Gosbags

Founded in 2018, Gosbags makes durable, functional vegan bags that are built to withstand everyday wear and tear while also looking good.  Founders, Regina and Nick, wanted to create a line of bags that encapsulated the idea of casual style while also having a positive impact.  They did this by committing to make all of their bags 100% vegan.  But the positive impact didn’t stop there.  According to Regina and Nick,

“(a)s the project evolved, we knew that supporting a worthy animal cause would be a perfect fit to align with everything we were trying to accomplish. After thorough research, Best Friends Animal Society became the perfect choice. Best Friends is a non-profit organization that operates the nation’s largest sanctuary for homeless animals and is leading the nationwide movement to bring about a time when there are no homeless pets.”

I was fortunate enough back in 2009 to visit the Best Friend Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah and it made such an impact on me and my life choices.  Best Friends does amazing animal advocacy work and it was after this trip that I took the step from eating a plant-based diet to becoming full on vegan, so they hold a special place in my heart.  The lovely folks at Gosbags donate 5% of every sale to Best Friends Animal Society…how sweet is that?

So… lucky me, I got to try out a few of Gosbags fabulous bags.  Read on to find out what I thought!

Backpack Purse

For a while now, I have been looking for a medium-sized, fashionable backpack that I can take with me when I go out and about on the weekends.  The Backpack Purse was just what I was looking for.  Available in an assortment of fun colors (I got the orange!), this backpack is made from high-quality, durable canvas with vegan leather detailing.  One of the features that I liked right away was the lobster claw like clasp that will keep your things safe, but isn’t a hassle when you want to access your stuff.  This bag comes with an inside zip pocket as well as two additional interior slip pockets for your phone or sunglasses.  The only thing that I wish this bag did have is a snap or drawstring closure, just to make extra sure everything stays in place.  I took this backpack with me to a flea market in the city last weekend and it was lightweight and comfortable to wear and I could also use it to stash some of my smaller purchases.

Everyday Tote

Whether I am hauling my laptop and papers to and from work or groceries home from the grocery store, I like to have a good, reliable tote bag.  Having one that is stylish and vegan…even better! Gosbags makes a great Everyday Tote that is roomy (15″ h x 13″w x 6″ d) and durable.  Available in six different colors, I got the super cute grey and orange combo.  This bag has a really nice flat bottom so you don’t need to worry about things tipping over inside.  In addition it has a large outside slip pocket, interior zip and slip pocket, key holder, top snap and a water bottle holder!

The Crossbody Purse

There are certain bags that I feel every woman should own.  A good cross body is one of those bags.  The Crossbody Purse really is the perfect bag for everybody for everyday!  Just the right size to fit all of your essentials, this bag is lightweight and versatile.  It comes with an adjustable canvas strap so you wear it as a cross body or a should bag.  With an interior zippered pocket and top flap and magnetic snap closure, you can rest assured that your things will stay nice and secure inside this lovely canvas bag.  As with all of the other Gosbags, the Crossbody Purse comes in a nice assortment of colors.  I ended up selecting the black one…I know, how boring of me, but you can’t ever have too many black bags…right?!

So if you are in the market for a great, durable, everyday vegan bag, I suggest you check out Gosbags.  Great bags that give back!

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BC Footwear has gone vegan!

Yep, you heard me correctly!  This cool, laid-back, LA based footwear company has taken the plunge into compassion-land and is now making all of their shoes with 100% animal free components and they are Peta approved.

According to the kind folks at BC Footwear, the reason why they made this awesome change is because “(w)e want to do our part to minimize the suffering of animals.”  How awesome is that!?  I told you it was some exciting news!

I was fortunate enough to receive two pairs of BC Footwear booties to test out and let me tell you…I was impressed.  When I pulled each pair out of their respective boxes, the first thing that I was struck by was the quality of these shoes.  There was no strange chemical smell that can sometimes accompany man-made leather.  Not only were both of these pairs of shoes super cute, they were both beautifully made from high-end, quality materials.

Ok, enough chit chat, let’s get to the shoes…shall we?!

First up is the Scale Ankle Boot

This ankle boot is made gorgeous vegan leather with a cool angular flap detail, subtle topstitching, a peep toe and a 3.25″ stacked heel.  I got the grey which is more of a vegan suede that is so incredibly soft.  I styled these booties with a pair of cropped, distressed girlfriend jeans and they were just perfect.  The best part about them is that they are really comfortable!  All of BC Footwear’s shoes are made with high performance Ortholite insoles so they are cute and comfortable!  I wore this pair for a night out with friends and found that not only were they easy to walk in, the material was also very breathable, which is awesome because who wants sweaty feat…am I right?

