vegansaurus!

10/25/2016

Giveaway: Vegan, fair-trade jute tote from Zink!  »

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You may recognize Zink’s name from our recent write-up, well now you can win your own vegan fair-trade bag from them! THAT’S RIGHT! We’re giving away this striped jute tote to one lucky vegansaur.

If you don’t recall, Zink is a really cool company; not only are their bags animal-friendly, they are human-friendly as well:

At Zink, we believe that quality of life is a human right. That’s why we have partnered with an NGO (non-government organization) in South Asia to ensure that every bag in our jute collection is made responsibly. Dedicated to a just and poverty-free world, our partner promotes local leadership and entrepreneurship among women artisans to establish a sustainable economy and nourish a self-reliant and gender-balanced society.

So we are clearly Zink fans, what about you?? I mean, you at least could use a free new bag, right?! OK SO HERE’S HOW TO ENTER: tell me what vegan goodies you will transport in your new Zink bag! Comment on this post with your answer and I’ll pick a winner next Tuesday evening. 

Good luck!

10/10/2016

Zink: Vegan, fair-trade bags for your cruelty-free, fabulous self!  »

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Austin-based bag brand Zink sent me a free bag to try–isn’t it adorbs? I took it to the farmers market and all the Carroll Gardens market-goers were SO jeals. They’re always jeals tbh. Sigh, it’s hard being a vegan fashion plate. 

This bag comes from the handmade, sustainable, fair-trade jute collection but everything on the Zink site is vegan. Besides being hella cute and useful, Zink’s jute bags are made in partnership with a really cool organization that teaches women in South Asia how to weave jute and also helps them to run their own micro business.

More info on the collection:

At ZINK, we believe that quality of life is a human right. That’s why we have partnered with an NGO (non-government organization) in South Asia to ensure that every bag in our Jute Collection is made responsibly. Dedicated to a just and poverty-free world, our partner promotes local leadership and entrepreneurship among women artisans to establish a sustainable economy and nourish a self-reliant and gender-balanced society.

Zink’s partner organization offers their artisans:

-Micro loans
-Human rights promotion
-Safe and healthy working environments
-Working facility has sufficient light, air, safety equipment, masks for use when needed, security, and a day care center.
-Leadership training
-Women leadership forums
-Gender and business training
-Product development and skill training
-Mother and child healthcare assistance
-Strengthening of personal skills
-Shelter in order to support any of the women who had to leave a violent situation
-Free psychological and legal support if needed
-Free literacy lessons

And for the jute farmers:

-Fair prices for crops
-Transparent and clear pricing
-Small business and management training
-Education on technical knowledge and harvesting of jute
-High quality seeds
-4,000 farmers and families benefit from this partnership
-Business improvement and expansion course for existing small and micro entrepreneurs.

Gotta love all that! It’s so nice when we can find animal-friendly products that are also so human-friendly. 

Zink also sells these cute 100% cotton “plant cashmere” scarves. I think I need this one:

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Yup, def need it. Bring it on, winter!

12/07/2015

Roni Kantor is killing the vegan shoe game on Etsy!  »

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I’ve been obsessed with Roni Kantor ever since I spotted her shoes on Mooshoes’ site, but then I started following the Tel Aviv-based designer on Instagram and saw allll these amazing shoes that I couldn’t find in the US–until now! Her Etsy store has expanded with a new winter line and they are CUTE AS ALL GET OUT! I mean look at these green babes, so cute. 

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And YOU KNOW I love a low heel, and she has so many styles with kitten heels like this pretty maroon number pictured above.  

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Besides the winter line, she’s had a wedding line up there for a while. I love these floral ones–so 80s chic. 

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And I HAD to get this pair of white low-heels for myself! They are SO ADORBS. [Disclosure: the company gave me 20% off when I told them I was writing about them for Vegansaurus–I totes didn’t ask for it I swear! I’m just a fancy vegan influencer is all]. 

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For my next purchase, I’m thinking these low-heel oxfords. Perf for work right? Perf for work. 

So def check out these awesome vegan shoes! That is all!

11/29/2015

New Vaute Sweaters and Gowns on sale NOW  »

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You guys! If you were interested in those Vaute sweaters and gowns we told you about, NOW is the time to buy one! They are on pre-order sale!!! Get them HERE (and bring your cc, they still aren’t cheap–hashtag worth it tho).

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Refresher:

The gowns are made of recycled bottles! From a RIVER in ITALY! There is something so chic about recycled Italian bottles from a river, amirite? Maybe not. But I feel like I’m really right on this one. 

The sweaters are made from 80% recycled cotton yarn and knit in a wasteless process here in the NYC garment district. Leanne says basically NO one does this kind of process any more (hence all the waste in the industry), so that’s pretty freaking cool. 

