WILD AND FREE, AS ANIMALS SHOULD BE | Vegan Fashion Editorial
Styling: Christianna Quack
Model: Noa Ben Moshe
Hair & Makeup: Sarah Hartgens
Creative Direction & Photography: Cherie Birkner
It’s safe to say, if we could choose between two items which are equal in style, quality and characteristics, with one being harmful to animals the majority of us would go for the animal friendly version. Now, to get us closer to being found in that position I’ve teamed up with Christianna Quack aka The Vegan Stylist to create a beautiful vegan fashion editorial featuring one of our absolute favorite vegan bloggers: Noa Ben Moshe, also known as Style With a Smile.
Need a quick crash course on vegan fashion and materials? Check out Christianna’s article on vegan fabrics!
Now I’ve known Christianna and have been following her work for some years know, so I had no doubt she would curate amazing editorial for you, so let me pass the mic, and let her start by introducing herself:
THE VEGAN STYLIST
Naming myself @vegan.stylist was an easy choice. It clearly communicates what my work and I stand for. Well, I could also have chosen @the.vegan.fairfocused.sustainable.humanrights.eco.stylist because this is what I seek in the fashion that I wear and that I want to represent. But veganism was that one thing that REALLY changed my life in the first place. Everything I do now began with becoming vegan overnight. First towards the awareness of animals rights but then also to environmentalism, eco-actisvism, sustainability and global human rights. Oh and also feminism! You see – in the end, it is somehow all connected. <3
How did I choose the brands?
Again: it's all about the whole package! The labels I work with should be built on three fundamental principles such as: Vegan options – Eco friendly perspective – fair working conditions. Because Sustainable Fashion Matterz!
VEGAN FASHION EDITORIAL
You know what? Nearly all of the here presented brands have been founded by women. Remarkable no? Well, saenguin is build on the believe in the power of women. More women in board rooms, more women in politics, more women in leadership. And as a brand they'd like to dress exactly those women, who shape the future. That's why you find gorgeous sustainable businesswear at their shop. Modern cut suits, that just feel good – because of the Tencel they are made from.
”Always and forever vegan” is the motto of Will Greens now 8 year old brand Will’s Vegan Store. Same goes for carbon neutral production and delivery. Will never stands still. He is always trying to come up with something that is even more sustainable and stylish. Like biodegradable sneakers. Everything is ethically made in Portugal under European Union employment, discrimination and health & safety law. If your looking for something special, here you might find it!
The pieces from Wild Fawn Jewellery are so delicate and creative, a bit like little metal drawings you can wear. London is the city, where founder Emma Barnes and her team make each piece with a under a made to order principle, this means they never overproduce. Wild Fawn only uses recycled solid Sterling Silver and 9ct Gold. As solid as our appreciation for them <3
Moritz, the hatmaker of Captn Crop is truly one of a kind. 11 years ago he started to make top hats and bowlers from used coffee sacks. That was a few years before upcycling was a well known technique in fashion. Until today, he has developed a variety of all handmade products. Caps, bumbags and backpacks. All made from fabrics, that he finds around the world. If you ever are in Berlin, don't miss to visit him in his shop. It's probably the most creative one in whole Berlin. All build by hand from materials he found on the streets!
We are total “Shamaniacs”. Why? Because this vegan cosmetic brand is based on the highest quality essences from the Amazon region. “SHAMANIC The Colors” offers every opportunity to playfully create your own looks. All colors are vegan and are based on nourishing oils and waxes. The nuts, fruits and resins for this are harvested by hand by indigenous peoples according to shamanic criteria in wild collections. Therefore only as much is collected as nature can handle. Of course they are free from castor oil, beeswax and carmine.
Lanius is one of the first brands that made sustainability fashionable! I'd even call Claudia Lanius one of the pioneers in that field. “Making fashion with consideration for losses, creating beautiful things with a good feeling. That was my idea in 1999 and I still follow this vision today.” Only a part of their collection is vegan, but they really focus on sustainability and ecology. Everything at LANIUS is GOTS certified. Wool pieces are mulesing-free. And the vegan pieces are PETA-Approved and clearly visible on their website, which makes it easy to find them online.
What do we think of when we hear “ThokkThokk”? Creative prints, cool colors and soft fabrics! But also parkas that are padded with kapok fibers and keep us warm all winter long. A special recommendation to all streetwear-lovers, who like a hint of sportiness while feeling super comfortable.
BEFLAMBOYANT is a very young brand with quite a convincing concept. Vegan sneakers that are as sustainable as possible and produced in a good an fair work environment (in a small factory in Portugal!). As a sneaker-freaker myself I was instantly in love, when I first saw their simple white ones from the first launch. Now they developed their second collection with even more sustainable materials. You see that grey sole? It's made from recycled rice husks!
In the beautiful south-german city of Heidelberg you can find the atelier of these amazing jewellery artists. Because mining gold and other metals is incredibly harmful to our planet, fremdformat uses brass leftovers from the metalworking industry, as well as recycled gold and silver. Avoiding the precious stones common in the jewelry industry is a conscious decision for them - for ethical reasons. Only recycled materials are used for gold-plated or silver jewelry. From the simple everyday hoop to big statement pieces: they have got it.
What makes Lana so special is the combination of chic with casual and playful with cheeky. Then just add fabrics that always feel amazing to that description and you know what we mean. From basic to statement, you can find a beautiful variety. And also if you are a lover of creative patterns. This is a place to look. Not everything in the shop is vegan, but still the majority is made from plantbased fibers. And plastics aren't part of the collection!
In 2014 Alexia and Maria were pioneers, opening the first sustainable fashion shop in Palma de Mallorca with Suite 13. Since then they are designing and producing clothing with high ecological and social standards. Many of the fabrics and pieces are made directly in Spain. But also in Turkey and India. What materials do you find in the shop? Mostly Tencel, Ecovero and organic cotton!
For all those who haven't heard of purses that are made from vegan apple leather yet: nuuwaï is the place to find those special accessories. AppleSkin is an environmentally friendly leather alternative made from local apple waste from the juice industry. In only seven steps, the powdered apple scraps are turned into an outstanding and durable material. Simple, minimal design, urban look, and quality craftsmanship are the key components that go into each and every nuuwaï bag.
“Fair Fits Better” is a motto that we clearly can confirm. And DAWN jeans fit in every closet. There are multiple cuts available, so every figure will find a good pair! Speaking of good: their production facility in Saigon is more like an air-conditioned New York loft than a hot sewing shop in the middle of nowhere that we know from the media. DAWN DENIM is radically transparent. In their first Brand Performance Check by the Fair Wear Foundation, they scored 100 out of a possible 100 points! No fashion label has managed that before them.
Love, joy and happiness is sparkled by this outstanding brand from Swabia. In 2014, founder Verena Benz proclaimed the »Organic Revolution«, founded her first label Lovjoi and since then has been producing completely vegan, fair and sustainable. Mostly still in Swabia! From underwear, to jeans and casual fashion: they have it. What is also really remarkable, is the fact that Verena stands out for her involvement in refugee support. She employs quite a few people that had to flee their home countries. In 2016 she went to a greek refugee camp to help directly... while managing her brand. Thank you lovjoi for making a difference!
100% Pure’s cosmetic vision: All ingredients should be natural and without any synthetic substances or fragrances. Their products do not contain thickeners or water to dilute and expand formulas. Instead the base is made from herbal hydrosols like aloe juice, fermented rice water or tea. They use recycled packaging and degradable packaging materials such as corn starch and the soy color. All plastics used are BPA and phthalate free. A 100% our taste!