Vegan Fashion is the new hype in NYC! Vaute Couture is shaking the fashion industry in New York City and has been called “the next Stella McCartney”. We are one of their biggest fans, for sure!
The other day, our Founder, Fê Paronetto, was talking to a very dear neighbor and friend of hers that is Vegan about how hard it is to find sustainable, cruelty-free winter coats in New York. Most of the brands use some type of animal product in their products: fur, feathers, leather, etc.
So, her neighbor mentioned about a brand that is getting more and more attention over the past few years.
Vaute Couture, founded in 2008 by the gorgeous Leanne Maily, stands for “Haute” + “V” for Vegan.
They explain that they are:
“The ethical fashion house for animal lovers: 100% vegan + eco + made in New York City”!
For a start, Leanne stopped eating animals at the age of 10 and, after that, her passion for sharing the Vegan lifestyle grew exponentially as the years went by! She also felt it was quite impossible to find beautiful, hot, “animal-free” winter coats in Chicago, where she lived before moving to NYC.
Subsequently, for a full 8 months, she researched all the fabrics in the market and all her possibilities. Some time after starting the brand, she moved to New York City, where she opened a first store in Williamsburg.
Then, on February of 2013, during the NYFW, she was named the “rebel of fashion week”. Plus, she received the title of the “next Stella McCartney”.
Obviously, this catapulted her brand helping her break out to the main stream audience.
In addition, the materials used come from recycled organic plastic bottles, organic fabrics and other cruelty-free materials. For example, the sweaters contain recycled cotton from the fashion industry.
The store, located on the cool Lower East Side of Manhattan, offers a huge variety of items. For the Ladies: basics, tops, sweaters, bottoms, dresses, shoes, gowns, body suits, swimwear, to the perfect winter coats – snow and wind proof, hats and jewelry. Today, they focus primarily on winter coats and sweaters.
Eventually, they more recently started the Gentlemen’s collection, so it has a smaller variety. It’s always been only winter coats and sweaters!
Additionally, the brand recently collaborated and threw a great party inside the store for Project Chimps. This project is a new sanctuary for 200+ chimps retiring from biomedical research.
They partnered up with other brands like: Vegan Treats, Kat Von D Beauty, Blossom Du Jour, Mother of Pearl, Querciabella, Kombrewcha, Urban Vegan Kitchen and Fresh & Co.
The Dodo debuted a video of the first 9 chimps first few weeks of freedom, and Vaute Couture designed a benefit tee that you can buy, to support them!
Pretty cool initiative, right?
Wanna know one of the coolest perks at the store?
Lastly, the 12 first customers that walk in every day are lucky to get a huge – and to-die-for – doughnut from Dunwell Doughnuts! We are completely addicted to them, by the way! One of the best doughnuts in New York City!
So, come explore this new hype in NYC!
Location: 114 Stanton Street, Lower East Side
Photo Credits: Courtesy of Vaute Couture
*Last Update on March/2020.*