I love vegan companies that are super environmentally conscious! And Vaute is like next-level, always innovating to find new and better ways to be environmentally friendly–while also being super high quality. Love love love. 

PS: there’s some cute new coat colors too!

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11/09/2015

New items and vegan fun at the Vaute pop-up shop!  »

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I finally made it to the Vaute Autumn/Winter shop and it’s THE CUTEST! And FULL of awesome vegan stuff. There are super-cute shoes from Bhava and Insectashoe, adorable purses from Hipsters for Sisters, and the latest Vaute offerings!

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Some of the cute t-shirts–there’s so many! They release new shirts every month and the pop-up is well-stocked.

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One of the new sweaters!!!! It’s long, like a short dress. Comes in this color and a beige. Very cute, but the exciting part is how it’s made. Of course it’s vegan, but it’s also made from 80% recycled cotton yarn from fashion industry waste, and knit in a waste-less process in the NYC Garment District. So you’re animal-friendly and environmentally-friendly! I heart the environment, that’s where all the animals live. 

(Oh also notice the cute Bhava and Insectashoes!)

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Here’s the other sweater. It comes in three colors I believe. I posted it on our Instagram and everyone admired its dad qualities. I might have to get one for me AND my dad. Twinsies! Yay father-daughter twinsies. 

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Low and behold, one of the new Vaute gowns! Catch a glimpse of the open back in the mirror–so pretty! It’s navy and sooooo nice. Again, this bad boy is environmentally-friendly as all get out. It’s actually made of 100% recycled plastic bottles! ITALIAN plastic bottles! The bottles are mechanically recycled from a river in Italy. Isn’t it so chic to have a gown made from recycled Italian plastic bottles?? I die.

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And of course, all the Vaute coats are there as well, in all the sizes and colors your heart desires. So that’s nice, you can try everything on. 

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So if you haven’t had a chance to go, you must! It’s on 250 Mott St. in SOHO, NYC. Open Everyday 12-8, September 19th - December 30th. Get there while you can!

10/26/2015

Ethical and adorable: Will’s Vegan Shoes!  »

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Will’s Vegan Shoes sent me a free pair of shoes to try, these cute black patent loafers. As you can see from the pic: adorbs! They are a little tight but I suspect I just need to break them in. They seem v well made. I love!

I’d been eyeing Will’s for a while so this was super timing. Will’s has a ton of dope shoes, including many boots! As it’s boot season, I’m trying to pick which I will buy. They have plenty in men’s and women’s sizes. I like these work boots:

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Love the color, v sexy. I’m also in love with these brogues:

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So perf for work!

So, because we like to know these things, I asked Will himself about the environmental sustainability as well as labor practices of his company. Here’s what he had to say:

I would not say my shoes are environmentally friendly, that would just not be true. Although I use the best materials that are Oekotex 100 certified, do not use heavy metals and I avoid PVC, they are produced from petroleum which is not environmentally friendly.

As an alternative to leather however, the production of microfibre can have a reduced environmental and social impact. The livestock industry uses up huge resources of energy, water and land and produces high levels of methane. To quote PETA UK “Materials such as formaldehyde, mineral salts, coal-tar derivatives and various oils, dyes and finishes - some of which are cyanide-based - are used to turn animal skins into leather. The majority of leather comes from China and India, countries with poor environmental and workplace standards, and leather workers have little protection against toxins that studies have shown result in higher incidences of cancer, blindness, respiratory problems, skin diseases and birth defects in those working at, or living close to, tanneries.” This treatment can also mean the leather cannot bio-degrade.

Microfibre companies are very aware of the environmental impact of their product. They are investing into new technologies to make microfibre more environmentally friendly. The support of vegans- choosing microfibre as a cruelty free alternative supports investment in research and development - and in time - I hope will help create a better solution.

Another consideration when choosing your shoes of course is where they made and who made them. I make my shoes in top factories in Portugal under EU law where people work in decent, safe conditions and are paid a fair wage. I place animal and human rights on the same level. I do not see the point of protecting one life and putting another in danger.

I have put my ethics through into my company which is why my shoes are and always will be vegan and ethically made. One day I would like to say they are environmentally friendly too.

tl;dr: While they are working on being sustainable, Will’s are more environmentally friendly than most leather. They are also made in factories with fair labor practices.

I love transparency! And I love my Will’s shoes. Yay!

If you didn’t download Boomerang yet, you gotta do it! So fun. 

