The new trend is to downsize your life and live with the bare minimum of things that “bring you joy”. 

As an Image Consultant, I understand and agree with that.  However, some of us are on the go and need to have various things with us at all times.  I, for example, live in New York City and don’t have (or need) a car. I travel around the city for business and social events most days of the week. I usually need to have my laptop with me, as well my smart phone, back up batteries and all the power cords. Not to mention my wallet, keys and makeup.  Sometimes I need to bring lunch and snacks, supplies for a presentation or a change of shoes. That’s just my reality.

I don’t like traditional briefcases, and backpacks are not my style.  But carrying both a large purse and a laptop bag is not efficient and doesn’t look great. I’ve been dreaming of a handbag that could hold everything I need and I wouldn’t have to awkwardly fish around for a pen or my phone or other smaller items that get lost at the bottom of a large bag. But, of course, I need to have something that suits my personal style and is ethically made.  No matter where I go, I want to feel fabulous and not weighed down. I also want to know that no animals were harmed to make any product I own.

Graceship has come up with an excellent solution!  Their Laptop Purse is light, roomy, compartmentalized and around the same size as my other tote bags. It is designed for the fashion forward with class, using animal free and sustainable materials.

I love my “London” style bag, in black.  It also comes in a very stylish camel color.  The “New York” bag also comes in black (of course).  The new “Hong Kong” design comes in a creamy, light color called “stone”, with an extra front pocket and elongated shoulder strap.  They all have a soft, chocolate colored lining, so nothing gets scratched.  The external material is scratch resistant and the gold hardware is a perfect finishing touch.  There is something for every discerning and sophisticated taste!

Graceship is designed by Emily Gimmel, who has worked as an entertainment reporter.  She really understands what a professional woman on the go needs.

Graceship bags are Vegan Certified by PETA and Fair Trade Certified by the Fair Trade Federation. They are also certified by the Women’s Business & Enterprise National Council where at least  51% of the company is owned, operated and controlled by women. The $175 price point is completely reasonable for this durable, fabulous, ethical product.  This Fashionista Compassionista, looks forward to using it proudly, for a long time.

If you think I carry a lot of stuff, check out this video to see how much it can really hold! Watch here

Find Graceship products at: www.thegraceship.com, Facebook , Twitter and Instagram

The post The Problem Solving Laptop Purse by Graceship appeared first on Chic Vegan.

Chic Vegan-  How long have you been vegan and what motivated you?
Julia Ahrens – I just celebrated my 3 years of being vegan on May 10th. Prior to going vegan, I was a vegetarian for almost a decade. I went vegetarian because at the age of 11 years old I didn’t want to kill any animals. I wasn’t aware of the suffering that I was still contributing to by consuming eggs and milk, and wearing wool, leather, and silk. When I began to learn more about veganism, I realized that I had to change my lifestyle.

CV – That is very similar to my story. I just didn’t know about the dairy and egg industry, but once informed, it was a quick & easy decision. When people learn that you are vegan, what do they usually ask you and what is your response?
JA – When people learn that I’m vegan, their first response is, “I could never be vegan, what do you eat?” I explain how easy it is to eat a vegan diet and then go on to explain that veganism extends beyond your plate. Most people aren’t aware that veganism is an entire lifestyle and also encompasses what you wear, the products you use, the companies you support, etc. They then usually ask me what food I miss the most and what vegan clothing means.

CV – What inspired you to be a designer & how did you get started?
JA – I’ve always been a very hands on and creative person. As a child I was obsessed with doing arts and crafts, specifically ones that you could use and wear (friendship bracelets, making scarves, etc). In high school I started taking weekend classes at FIT (Fashion Institute of  Technology)  and fell in love with fashion design and decided to pursue it in college.

CV – Tell us more about the term in your mission statement, “triconsciousness”?
JA – Triconsciousness is the word I use to describe the protection of the rights of animals, humans, and our planet. It is being conscious of the impact that we are making on our world and all beings that inhabit it.

CV – Talk about your design aesthetic and what inspires it.
JA – In my opinion, fashion should be cute, comfortable, and compassionate. I’m inspired by nature, our beautiful earth, and body movement. When I first start designing I find a location that I love, beautiful pictures of our planet, or a concept of a location and go from there. For example, our Zen Collection was inspired by the Zen gardens in Portland, Oregon. Our Forest Collection was inspired by the idea of living in an enchanted forest, and the collection I’m currently working on is inspired by the concept of living in the sky and sleeping among the clouds. I then design garments that would fit into these environments—always making sure that the designs are comfortable without sacrificing style. I’m also a huge fan of neutral colors and simple clean silhouettes (they fit best into any wardrobe and can be worn for any occasion!).