Available in three colors; grey, black and tan, these are the perfect booties as we start to transition into the cooler months.

Next up is the Ringmaster Ankle Boot

This sleek ankle boot is made with a vegan fabric that is super soft with a bit of stretch that snugs your ankle in all the right places.  With at 3″ stacked heel, these booties can be worn with jeans or dressed up with a dress or skirt.  I got these in dark taupe which is such a great neutral and I paired them with a casual denim skirt and t-shirt for the perfect weekend, running around town outfit.  These booties were really comfortable to walk around in and the stretch fabric made the fit around my ankle just right, no sagging or bagging!  The Ringmaster Ankle Boot comes in three colors; taupe, black and black exotic.

BC Footwear doesn’t just make booties, they have a lot of other styles of shoes from sandals to heels to flats.  Lots of fashionable choices for every season.

So go on tell your family and your friends…heck, even tell strangers the great news… BC Footwear has high quality, fashionable footwear that is now 100% vegan!!  Go check them out!

The post Some Exciting News From BC Footwear! appeared first on Chic Vegan.

Let’s face it, the act of buying clothing these days has very little to do with our need to cover our bodies, and far more about our discontent and disconnect with what really makes us feel loved, accepted, and self fulfilled.

Unconscious fast-fashion marketing and spending is directly dialled into our vanity, greed and ignorance about how and why we’re offered a gluttony of cheap, trendy and often poorly-made, yet visually appealing fashionable pieces.

Yet times are changing. We’re embracing new ways of living more intentional lives through becoming more accountable in our consumerism.

Yet a new year’s resolution or pledge can seem daunting; too finite and the fear of failure too much of an embarrassment if one doesn’t stick to it. Perhaps the thought immediately triggers a feeling of deprivation, making us want to stick to our normal shopping habits.

As a vegan I see this often; the veg-curious scared off by veganism because they believe it’s just too much of a change. So just as Meatless Monday and Taco Tuesdays give the curious an entry point towards a veg centric lifestyle, so too is a sustainable fashion pledge an invitation to explore new ground.

I certainly bit off more than I could chew last January when I pledged not to buy any newly produced clothing for 2017.

So here are my 7 ideas to overcome any fear of failure:

1. Find the why: Research and learn how your contribution to a more sustainable wardrobe benefits animals, the garment industry workers and our environment. To focus on the bigger picture empowers us to look beyond our personal desires.
2. Don’t compare: We all have to start somewhere. Your journey is as admirable as anyone else’s. Maybe halving your monthly fashion purchases is your entry point into being more sustainable, while for another it may be a shopping ban for 6-months or a year.
3. Be kind on yourself: Set your guidelines and if you waver, then simply get back on track from that point forward.
4. Share your experience:  Find someone who is keen to support you, either by joining you or by showing you their support.
5. Set your own pace: Commit to a pace of change you can handle and doesn’t overwhelm you. Some of us need a slower pace than others who can embrace change overnight.
6. The power of pause: Hold off on any of these purchases for at least 48 hours, then review your ‘need’ for them. Once the initial elation of finding something new wears off, it often loses it’s ‘must have’ appeal.
7. Journal your journey: You could call this financial journalling. By writing down ALL your clothing/accessory purchases, the reality of the frequency and money spent on these purchases is brought into full view. Totalling it up can be surprising!

We only fear something we don’t understand, so by taking a pledge you’ll be in a state of learning – and learning, while taking action, can be a powerful change maker!

The post Making a 2018 sustainable fashion pledge, without fear of failure appeared first on Chic Vegan.

T.U.K. Footwear has recently become PETA approved and has also launched a collection using a new tech synthetic leather and suede including TUKskin.  TUKskin is a high quality synthetic leather that is breathable and can be polished like leather but is 100% cruelty free.

The super cool folks over at T.U.K. Footwear offered to let me test out a pair from their new TUKskin line and I was happy to oblige.  Being a lover of all things cat and cat related, I thought I would try out the Kitty Mary Jane.

So first off, how cute are these shoes?  Adorbs…right!?  When I have them on I can’t stop looking down at that cute kitty face and smiling.  I’ve noticed that these shoes make other people smile as well.  In addition to being super cute, they are also really well made.  From the topstitching details to the sturdy silver buckle and 1 1/2 inch lug heel, these are some quality shoes that were made to last.

