Cruelty-Free Fashion: Style and a Good Conscience Go Hand in Hand

I often hear from committed vegetarians that they feel compromised wearing leather footwear but there aren't any good fashion alternatives. If you're going to slaughter a cow for fashion, you might as well eat a hamburger. There are many cruelty-free and environmentally friendly options that are also attractive and trendy. Vegan fashion has come a long way from ugly orthopedic looking shoes and ragged knit handbags. The following companies and designers cause no harm to animals (people included!) in the making of quality fashion.

Herbivore Clothing Company (www.herbivoreclothing.com)
Based in Portland, Oregon, Herbivore offers beautiful silk screened shirts and hoodies using no sweatshop labor. Their wallets and bags are made from recycled billboard ads and recycled bike inner tubes, making every piece unique in color. They also carry a large selection of books on animal rights, human rights, and cookbooks including Vegan on a Shoestring and quite possibly the most rad cookbook ever - Please Don't Feed the Bear, which offers black, death, thrash and doom metal music recommendations with every tempting recipe.

Alternative Outfitters (www.alternativeoufitters.com)
One stop shopping for the latest trends as well as finely-made classics in the shoes and boots department, outerwear, bags, wallets, and accessories from Los Angeles. I bought my gladiator sandals here and they still look amazing after wearing them almost every day for four months. My boyfriend picked up a wonderful messenger bag made of jute by Freeset with an even better story: handmade by a small group of former prostitutes in North Calcutta, they now sell these bags to support their families. You can also find Freeset through their site www.freesetbags.com.

Bourgeois Boheme (www.bboheme.com)
Every company should share this London based company's view of not trading ethics for fashion, nor sacrificing style for conscience. BoBo, as the company refers to itself, offers a variety of well-made shoes and boots for both men and woman. Elegant and fun, the designs prove that you don't need to wrap your feet in animal flesh in order to look great. I covet the Novacas Aurora boot they carry; the flat heeled tall boot is a must for a stylish fall-into-winter (get these boots here in New York at MooShoes on Orchard Street). BoBo also carries a cool line of accessories from whimsical kitten and poodle brooches to funky belts to chunky knit scarves. Men will find sophisticated bags and wallets which would convert even the most fervent back pocket crammer. "Breathing soul into fashion" is a motto I can truly get behind (and get on my body).

Many of the bags found at Bourgeois Boheme are made by Inder Bedi, the designer behind Montreal based Matt & Nat. His new fall line is gorgeous, structured, edgy, and mod, which is enough to make heads turn as you walk down the street, but knowing that these accessories consist of treated cardboard, recycled soda bottles, and vintage faux leather, you can feel extra amazing showing off.

Amy Hall is another eco-conscience and animal-friendly bag designer. Her line, amykathryn (www.amykathryn.com), is beautiful and well thought out and all the bags are named for different flowers. I'm having a hard time deciding between the exquisitely detailed Marigold, which can be worn as a tote or a shoulder bag, or the Poppy Amethyst in custom printed ultrasuede. She also makes luxurious travel bags and diaper bags that are pretty enough for every day, non baby use!

Te Casan (www.tecasan.com) and Natalie Portman have teamed up and collaborated on a line of vegan footwear. Prices run about $200 a pair for these sexy heels. However, you can feel good about spending the money on these beautiful shoes; all of Ms. Portman's profits go to animal rights and environmental conservation non-profit organizations.

Lush (www.lush.com)
Clothes and accessories can only take a person so far on the quest for beauty. Hygiene cannot be underestimated and unfortunately, I only found out about this company recently. My good friend Josh gave me quite a bounty of Lush bath products for my birthday and after I read up on them, I was hooked! Lush takes great pride in making incredible products using only fresh, organic fruits and vegetables with the finest essential oils. Not only does Lush not use animal products or participate in animal testing, they will not deal with companies that do. Lush has integrity and it doesn't hurt that their products work - and work well! My sensitive, dry skin feels and looks incredible after using Ultra-Bland make-up remover, Breath of Fresh Air toner, and Celestial moisturizer. You'll never use bottled shampoo again with a wash from Lush shampoo bars (Seanik is my fav). This company tries to minimize packaging with reusable tins and recycled materials. From face cleansers to body wash to shampoo bars to incredibly fun bath bombs, Lush is the only place you need to get your beauty routine fix!

These are only a select few of the great companies and designers making a difference and being socially conscious. To find local stores in your area that carry cruelty-free beauty, and cut out adding to your carbon footprint due to shipping, go to the websites provided within the article or have fun with an Internet search engine. Also try www.sweatfree.org/shoppingguide for more compassionate clothing options. Don't forget about "recycled" clothing! If you can get past the someone-I-don't-know-wore-this factor, vintage shops provide amazing finds for a unique style. Throwing a clothing-swap party with friends is another great resource for "new" clothes. Plus, re-using is the best earth-friendly, and therefore animal-friendly, way of living.
Happy shopping!