CV – I love my Miakoda asymmetrical tank. It’s cute & comfy, as you intended, but it also fits into my personal style that tends to be a little edgy. I like when I can mix & match aesthetics to enhance personal style. I can see your entire collection being diverse in that way. How would you describe your personal style?
JA – My personal style is definitely reflected in the style of the garments I design for Miakoda. I never design anything that I wouldn’t wear myself. I describe my personal style as refined grunge. I love slouchy, relaxed silhouettes in neutral, clean colors.

CV – I noticed on your Facebook page, you have just created more mala bracelets. They are really pretty. Do you make them yourself and what is the inspiration for these designs?
JA – Meditation has been such a helpful tool for me to stay grounded, present, peaceful, and happy. I especially love practicing mantra meditation with my mala beads. Wearing my mala throughout the day reminds me of the peace I find in my meditation practice. I wanted to share this practice and these feelings with others, which lead to me designing a mala collection. I do make them myself (so every mala is made with tons of love!). Each mala is made using sacred beads or gemstones. All crystals have different metaphysical properties, so I make sure to pick each stone carefully.

CV – Why do you think some designers are apprehensive about using vegan materials?
JA – I think that many designers are apprehensive about using vegan materials because they don’t want to be ‘limited’ and because they are stuck in old habit. They love the wools, silks, leathers, and furs that they have always used and are probably afraid that their customers won’t like the change. I also believe that many people, as well as designers, aren’t aware of why it’s so important to humans, animals and our environment to use vegan fibers.

CV – Do others in your industry disagree with your views on being vegan?
JA – Some people do, some people don’t. I think that in general, in every industry, some people will agree with veganism and some people won’t. Fashion definitely tends to be one of the less vegan-friendly industries, but it’s exciting to see how many more vegan and eco-friendly fashion lines are popping up!

CV – What advice can you give up & coming designers who want their fashions to be cruelty free?
JA – My advice would be to just commit to being cruelty free. Find fabric suppliers that offer great vegan options, get a ton of swatches and remember that there are tons and tons of great vegan fabrics. Limitations can help to fuel creativity!

CV – Have you ever had to compromise style & quality In order to stay cruelty free?
JA – Personally, I feel that anything that is cruel is not stylish. I’ve definitely fallen in love with a sweater hanging on a rack and read the label to find out it contains wool. After discovering that a garment isn’t vegan it no longer looks as beautiful to me because I know the suffering that occurred in order to create it.

CV – Do you have a pet peeve about the fashion industry?
JA – I love the fashion industry; however, I wish it was more compassionate sometimes. I wish that companies would promote a healthy idea of beauty, use fair labor and fibers that are eco-friendly and cruelty free. The industry is definitely heading more in that direction every year!

CV – What is your favorite indulgence?
JA – Amazing vegan shoes and bags!!

CV – What advice would you give to someone wanting to be a vegan entrepreneur?
JA – Never give up, and remember why what you’re doing is important and necessary.

CV – In your wildest dreams, where would you be in 5 years?
JA – In my wildest dreams, Miakoda will have a storefront in NYC and we will be promoting and spreading gorgeous, stylish, vegan, and eco-friendly love to a large audience! I would love for Miakoda to do more charity work and to give back more to places and people doing awesome things for animals (i.e., animal sanctuaries, shelters, etc.)!

CV – I’ll be the first to line up there! For now, where can we find your products?
JA – You can shop our collection on our site: www.miakodanewyork.com. Also at opensky.com/miakoda and scoutmob.com/new-york/miakoda

The post Cute, Comfortable and Compassionate Style with Julia Ahrens of Miakoda appeared first on Chic Vegan.

I promise next time I will give you some fashion insights, but this week all I can think about is A Sustainable World 2014 Art competition and exhibition.

I have been running this competition to find some fabulous vegan sustainable and cruelty free art for my atelier. We have been overwhelmed by the number of entries as well as the quality of them.

You can see who was shortlisted at AtelierTammam.com/sustartcomp or better still join us to view the exhibition in person at Atelier Tammam, 5 Hastings street, London, WC1H 9PZ (a rare opportunity to visit the atelier without an appointment).

The exhibition is open to the public and artworks are available to buy with profits going to animal welfare charities.

