Vaute Couture Pops in Venice

It’s fitting that Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart of Vaute Couture should introduce our brand-new Talk the Walk section, where we get up close and personal with influencers who have moved mountains to realize their vision of conscious living. She also designed our exclusive tank for sale in our Shop with 100% of proceeds support our cause partner Farm Sanctuary.

We caught up with the vegan eco fashion designer at the opening of her pop-up in Venice, CA where Vaute Couture is in residence now through October 21st.

In 2008, Leanne walked away from a Ford Modeling career and full-ride MBA program at DePaul University to follow her dream of creating the unthinkable: A vegan and sustainable fashion company. Using recycled and recyclable fabrics and local production, Vaute Couture launched in 2009 with one perfect coat.

After opening her Williamsburg store in 2012, Vaute Couture became the first cruelty-free eco fashion label to show at New York Fashion Week the following year—and CNN called Leanne the “rebel of Fashion Week.” This woman is our kind of rebel: Instead of changing to suit the world, she challenged the world to follow suit.

Case in point? The Venice pop-up, where we discovered cool fanny packs from local designer Hipsters for Sisters, plus the cutest Insecta upcycled fabric shoes! Of course, we were already obsessed with Vaute Couture’s organic tank and T’s, and, waxed canvas jackets and hats made from upcycled plastic bottles. Check the Eco Makeover section to see what we took home!

If you’re in LA, visit the Vaute Couture pop up at 1306 Abbott Kinney Boulevard now through October 21^st. Discover more about the brand at www.VauteCouture.com.

What are your favorite eco vegan fashion labels? Please share in comments, thanks!