I decided to test these bad boys out while running around the city doing errands.  I am happy to say that they were really comfortable the entire time.  My feet always seem to sweat in certain shoes and boots that I wear even during the cooler months.  Not with my TUKskin Kitty Mary Janes!   These shoes hold up to T.U.K. Footwear’s claim that TUKskin is breathable as my feet stayed dry and comfortable all day.

Cats not your thing?  Not to worry, there are other cool styles in the TUKskin line for you to choose from.  Word on the street is that T.U.K. Footwear is going to be broadening their vegan offerings with a new ladies only collection to launch in SS18.  So soon there will be even more styles to choose from!

So how about you listen to your inner rock n roller/fashionista and check out the new TUKskin line from T.U.K. Footwear?  Cruelty-free never looked cooler!

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I’ve lived in the mountains all my life and, while, in the past, stylish cute apparel has been hard to find, things are getting much better and I believe that we make the best of what clothes can find. Mountain lifestyles are very active so comfy clothes like yoga pants, sandals, and t shirts are some of the most common things you’ll find on the streets and trails in the summer but, in the winter, we need a little extra planning and warmth. As some readers know, finding ethical products to keep you warm in the winter can be a bit challenging. Many boots are made with leather, jackets are made with down and hats and socks made with wool. It’s taken me a long time to find products that align with my values. My hope is that some of the info below will help with surviving winter in mountains the compassionate way

My tips for preparing for cold winter month include; wearing layers (long underwear has been a lifesaver for me many times), always being prepared for a variety of conditions with fun, warm accessories; gloves, warm hats, a nice scarf, warm socks, comfy footwear and wearing bright colors to keep from experiencing winter blues. Also, do your shopping at some of our great Colorado local or online retailers!

Some of my favorite places to grab vegan winter clothing, if you are in Denver, include:

True Love Shoes and Accessories: https://www.trueloveshoes.com/

Hoodlab http://www.hoodlabstore.com/

And for online shopping you can find some great ecofriendly, Colorado vegan finds and beyond at:

The Compassionate Closet https://www.compassionatecloset.com/

The Vickerey http://www.vickerey.com/

The North Face and Patagonia are also great sources for jackets for skiing, snowboarding or other adventures. Look for products that contain Primaloft®, which a synthetic insulator, ThermoBall or other products made with synthetic fibers.

Hiking boots and outdoor recreation gear can be a bit tough to find, a good online source is Vegan Outdoor Adventures, they have all sorts of great product information and reviews for those of us who love to adventure: http://veganoutdooradventures.com/

I’ve also even found some good, budget friendly and good looking vegan accessories, clothes and shoes at Target!

When it comes to a beauty routine be sure to wash your face often with natural products and moisturize your face and neck as well as apply a non-toxic, vegan sunscreen. My favorite places to find the best include natural grocery stores! This way you can test out which products are the best fit for you.

I also very much enjoy wearing lots of cool hats to protect me from the sun in both the winter and summer! And don’t forget your sunglasses!

Many of retailers listed above and the designers they carry have found an alternative to the use of animal products and provide sustainable and environmentally conscious clothing. Many jackets, shoes and other accessories are made hemp, recycled and sustainable fibers, even bamboo. Purchasing these products is also such a great way we can close the loop on recycling and love our environment too!

In your search to find compassionate winter clothing, always be sure to read the labels before purchasing and ask the retailer about the items that the products contain. This also sends a signal that the demand is there for high quality, cruelty free products!

And finally, for a comprehensive list of cruelty free clothing, check out Peta’s Shopping Guide to Compassionate Clothing! Have a wonderful winter!

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The post Surviving Winter in Mountains the Compassionate Way appeared first on Chic Vegan.

The Everyday Backpack from Anthropologie is a simple, chic backpack with a minimalistic feel.  I love the wide straps with subtle topstitched detail.  This bag comes in two colors, black and khaki (shown below).

Image Source and Credit: Anthropologie

Two big trends this season are velvet and embroidery and the Lipsy Backpack from ASOS puts them both front and center.  This on-trend backpack is further accentuated with bold gold zippers and tassels that make this bag fun and fashionable.

Image Source and Credit: ASOS

If you know anything about me, you know what a big fan I am of camouflage print, so when I saw this Camo Backpack from Forever 21, I was sold.  Made from nylon and vegan leather, this bag has a cool, utilitarian vibe.  I could totally see myself using this as my new weekend bag.

Image Source and Credit: Forever 21

Backpacks aren’t just for the weekend.  There are lots of sophisticated styles that will go perfectly with any work or date night outfit.  I am crushing on this Backpack with Front Ring from ZARA.  With an elegant brass front ring closure, this bag is made from pebbled vegan leather and comes in grey (below) or black.