Friday 16th – 11am – 6pm

Saturday 17th – 11am – 4pm

Sunday 18th – 12 – 4pm

Monday 19th – 11am to 4pm

I personally can’t wait, but first I have to play hostess at the private view, where famous vegan Meg Matthews will be joined by art industry insiders and celebrity ecoistas, as well as the shortlisted artists for a night of exclusive viewing, a fabulous vegan reception sponsored by Vegusto, Sacred and Pop Chips plus one of our infamous goody bags… want to know what’s inside? Check the SustArtComp Facebook after the event and covet the bags full of vegan treats….!

Yours in Art (back to couture next week)

Ms Tammam

The post A Vegan Art Exhibition appeared first on Chic Vegan.

The video footage shows workers grabbing and carrying geese by their delicate necks or by a single wing. The frightened birds are squeezed while held upside down between workers’ knees as the workers rip out fistfuls of feathers. One worker was photographed sitting on a goose’s neck in order to prevent the birdfrom escaping.

Once their feathers have been ripped out—exposing raw skin—many birds lie on the floor, bleeding and shaking. Birds are frequently plucked so violently that they are left with gaping wounds. When this happens, workers use a needle and thread to sew up the wound—without any painkillers.

Buying down also supports the cruel foie gras industry, which force-feeds ducks and geese until their livers expand up to 10 times their normal size. Outdoors outfitter The North Face admitted in 2012 that it was using down from foie gras farms, despite previous claims that none of its down came from geese who were force-fed or live-plucked.

In contrast, after learning from PETA how down is obtained, The Coleman Company, Inc. recently became the first outdoors outfitter to switch to selling only down-free sleeping bags, jackets, and other products.

Coleman’s ethical decision shouldn’t hurt the company’s bottom line, according to a poll that PETA recently commissioned of outdoor sports enthusiasts, which revealed that the vast majority of consumers—80 percent—are happy to choose products with synthetic insulation over duck or goose down and would shop at stores that don’t sell down products. That number rose to 88 percent after respondents were informed that down is sometimes obtained from birds who are force-fed for foie gras.

Concerned consumers can look for outerwear and bedding insulated with “down alternative” polyester fill, PrimaLoft®, Thinsulate, and other vegan materials that are lightweight, packable, machine-washable, and, unlike down, retain their insulating properties even when wet. Last year, one totally synthetic jacket—Outdoor Research’s Halogen jacket—earned Outside magazine’s prestigious Gear of the Year Award. The North Face’s new Thermoball technology—which is constructed with low-weight, individual high-loft clusters that mimic down—reputedly offers the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any synthetic on the market, which is all the more reason for the company to get out of the down business.

Photography from rml-stock.

The post Wait! Read This Before You Buy That Down Vest appeared first on Chic Vegan.

PETA, the organization that started Fur-Free Friday, wants to garner some holiday goodwill not just for animals killed for their fur but for all animals who suffer and die so that people can buy leather boots, animal-tested cosmetics, and memberships to sausage-of-the-month clubs. So this year, for the first time ever, we will celebrate Cruelty-Free Friday, a chance for people who care about animals to promote cruelty-free holiday shopping by attending a demonstration, posting on social-networking sites, and leading by example.

And to give you a head start on the leading-by-example part, here are a few gift finds that look good and do good: All the proceeds go to help PETA save animals.  

Here’s one calendar that makes compassion an everyday occurrence. Each month of the 2014 “Rescued” calendar features the beautiful portrait and heartwarming story of an animal who was rescued.

True beauty comes from within. So not only are women who choose cruelty-free cosmetics darling to animals, they also give themselves a lovely glow. Give the women in your life a gift that’s as pretty and as thoughtful as they are with a “Beauty Without Bunnies” cosmetics bag.

Make the world a sweeter place for animals—and for her. Sweet Anthem handmade perfumes are always cruelty-free and vegan, so they’re as nice to animals as they are to noses.

We all splurge a little during the holidays. But when the treats are vegan, it’s a splurge that you can feel good about. This holiday chocolate box is the right size to give—or to keep.

Go ahead—give cruelty some lip. Take a bite out of animal testing and Old Man Winter the festive way with a stocking-ready three-pack of holiday lip balms.

Make a compassionate statement with these unisex rings. Why are they called “animal” etched rings? Each band has engravings inspired by the Morse code for the word “animal” on the outside and an engraved PETA bunny on the inside.

Classy and cruelty-free is the way to be. He can wear his heart on his chest whether he’s headed to the office or a holiday soirée, with Jaan J.’s elegant nonsilk ties. Each design features an animal pattern that represents a major focus of PETA’s campaigns.

And who could forget our best friends? The “Woof. Walk. Wag.” dog collar will make your pooch want to do all three.

