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!
