Ethical, Vegan Fashion Steals the Show at PETA’s Style-Studded Panel Event
This month, VAUTE—the vegan fashion house founded by Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart, who’s been dubbed “the rebel of New York Fashion Week” by CNN—will open its doors in Los Angeles for the first time, ushering in a new wave of animal-friendly fashion on the West Coast. And to celebrate, PETA hosted a lively panel discussion with Hilgart and other vegan style mavens to discuss how up-and-coming designers can find their ethical fashion-forward footing in today’s industry. Here’s a video of the style-studded evening, #ICYMI!
The PETA hosted Vegan Fashion + Sustainability Panel was held in downtown Los Angeles, with over 60 attendees, many from neighboring Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and LA-based style influencers.
For years, PETA has worked with Tim Gunn to show Parsons students and the public alike how fur, leather, and other animal-derived products fall short of many designers’ values—and now, we’re sharing how advanced animal-free fabrics are the future of fashion. Brands such as Freedom of Animals are joining forces with H&M, Stella McCartney has launched her “Fur Free Fur” compilation, and Jane Birkin is disassociating her likeness from the once-iconic exotic-skin Birkin bag—and that’s just for starters.
PETA’s panel was free and open to the public, and many attendees came from nearby Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM). FIDM professor Taryn Hipwell, who teaches a course on sustainability and the fashion industry, moderated the panel, which, in addition to Hilgart, included Joshua Katcher (Brave GentleMan, Parsons), Stephanie Nicora (Nicora Johns), and Rebecca Mink (Mink Shoes).
Vegan hors d’œuvres by West Hollywood’s own “Vromage” cheese shop and Courtesan Cupcakes were served at the event, and one lucky attendee went home with a $250 gift certificate to shop at VAUTE’s new Abbot Kinney pop-up store!
Learn more about how to incorporate vegan fashion into your closet here. Happy shopping!
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