10/22/2015

Get a super cute shirt, feed sanctuary animals! Only 4 days left!  »

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The amazing sanctuary Animal Place has partnered with Modropy to sell these sweet shirts to raise money! For every shirt sold, $8 dollars goes to Animal Place! That’s enough to feed 3 pigs or 100 chickens for a day! (Damn, pigs, get your grub on why don’t you.) But the sale ends Monday 10/26! So order TODAY if you want to be sure you get a shirt and help the anipals. There are two cute designs, the one at the top and then this one:

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And there are like a million shirt styles. I’m thinking the flowy simple tee for myself. I like a good flowy simple tee. But you can see all the styles and order on the Modropy website. Now, plz share with me which design you like better because I can’t decide. 

Here’s a vid with more info: 

09/18/2015

This weekend: VAUTE’s NYC Shop Grand Opening! Discounts, cookies, more!  »

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Extra, extra! Your favorite vegan design label Vaute is opening a temporary Manhattan store! And the opening party is THIS WEEKEND! There will be vegan cookie sandwiches by PonyCakes until 5pm, Leanne herself will make an appearance, and 30% off EVERYTHING Vaute for the whole weekend! Holy cannoli! I’m so excited. 

And the space promises to be v awesome: 

VAUTE NYC Autumn-Winter Shop is an inside job - being designed and built by Leanne and the VAUTE team. Leanne and her team sourced vintage pieces online, including a Victorian yellow velvet couch, and salvaged materials from Build it Green/Big Reuse in Gowanus, Brooklyn.

Plus the store will have some other exciting items: 

In addition to VAUTE’s exclusive fall collection ethically made from recycled fabrics and organic materials, the New York-based label also features a curated selection of one-of-a-kind accessories like Insecta shoes made from deadstock vintage material in Brazil and LA designer Hipsters for Sisters’ fringed fanny packs, made in LA.

I’ve been following Insecta shoes on Instagram ever since Vaute put me on to them and boy, they look so cool! And the fanny packs are super adorbs as well. 

I’m so excited! I’m recovering from surgery but my mom said I could totally go! Just have to take a cab…twist my arm, mom!

The party is Saturday and Sunday, the 19th and 20th, from 12-7pm. Shop is located at 250 Mott Street (between Prince & Houston). Basically the ONLY Manhattan neighborhood I frequent! Yaaaay!

AND LA FOLK! Don’t forget you have your own Vaute pop-up! Lucky usssss!

06/25/2015

We’re in love: new shoes from Bourgeois Boheme  »

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I know it’s not boot season but OMG these are so dope. These  boots are a preview from Bourgeois Boheme’s Fall/Winter collection:

Blurring the boundaries between masculine and feminine, the Transcending collection comprises of contemporary styles that are ethically produced and free from the use of animal derived materials. It is artisan-made, leather-free footwear made to last for men and women.

They are so mod and beautiful! I think I’m into these too:

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They are kind of cray but idk, they are kind of awesome too. Wing-tip sneakers? Yeah, kind of awesome. 

And I love these:

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They make me want to buy a suit!

All the shoes seem to be under 200 GBP, which means a bit over $200 to us…effing pounds. But I got a pair of Bourgeois Bohemes a few years ago and they are in great shape. Plus, they visit the factories personally and meet the craftspeople so remember that is what you are paying for too. Animal-free and eco-friendly to boot? Be still my heart. 

I don’t know when these will be available to buy but they have nice styles on their site now if you can’t wait. 

Really though, why do all the best vegan shoes come from Britain??

12/02/2014

Veganize your wardrobe with Vegan Cuts!  »

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In case you haven’t been paying attention, the vegan fashion industry has been growing in leaps and bounds (from coast to coast). How to keep up with what’s available for the fashionable and cruelty-free set? The new, FREE Vegan Fashion Guide from Vegan Cuts.

From Vegan Cuts: "This one-of-a-kind resource combines a lookbook showcasing modern vegan style with information about exploitation in the fashion industry, tips for how to veganize your wardrobe and more.“

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"And more” indeed: Aside from plenty of new and new-to-you apparel and accessory designers, there’s an abundance of information on the impact of fashion and making the distinction between animals and fabric, as well as the importance of voting with your dollars to ensure that cruelty-free companies succeed and options multiply.

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Also included: a pocket guide to understanding content labels and a directory of stores, both virtual and brick-and-mortar, to make it easy to shop your ethics. 

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All this is not to say that your favorite Meat is Murder T-shirt isn’t sufficient, but perhaps there are occasions in your life where you’d like to impart your message a bit more subtly.

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So, whether you’re a diehard fashionista and animal-lover, a passionate vegan who doesn’t give a whit about what’s on trend, or someone who falls somewhere in the middle, you’ll find that the Vegan Cuts’ Vegan Fashion Guide will offer you a great many options to ensure that your style is in line with your ethics.

No word, however, on why the dog models are all nude. 

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