So if you still think that backpacks are just for lugging books around or for a hiking trip, think again.  There are tons of stylish vegan styles out there and they are calling your name!

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The post Rethink The Way You Look at Backpacks appeared first on Chic Vegan.

HoodLamb CO aka HoodLAB is a family owned and operated HoodLamb Concept Store & World Agent for Amsterdam clothing label HoodLamb Hemp Tailors. They operate a  wholesale showroom and e-store Hoodlabstore.com. They also work with companies that want to create branded sustainable merchandise for their crew and following.

HoodLAB’s signature clothing line, HoodLamb Hemp Tailors, contains design t-shirts, hoodies, furry hoodies, heavy-duty winter coats, knitwear and accessories’, all made from hemp, organic cotton and other recycled materials. Wonderful news for the conscious shopper is that HoodLamb since this season officially is PETA-approved!

HoodLAB also carries THTC (The Hemp Trading Company), THTC is multiple award-winning ethical and fair brand from London/UK with a broad range of organic t-shirts designs that will make you think.

What does HoodLAB carry for winter? A full winter line! Hemp is extra warm! Developed in Amsterdam for the harsh winters, HoodLamb has always focused on functional utilitarian wear to protect against rain and cold. Since 2009 they also dress the Sea Shepherd crew on their campaigns around Antarctica and worldwide in the most extreme weather conditions. The Mens’ and Ladies’ jacket line contains key features such as 100% recycled insulation, thumbholes and oversized hoods for extra warmth, vegan faux-fur, hand-warmer pockets to name a few design details.

HoodLAB operates a Colorado based E-store (www.hoodlabstore.com) and also has a Rino District Showroom Store in Denver, Co, anyone can make an appointment to come try on jackets and gear. Give them a call at 720-669-3369 if you’d like to visit to the Showroom.

Cici’s tips for surviving winter in the Mountains: “Colorado has many microclimates and we got 300 days of sun here so it can be deceivingly beautiful and things can change rapidly due to the mountain landscape. Make sure you have good gear to help you stay warm and comfortable. Dressing in layers is always a good idea.” And don’t forget to shop HoodLAB!

You can find HoodLAB at:

http://www.hoodlabstore.com/
http://www.instagram.com/hoodlab
http://www.facebook.com/hoodlabstore
Hoodlamb Colorado
3049 Lawrence Street
Denver CO 80205 USA
PH: 720-669-3369

The post Hoodlamb CO aka Hoodlab – Beautiful Vegan Jackets and More!! appeared first on Chic Vegan.

Goodness, she is so wrong – for some of us anyway!

Today’s break up was particularly difficult. I’ve broken up over 300 times this year, and some splits are more difficult than others.

Let me explain; I sent my Giorgio Armani pants in for reselling, as part of my journey towards a more minimal wardrobe. These whimsical pants are, no doubt, the hardest item I’ve had to let go of.

My 30-year obsession with this designer’s fluidly classical designs doesn’t help matters!

Although I have fond memories of a holiday friendship when I bought these glorious light weight, sea-foam green, wide legged pants, that’s also not what made it so hard to part with them. I was lucky enough to visit the Armani factory outlet in Lake Como, Italy so I could even overcome the common obstacle of too-pricey-to-part-with.   I’ve had them for 9 years, so they’ve also had a good wearing innings. Granted, they’ve been uncomfortably tight in the waist for a while now, yet I still clung on so tightly!

So let me tell you what has made it so darn difficult to let go of them.

It’s because they represent ‘my wishful self-image’. The look you dream of yourself wearing, but never really get around to pulling it off in your real life experiences.

I call these pieces wishful-self items. We love them but know they’re not a good match for our actual lifestyle.  So what happens is this piece goes back into our closet, only to be our daily reminders of a failed fantasy self-image, or a slimmer body, or a guilt of money spent, or whatever the achilles heal is that prevents us from parting ways.

And that my readers, is the dichotomy of breaking up!

Thankfully, once we can see why we’re clinging on so tightly, we can often overcome our attachments.

So here are just a handful of reasons why breaking up is so hard to do:

1. Wishful-self pieces – These items of clothing or accessories are divine to love, touch, hold or admire but not as easy, or comfortable, to wear or simply don’t represent your authentic style
2. Orphan items – Unlike the above piece, these pieces fit and are pleasing to wear, but simply don’t have partners to team up with.  So either find something to wear with them or let them go
3. Sentimental attachments – Remember that memories aren’t woven into the fibre of the clothing, these memories are inside you. So take a pic and let it go
4. Great quality items – Other people also recognise and appreciated good quality, so stop being too precious about your never-worn item just because it’s great quality. Share by reselling or donating them
5. Size – if it doesn’t fit today, alter it or discard of it. Be good to yourself by accepting where you are today (pregnancy aside).

