Getting caught with one of these sleek bags is no crime. This line of sustainable, vegan computer/ briefcase bags are made in the You-Ess-Ay! They’re sweatshop-free, made with faux-leathers from non-PVC, VOC-free compounds of polyurethane, cotton, and cellulose (more quickly biodegradable), and utilitarian with some excellent features.
Distinct, industrial, strong, and detailed; On April 1st, 2010, GUNAS made its debut. We’ll be covering a lot more from this emerging vegan accessories line, but I wanted to share a glimpse of some of their men’s bags.
We now know that from start to finish, the amount of energy required to create a leather hide is 20 times greater than what’s used to produce a synthetic material. Even Bill Bartholomew, a representative for The Leather Group admitted at the World Shoes Accessories ecoEthics Conference in February that “eco-friendly” vegetable tanning is just as polluting as chrome tanning. That’s where companies like GUANS step in, making luxury vegan bags using PU/PVC-free materials such as ultra-suede, organic cotton, canvas, nylon, velvet, linen, cork, and a synthetic eco-lining and water-based glues. All bags are manufactured in Manhattan under fair conditions. Part of every purchase is donated to Earth Matters Foundation, India.
Stay tuned for more about this line very soon.
(Thanks to Olsen Haus for the leather research)
by Joshua Katcher
featured on HintMag.com
Tevas with socks. Cargo Pants. Slogan tees. Let’s face it, people who care about ecosystems, animals, and worker’s rights aren’t typically celebrated for their sartorial poise. Likewise, most designers who care about form, function, and aesthetics aren’t typically known for their environmental wisdom or empathy; Fur coats, leather everything, toxic cotton, sweatshops.
There is new breed of designer, though, not so easily written off, who can turn old televisions into jaw-dropping shoes, who foster relationships with organic cotton farmers in developing countries, who invest in research and development of warm, biodegradable, recycled, cruelty-free textiles, whose aesthetic vision is not hampered by the challenges of navigating ethical dilemmas, and who – armed with tencel, lenpur, hemp, recycled fabrics, faux-fur, soda-bottle ultrasuede, and organics – aren’t afraid of challenging the tragic credo set by heritage brands. In a culture where the iconography of the rebel is tied up in so many embarrassingly common and mainstream social, environmental and ethical muddles, these true iconoclasts are redefining cool, and reinvigorating the lost meaning of dressing like a dissident.
1. Vaute Couture. Leanne Mai-Ly Hilgart is the prefect example of a designer who dreamed big. Her line went from a fantasy (gorgeous, eco, vegan winter coats that can handle Chicago in February) to reality. The line looks as amazing as it is warm and ethical; 100% Cruelty-free, sustainable, and fair-labor. Vaute Couture took over 8 months of fabric research and development and launched just last year, but has already garnered a host of celeb fanatics from Emily Deschanel, to Alicia Silverstone, and Ginnifer Goodwin. The men’s line launches August 2010. vautecouture.com
Cheap Monday has a nice faux-leather biker vest available at Alter $105
(Shop via text message through or Subports web store.)
![[motor+vest1.jpg]](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4c8ipv24LdU/S3iKJT9-o_I/AAAAAAAAGuM/eKJx1t1LnxQ/s1600/motor%2Bvest1.jpg)
Gilt offers a Rogue poly-cotton faux-leather, asymmetrical zip jacket in black or
(here’s your Invite to be a Gilt member)
We were THRILLED that The Cove won an Academy Award for Best Documentary last night! If you haven’t seen it, you must! Watch the trailer, buy the movie, then find out what you can do to help!
What’s the best part about Sweet & Sarah’s Easter marshmallows in the shapes of chicks, bunnies, and eggs? There no boiled cow or horse hooves, tendons or cartilage in them! Don’t get me wrong – I love how cute Peeps are as much as the next guy, but there’s something as sinister and creepy as a Zombie-Jesus about disguising nasty slaughterhouse-scraps as yummy candy for kids. Thanks to Sweet & Sarah your celebration of Easter doesn’t have to support factory farming.
Also, don’t forget to include some vegan Cadbury-style ‘cream’-filled eggs from the Chocolate Wendy House.
The “Banjamin“ from NOVACAS is making us drool. We love the direction in which NOVACAS has been going, first with their sleek Leo boot, and now with this smart cap-toe ankle boot. Keep ‘em coming, NOVACAS!