To find a Cruelty-Free Friday demonstration near you, contact PETA’s Action Team. Happy (and humane) holidays!

Written by Michelle Kretzer

The post Get Ready for the First-Ever Cruelty-Free Friday appeared first on Chic Vegan.

Now, before you say that I don’t care about breast cancer, let me add that I lost the person I was closest to, my grandmother, to the disease, and other women in my family have survived it. So even though I’m vegan, I still consider myself to be at high risk. I would love nothing more than for someone to find a cure for breast cancer—which is exactly why you won’t catch me filling up my shopping cart with pink whatnots.

The problem I have is this: Nearly all the companies churning out these products are “pinkwashing,” meaning that they toss a pittance at a breast cancer charity so they can slap a pink ribbon on their products and rake in huge profits from well-intentioned but uninformed people. And that makes me blue in the face.

My other big problem with most breast cancer charities is where the money actually goes. No, I’m not just referring to Susan G. Komen head Nancy Brinker, who quietly gave herself a 64 percent raise, bringing her annual salary to $685,000. I’m just going to let that sink in for a minute. OK, let’s move on. My big beef with most breast cancer “charities” is that they waste money on archaic and cruel animal experiments that still haven’t produced a cure—and won’t because animals’ genetic makeup is vastly different from humans’. Richard Klausner, former head of the National Cancer Institute, stated, “The history of cancer research has been a history of curing cancer in the mouse. We have cured mice of cancer for decades, and it simply didn’t work in humans.”

Continuing to dump money into these useless and cruel experiments sounds to me like the definition of insanity.

Susan G. Komen, the American Cancer Society, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research all waste your hard-earned money funding experiments on animals. But PETA has extensively studied breast cancer charities that fund modern, sophisticated non-animal research or help provide women with direct care and education about prevention.

The American Breast Cancer Foundation (ABCF) “provide[s] early detection education and screening services to those in need, no matter what age, race, sex, or financial challenge.” The ABCF’s Breast Cancer Assistance Program facilitates mammograms, ultrasounds, and biopsies and gives post–breast surgery care kits to hospitals for mastectomy patients to use. The Breast Cancer Fund works to identify and eliminate environmental and other preventable causes of breast cancer. And the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade funds access to care, education, and modern, sophisticated, non-animal research, particularly through its collaboration with the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation.

Click here for a complete list of breast cancer charities that do and do not conduct animal experiments. And this October, instead of buying up pink, let’s put the charities that are actually helping women in the black.

Written by Michelle Kretzer

The post Want Your Breast Cancer Dollars to Count? Think Outside the Pink appeared first on Chic Vegan.

So the strange new “snail facial” offered by one Japanese salon seems kind of, well, slimy. The theory is that as the snails roam around a person’s face, their mucus helps to exfoliate and moisturize the skin. But snails need their mucus more than we do: It’s how they protect their feet as they travel. Snails are also nocturnal animals who like it dark and damp. That’s not exactly what they get in a dry plastic box under bright salon lights. And there’s no solid data or science behind the touted snail-slime benefits, not like there is for the exfoliating properties of plant-derived glycolic acid, for example, or the moisturizing benefits of aloe.

And with those, you don’t get snail slime in your hair.

Much more common but equally ridiculous are so-called “fish pedicures.” Nail salons keep Garra rufa fish in tubs of water and starve them so that they are hungry enough to eat the dead skin off patrons’ feet. And since live fish can’t be sanitized, there’s an increased risk of infection. I believe I’ll stick with a nice pumice stone.

Of course, I also prefer that my beauty products not be made from anyone who once moved about independently, either. So I stay away from crushed-snail facial creams, ant body wash, bee-venom masks, and all the other bizarre beauty concoctions of the week. And I like using PETA‘s Beauty Without Bunnies online database to find out which products are and are not tested on animals.

Because every woman loves to feel pretty, and there are few things uglier than being cruel.

Written by Michelle Kretzer

Image courtesy of Flickr

The post Crawling Snails, Biting Fish, and Other Beauty Treatments That Aren’t Pretty appeared first on Chic Vegan.

Many vegetarians and vegans have to work to get meat-free meals in the workplace. Members of the newly formed Congressional Vegetarian Staff Association—aka the “Veggie Caucus”—are lobbying for more meat-free meals in Capitol Hill cafeterias. They’re tired of the same boring bean dishes every day. They want Capitol Hill to promote healthy eating—and to help save animals and the environment. If it does, maybe more workplaces will follow suit.

