Vegan Fashion Lover | 5+ Questions for Author Kathy Freston (Interview)

I was a writer who talked about being more conscious and aware in all areas of one’s life, and it dawned on me that I was not very aware of where my food came from. Since food is such a big part of one’s day, it was a glaring oversight and I realized I was kind of a hypocrite if I didn’t look under the hood of where my meals came from.

I eventually became vegan and thought, hey look at me, I’m so cool, I did this!  Until someone asked me what I was wearing on my feet. I said…”uh, shoes.”  And she volleyed back, “made of what?”… “uh, leather.”, I answered sheepishly. “Then don’t talk to me about not eating meat when you’re wearing someone’s skin on your body.” I got the point.

It was time to lean in a little more; I had stopped eating animal stuff, but now I needed to stop wearing their parts, too. As with all big moves in my life, I believe in progress rather than perfection, and I continue to lean in…

Simple: undercover video of killing and skinning an animal for her fur. That kind of horror is anything but glamourous.

Yes, I believe in “leaning in”.  It’s very hard to make a major switch overnight when you’ve been doing something a certain way for your entire life, whether eating, shopping, or dressing for dinner. You need time to find new ways to look and feel good. You need a minute to find new stores and ask for different options. You aren’t like every other shopper, now, and you need to get comfortable with asking for “non-animal” options.  

I have Stella McCartney shoes from 15 years ago! I have a collection that I just keep adding to…. Her shoes tend to be a little funky now, but there have been some super chic + classic styles throughout the years and I love them just as much now as when I got them! You can find them on the RealReal for great discounts, and since they last for so long, I think they’re worth the price (I love the sales at the end of the seasons) – same with her bags; they remain super stylish for years and throughout the seasons. The Falabella are my favorite bags!

I also love Rebecca Mink’s shoes; they are made in Italy in the same factories that make Prada and Gucci, so every item she sells is made with that Italian sensibility.  

My favorite coats and jackets are by House of Fluff. The founder, Kym Canter, used to work at a furrier until she had an awakening that she no longer wanted to be party to hurting animals. She sold all of her furs and, with that money, started a vegan company with some of the coolest faux fur and leather-free things I’ve ever seen. Celebrities are often photographed wearing her pieces, and her stuff can be spotted in films and music videos. I love my big white fluffy 70’s rock ‘n’ roll jacket; I wear it with everything and feel way cooler than I actually am! 

It’s the same with food: the more options with competing prices that are accessible, the more customers will show up. Make cool stuff at good prices and people will buy them. It’s just a matter of displacing the animal stuff. And just be a living, shining example of what vegan can look like. Put your glow on, and rock whatever your particular style is!  

Make it a sport to find non-animal fashion; that way it’s fun and it feels like a win when you find something that works! Don’t tell yourself that you can never buy leather again; rather focus on finding the chic offerings that other people may not know about. Make it your business to buck the existing trend, and you’ll feel like you’re on the cutting edge.