Our pal Pierre, from the HSUS recently exposed on the news how real dog fur is being sold as faux. I have little patience as it is for idiots who think fur is fabulous, and this just adds fuel to the fire! Grrrr!
When was the last time you ate a delicious Furious Vulva? Blustocking Bobons by Lagusta’s Luscious features these bittersweet chocolate vulva with pink peppercorns and Hawaiian pink sea salt, among other vegan chocolate creations like PB Cups and truffles! Check them out and get your chocolate fix while supporting organic, fair-trade, fresh and local ingredients!
You already know why leather sucks. This “Kama” Brogue and “Apis” oxford were named after the Hindu god of love, and the Egyptian god of fertility. I wouldn’t mind walking in their shoes. A round toe, and constructed in microfibre faux-leather – these shoes are perfect dressed down with jeans or with a suit on the red carpet. Also available in tan, wine, and black: $156 at BurgeoisBoheme Thanks to reader Gareth for the tip!
The French line, April77 collaborated on some vegan cowboy boots with YMC – and these faux-suede and faux-leather-soled bad boys are only for the good guys. The Cowboy Boots are the first in a long line of cruelty-free shoes coming from April77. The designer Brice Partouche, is vegan. More recently from the collection are these awesome Buck Shoes that come in black, tan, and navy. If you are in Paris, you can purchase these shoes at the April77 flagship store. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until the April77 Market is launched (they tell us SOON!)
PS – We totally agree! Good guys don’t wear leather. Wanna know why? Click here.
The “Clean” Coal myth is explored in this hilarious ad by the Coen brothers for This Is Reality. Can the dirtiest source of energy really be the solution? We didn’t think so either.
Denim “fur” and “leather” hits the G Star Runway. “Just when you thought you’d seen every incarnation of denim there is, G Star brings you “fur” and “leather” made out of denim.” Read the full article HERE.
These Portuguese-made, eco-friendly, vegan microsuede “Simpatia” wingtip shoes from BoBo are my new obsession. Great with a tux or just a pair of skinny jeans – wingtips, otherwise know as the brogue, are a boys best friend. Wanna know why we steer clear of leather at The Discerning Brute, Click Here, and don’t have a cow!
Check out all the other vegan wingtips & brogue shoes:
1. If you’ve been procrastinating on getting a sweater this winter, there’s still time! Loomstate’s organic ‘Bering’ crew sweater is totally wool-free! Check out what else they’ve got on the racks for the current season:
Loomstate 'Bering' organic cotton sweater, $106 at greenloop
Loomstate Allistair Jacket, $288 at Tobi
Loomstate organic hoody, $168 at Tobi, Organic Flannel $102 at BlueFly
Organic Woven Cotton Shirt $102 at Greenloop, Slacks $180 at Tobi
2. Support Craftspeople of the Karen Hill Tribe (between Burma & Thailand) by purchasing this gorgeous black scarf.
Karen Hill Tribe Scarf, $30 at Gaiam
3. Vegan Gloves are usually ugly or look like you should be in a dirt-bike competition. These simple faux-leather, insulated gloves go with everything and are slick as hell!
Paz Homem $48.41 at BB
4.Chocolate-Chip, Peanut Butter Cookies!
Cold weather is the best time for pastries. Try this super-easy cookie recipe!
Is there anything better than Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Cookies?
What you’ll need:
•3/4 cup margarine (I use Earth Balance)
•2/3 cup nut butter (use peanut, almond, or cashew!)
•3/4 cup sugar
•1/4 cup brown sugar
•3/4 tsp. salt
•2 Tbsp. egg replacer (I use Energie)
•1 Tbsp. vanilla
•2-1/2 cups flour (you can use up to 4 cups of flour — the more flour you use, the denser, chewier the cookie; the amount listed here is for a texture that most people like.)
•1 cup nondairy semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350F. In a large bowl, cream together margarine, sugars, nut butter, and salt.
2. In a small bowl or mug, beat “egg replacer.” Then add to margarine-sugar mixture. Add vanilla and combine. Slowly, little by little, add flour, stirring constantly to combine. Continue until all flour is well combined (it will get harder to combine the more flour you add).
3. Mix in chocolate chips. Form dough into 1-inch balls and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Then, as Laura puts it, “flatten them with a fork, wish them well, and put them in the oven.” They’ll be ready in about 10 to 12 minutes, or when golden brown.
Makes about 3 dozen cookies.
