and now the elusive vegan winter coat is easier to find thanks to our lovely friend Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart who has brought us cruelty-free peeps Vaute Couture. This vegan fashion house is a voice for the animals in the fashion industry, pushing towards animal-free fabrics and processes. She spent a year developing the first line of ethical, high style and performance coats- now available online here (for between $370 and $560, now 30% off with code GIRLIEGIRLARMY at checkout!)
Why not just wear “organic” wool? Leanne says, “Sometimes I’m asked why I don’t just use organic wool- well, besides the fact that I don’t believe in using animals for luxury or profit, I also have to mention why I created Vaute Couture- not to be a single conscientious business, but to push the industry towards solutions we can use to eliminate the need for animal fabrics in fashion. Sentient beings don’t fit well into the cost-equations of business because their sentient nature is never part of the equation to begin with- I aim to cut out the risk of cruelty entirely by developing new solutions that don’t involve using animals to begin with.” Side note: Leanne is also a Ford model, MBA drop-out, and plays classical trumpet… so basically your average under achiever.
It’s nice to know that when we support a business like Vaute Couture, we are supporting a completely ethical, locally made, vegan-owned business.
Vaute Couture’s coats not in your budget? Pick up this simple, affordable black jacket from AlternativeOutfitters.com, BB Dakota Golan Black Plush Faux Wool Jacket, comes in at only $62.
By BB Dakota
This affordable and totally chic coat from Lole Women will take you day to night easily. Made from twill bonded fleece, it’s entirely cruelty free and a real find. “Stylish Coat“, $190 @ lolestore.com
By Lole
We love that Merrell merged the classic harbor coat look with the warmth of an insulated winter parka to create the Haven. With Merrell Opti-Warm insulation, a coated shell, and weather-protective ribbed cuffs and collar, you can head to the mountains, or the health store for more green juice, with confidence. Haven Coat, $189 @ Merrell.com
By Merrell
By Guest Blogger on July 2, 2009
Inder Bedi, Founder of Matt & Nat
I’ve always thought of my dad as a modern day hippie with an old soul. It came as no surprise that growing up, one of Dad’s good friends was the head priest of the Hare Krishna temple in Montreal. What did come as a surprise was when said priest asked me at the age of 18 to go vegetarian for 30 days. I didn’t understand why he chose me versus other family members (including my Dad) and he would give me no reason except that it was important that I began this path.
Out of respect I obliged and this led to what would be a life altering experience. Digging beyond diet issues and into animal rights, I eventually gave up leather as well. In university I majored in marketing and minored in corporate law. During my last semester I was preparing for law school when I reluctantly took a required course called Entrepreneurship. For this course we had to start a make believe business and try to raise funding for it. Being a vegetarian who also had a taste for all things design and felt frustrated at the lack of fashion accessories that were vegan yet still sexy, I based my business plan on a company that would balance design and social responsibility. My project received no funding and earned me a 77%! That was the fall of 1995 and the basis for MATT & NAT.
The rest as they say is history and it’s been quite the ride! Today M&N is sold around the world in mainstream stores such as SAKS, Bloomingdales, Kitson and Fred Segal as well as boutiques across Europe and Japan. We have exciting plans for the future including other design categories as well as retail stores. This year we were voted as one of the 100 fastest growing companies in Canada.
Since 1995 I have tried to show people that you can be both design centric yet still socially responsible. It’s nice to see over the last couple of years that there has been a general consensus amongst many major corporations to go in this direction as well. We have stepped up our commitment with our new entry level brand, SAM-SARA.ORG which actually walks the walk by allowing consumers to vote for charities with their dollars.
I am honored to be asked by Crazy Sexy Life to write a blog, thank you. I hope people find inspiration in our story the same way your stories and community has inspired so many others and has reminded me again, 14 years later, to always live in the moment.
Matt & Nat Bag Raffle!
Juno Bag (100% Vegan!)
We want to share your inspiring stories with the CSL community, which means we need testimonials! In case you needed a little extra nudge, Inder has donated a fabulous 100% vegan, stylin’ Matt & Nat bag as the raffle prize for one lucky winner. We will pull a name out of our magical hat once we’ve received 50 testimonials. The testimonial can relate to your ACT experience and/or the effect that the Crazy Sexy Lifestyle has had on your life. Email your (approximately 250 word) testimonial to info@crazysexylife.com. Check out the prize!
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