Encouraging employees to eat healthier—and conserve resources—by offering more vegan options in the office cafeteria is a win-win situation. When employees eat vegan foods, they’re less likely to suffer from weight problems, heart disease, strokes, cancer, diabetes, and other diet-related conditions, which, in turn, reduces everyone’s health-care costs.

Many large companies aspire to be green by recycling and using reclaimed water and energy-efficient lighting but still serve meat in the office cafeteria—even though studies show that cooking just one charbroiled burger causes as much pollution as driving an 18-wheeler for 143 miles. Researchers from Loma Linda University say that vegans have the smallest carbon footprint, generating 41 percent fewer greenhouse gasses than meat-eaters do and 13 percent fewer than vegetarians, and a NationalGeographic.com report shows that the average vegan indirectly consumes nearly 600 gallons of water a day less than the average meat-eater. If you multiply these savings for a staff of 100, it’s … well, it’s a lot—even if some employees choose to eat meat or other nonvegan foods when not in the office.

Many Americans are fed up with meat, though. U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics suggest that meat consumption in the U.S. has been on a steady decline for four years. People are clearly craving something better. If more employers implement a vegan office policy—or even offer just a few more vegan foods—the workforce might be healthier and happier.

If you work in an office with a cafeteria or have a lunchroom meal plan, ask your employer to offer more vegan options. If this gets you nowhere—or if you work somewhere without a lunchroom—PETA and the LunchBoxBunch.com both offer free vegan “brown bag” recipes. It’s easy enough to tote tasty vegan fare, such as hummus and veggie wraps, pasta salad, lentil soup, and vegetarian sushi, to work with you, but if your office cafeteria is serving a lot of meaty meals, it’ll benefit everyone if you encourage your employer to include vegan options, too.

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Image courtesy of Flickr.

The post You Shouldn’t Have to Work to Get Vegan Options in Your Workplace appeared first on Chic Vegan.

This family of geese will refuse to add ambiance to a picturesque sunset ever again if you buy down.

This gosling is going to turn to a life of crime if you kill his mother for her feathers.

Look like ducks just sitting in a row? That’s what they want you to think. These duck intelligence operatives are hatching a plan to destroy your down comforter and make it look like an accident.

(credit: AndyRobertsPhotos|cc by 2.0)

If you wear down, these parents of quintuplets have vowed to make you watch hours of the scariest videos that they could find: Jon & Kate Plus 8.

This gosling is going to go all Gangnam Style on you if you wear down.

 These geese have vowed to make your car’s paint job sing its swan song if you buy down.

This mother and her babies are going to “forget” where they put your car keys if you plan to head to the mall to buy a down coat.

(Credit: Dirk Duckhorn|cc by 2.0)

This duck isn’t even going to look at you if you buy down feathers.

These ducks will never play Duck, Duck, Goose with you again if you purchase down bedding.

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Save ducks and geese and save yourself. Buy cruelty-free bedding and coats and leave down where it belongs.

Written by PETA

The post These Ducks and Geese Think Down Is a Downer appeared first on Chic Vegan.

• A harp seal might help you get you a Harp Irish Lager faster: Seals have sensitive whiskers that help them find food in murky waters, so they should have an edge at finding the only open spot around a crowded bar.
• Talk about a great wingman: Guys, if you think that the dog park is the premier spot to meet girls, imagine the reaction you’d get if you sauntered into a party with an adorable baby seal on your arm. The ladies would be melting faster than the polar ice caps.
• Or a great wingwoman: Female seals are used to males competing for their attention. So if a blathering windbag at the bar is trying to monopolize your time, a seal can swoop in and steer you toward the cutie on the dance floor.
• Bustin’ moves, not chops: Seals have superb hearing, so they can easily detect a fresh new beat. But that hunter who’s always trying to spot someone fresh to beat up on? You’ll notice he’s standing by himself.
• They can pull an all-nighter: If everybody needs to crash at your house after a late night, a seal will gladly sleep on the couch and let you have the bed, as evidenced by the seal pup who curled up on a woman’s couch for some shut-eye. Letting a seal pass out on your couch makes you an Internet sensation. Making a seal pass out from blood loss just makes you a jerk.

Unfortunately, seals aren’t likely to accept an invitation that includes the word “club” until that other type of seal clubbing ends. E-mail Canada’s political leaders and urge them to support the proposed bill to end the seal slaughter. Then go polish your vegan dancing
shoes.

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Image courtesy of Flickr’s The Commons.

The post Top 5 Reasons to Go Clubbing WITH Seals appeared first on Chic Vegan.