Vegan Fashion Week is returning from 14 — 15 October in Los Angeles later this year, an event organised by Creative Director and animal rights activist Emmanuelle Rienda. Following the success of the first Vegan Fashion Week in February, the team promises yet another stellar line up of eco-conscious fashion collections, exhibits and installations.
The runway of the first Vegan Fashion Week showcased stylish creations made of biodegradable and ethical materials such as the pineapple-leaf leather Piñatex, fabrics made from fruit fibres and even eco-friendly faux fur. All the looks were completed by coveted cruelty-free and vegan beauty brand Kat Von D Beauty, and supported by footwear from Dr. Martens’s vegan leather line.
The topic of sustainability is becoming a subject that is hard to ignore. It raises questions on how can we reduce wastage with our limited resources and how can we build a better world by advocating ethical fashion practices. Vegan Fashion Week could just be the next nudge we need towards creating a greener and more responsible fashion ecosystem — it isn’t an immediate solution, but it’s a big step in the right direction for its future.
“I want to ignite conversations and debates within the industry by educating, elevating and drawing connections between our most important values: Our respect for human life, animal rights, and the environment,” said Rienda when talking about the purpose of starting Vegan Fashion Week. Her sole aim isn’t just about educating the world about the importance to strive for a more eco-friendly future but to also be more inclusive and transparent about adopting such practices in the business.
Any initiative from the fashion industry is a little step that will count towards establishing greater awareness for greener options. It is truly a matter of choice when it comes to being more conscious in one’s efforts to reduce global warming and climate change by investing in only what you need. If you are looking at supporting sustainable works and designers that were showcased last Vegan Fashion Week, here’s a round up of our favourite few.
Matea Benedetti
Designer Matea Benedetti started out as a costume designer before launching her eponymous label. Since young, she has shown a keen interest in sustainable fashion, a passion she has always translated into her designs. The innovative designer uses only natural fabrics and biodegradable materials to create theatrical, feminine and playful looks. Since the launch of her brand, Benedetti has committed to staying green by working with organic, natural materials such as organic silks, hemp, bamboo and pineapple leather. In her recent collection, she is seen up-cycling plastic bottles by creating sequins out of them as embellishments for her creations.
Enda
Japanese designer Ran Enda‘s eponymous New York-based brand was created with the aim of marrying consciousness with its fashion creations. Before launching her line of clothing, Enda graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in Manhattan and has worked for fashion brands such as Ralph Lauren and DVF. She stands firm in her philosophy of sustainability by supporting a cruelty-free practice, creating ultra-modern printed ruched pieces, effortlessly draped dresses and relaxed separates whilst doing so.
WastedLA
Nicole Blue is the unconventional fashion maverick behind label WastedLA. She makes her one-of-a-kind looks by up-cycling materials to combat wastage and promote sustainability. Her works mainly support the utilisation of existing resources, giving them new life by turning them into functional clothing pieces. This method of design enables Blue to showcase the origins of her sources, along with her unique spin on fashion design and creative construction. One of her most prominent creations is the Take Out Jacket, which is made out of over 40 take-away plastic bags and other waste scraps.
Altiir London
Inspired by the 60’s rock-and-roll counter-culture of artists such as Mick Jagger and David Bowie, Altiir London uses Piñatex to fashion kickass tailored biker jackets. The brand’s use of sustainable materials is creating a fresh new revolution in the sustainable fashion circuit — encouraging more brands to experiment with alternative green materials and fabrication. The beauty of using these materials in designs isn’t limited to solely reducing carbon footprint; the material also ages gracefully as it moulds itself onto the form of your body, just as real leather does. One thing’s for sure: The movement that Altiir London has spearheaded is definitely gaining a following.
To find out more about Vegan Fashion Week and its show schedule, click here.
Josiah Chua
Fashion Director
Josiah is the Fashion Director in charge of styling shoots and writing the fashion pages. On his days off, he locks himself at home designing and sewing up a collection in preparation for his label's runway debut.
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