Among Marie Kondo’s better suggestions is that we thank our clothing for their wear, before letting them go. This practise makes much sense and is certainly a way to honour their service.

As for my Armani pants; the hard part is over, and two hours later I have to wonder what all the fuss was about!

The post Wardrobe: why breaking up is so hard to do! appeared first on Chic Vegan.

Started by Natália Guerreiro and Vítor Lopes, Corkor is made, start to finish, in a workshop in Portugal. With an eye on creating quality vegan products that are fairly sourced and reasonably priced, Corkor has succeed in creating a 100% sustainable, vegan and eco-friendly alternative to leather that you can wear with pride.  The folks at Corkor don’t just create beautiful bags and accessories, they are also committed to helping the environment.

“Sustainability is one of the biggest issues of our times. It touches many aspects of our lives, right down to the materials we choose to buy. In these defining times where our choices can and will define the future of the planet, cork stands out as the number one eco–friendly raw material.

At Corkor, we feel we can truly make a difference by providing people with a premium, eco–friendly alternative to other highly polluting products. Cork is good for the environment in more than one way: recyclable, reusable and sustainable, cork is also a high–end alternative to leather. Beautiful, sustainable and vegan accessories are our contribution to a better, greener world.”

So this all sounds really cool…but I bet you’re wondering how Corkor’s products look and feel…right? Well lucky for you…and me…Corkor sent me one of their amazing vegan backpacks to test out.It is hard to believe that this backpack is made out of cork. It is incredibly soft but also sturdy. It has a drawstring closure with an additional flap and magnetic closure to make sure that all of your belongings stay safe and sound. The interior is nicely lined and has one zipped pocket as well as a strap with a latch to keep your keys on.  This bag is incredibly lightweight which is perfect if you are like me and carry around a ton of stuff.   Available in five colors, you can have a different cork backpack for every outfit.

Head on over to Corkor to check out their backpacks and all of the other cool vegan bags and accessories that they offer and see for yourself what amazing things can be done with cork.

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While cherry picked media has been part of my intentional style revival, I’ve found that the answer to honing personal style is much about self acceptance and less about style guidance!

Courage is needed.

Much like with veganism, one needs the courage to unlearn what you’ve learnt, and step away from society’s expectations. For personal style development, courage is needed to recognise you are not what you wear!

I recently came across a YouTube series called, “The What’s Underneath Project,” a series of docu-style video portraits where people of all ages, races, body types, genders and abilities remove layers of clothing while sharing honest, empowering stories related to style, self-image and identity.

My personal version of this came late last year when I shaved my head.  I did it to expose ME; rather than me with straight hair, me with my naturally curly hair, me on good or bad hair days.

I didn’t want to hide behind my hair. Immediately I felt more ME and less about what my hair was ‘saying’ about me.

I felt naked and liberated.

So I began to wonder, could minimising my wardrobe have similar positive results as minimising my hairstyle? Would simplifying what I wore expose my body-conscious vulnerabilities, as my shaved head exposed my laugh lines? Admittedly, an uncomfortable place to start, but potentially powerfully transformative.

There’s little doubt that minimalism helps detangle self from possessions. So I felt sure that by significantly minimising my wardrobe it could offer me the same honed, unencumbered sense of self.

I began to purge.

I’ve found paring down my wardrobe incredibly difficult though. My clothes have helped me project body confidence, when in fact I’ve found that I’ve been using clothing to masterfully hide my insecurities. I still do, but now there’s less energy, angst and focus spent on my clothing. Less morning decision fatigue, a little more body acceptance, far less searching for the elusive ‘body perfect look’.

I’m journeying to a minimised wardrobe where I know what I have and I’m getting to appreciate a simplified aesthetic.  Yet, just as with veganism, it’s the daily choices that keep one on track to staying mindful and intentional.

What I know know is that there are no “7 must-have pieces to style perfection” or “5 steps to a stylish you”.

There is no easy fast track, and quite frankly I’m thankful for this journey. My personal style is moving me towards personal growth, more worldly compassion and, slowly but surely, more self acceptance.

I’d love to hear how veganism, wardrobe planning or even minimising has helped you towards intentional living!

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