Vegan Feature: Jen&Co

When transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, fashion was something I really struggled with. How could I give up my designer bags, purses, sweaters, hats, etc.? It was a process fo sure, but thankfully, vegan fashion is becoming more mainstream and brands like Jen & Co make shopping so much easier!

Jen & Co specializes in cruelty free PETA-Approved vegan bags and also sells apparel and accessories. I am wearing the Selina Loungewear Set, Olivia Croc Satchel and Piper Fedora. The loungewear set is so comfortable and can go from day to night, from lounging at home, to casual and cute. The hat and bag go with so much! The hat’s chain is removable and the bag can be worn as a satchel or crossbody.

I am always one for a great statement piece, but I find that incorporating neutrals and easy to wear pieces accommodate my day-to-day lifestyle best! Check out Jen & Co next time you’re looking for some cute vegan finds to add to your wardrobe!

 

SHOP THE LOOK

My Top Picks From The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

It’s the time of year that Nordstrom has their Anniversary Sale! Nordstrom wouldn’t be the first place I’d think of when you talk vegan fashion, eco home & lifestyle, and green beauty, but they do have some good options!

Please note that although you can preview the sale today, July 6th, the items won’t actually start to be on sale to the public until July 12th. Below is a breakdown of the timeline.

July 6 - Sale Preview (Everyone!)

July 12 - 27 - Icon Early Access

July 14 - 27 - Ambassador Early Access

July 16 - 27 - Influencer Early Access

July 28 - August 8 - Sale Open To Everyone

You can get early access if you have or sign up for a Nordstrom credit card. More details about this on their website.

Everything I have curated below is vegan and cruelty-free. I try my best to include organic, sustainable, recycled, ethical, and made in the USA items and brands as much as possible.

VEGAN FASHION



ECO HOME & LIFESTYLE


GREEN BEAUTY

Gucci Launches Vegan Shoe Collection

This week Gucci launched Demetra, a vegan leather alternative made from wood pulp. The luxury brand said it spent two years researching and developing animal-free materials.

The new collection has three styles of sneakers Gucci Rhytons, Gucci Basket, and the Gucci Ace. The luxury brand is pricing the styles between $690-$940.

The wood pulp-based faux leather, Demetra, is composed of 80% raw materials. Demetra is produced in their Italian factory using the same process as leather tanning to ensure the plant-based material has the same softness, durability, and resilience. Also included in the collection is recycled steel, recycled polyester, and organic cotton.

Gucci’s President and CEO, Marco Bizzarri, said “In our 100th anniversary year… Demetra is a new category of material that encapsulates Gucci’s quality and aesthetic standards with our desire to innovate, leveraging our traditional skills and know-how to create for an evolving future.”

“Demetra offers our industry an easily scalable, alternative choice and a more sustainable material that also answers the needs of animal-free solutions.”

In the past, Gucci has been known for using exotic animal skins and furs. They have since banned the use of fur in 2017, yet are still under pressure to ban exotic skins, such as alligator and crocodile. There is currently a petition with over 68,000 signatures.

Despite their new venture into cruelty-free materials, the brand still has a lot to work on. However, it is very exciting to see the progress that they have made in launching this vegan line that both classic Gucci sneaker lovers and ethical vegans can get behind!

Gucci plans to come out with more styles using Demetra in the near future. You can now view and shop the styles online at Gucci .

SHOP THE COLLECTION

photo credit: Gucci

How and Where To Find Vegan Hats

I have a vegan hat obsession. I can’t deny it. Unfortunately, with this obsession comes some obstacles — i.e. most of the quality hats out there are not vegan and contain wool, leather, and suede. I have spent years collecting my hats and have had to have a lot of patience in finding them.

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IF YOU’RE SHOPPING SECONDHAND…

I typically get most of my hats through Poshmark — a secondhand shopping app (you can use my code ACSHERM1 to save $10 on your first purchase)! I have some favorite brands that I search for that we will get into later in this post, but I like to use keywords to search for my hats as well like vegan, faux suede, faux leather, and straw. The same goes for other sites/apps like eBay, Mercari, Depop, etc. although I don’t think they are as good for this particular search as Poshmark.

Make sure to confirm the materials with the seller if it isn’t already in the description! You can find brand new hats on from these places as well for a fraction of the cost, not everything has been worn or used before!



IF YOU’RE BUYING DIRECT FROM A RETAILER OR BRAND…

Some brands and companies that I like that have vegan hats are listed below. I have yet to find a big one that is completely vegan, but there are some smaller all vegan brands as well as big brands that have vegan options.


Anthropologie

vegan options from various brands


Artesano

mostly vegan



ASN Hats

vegan options with dedicated section on website




Brixton

vegan options



Free People

vegan options from various brands




Hatsmithe

all vegan




Lack of Color

vegan options





The Modern Cactus Co.

all hats are vegan, footwear is not

Aerosoles Launches Vegan Shoe Line

I am so excited to see more companies come out with vegan collections! Aerosoles launched their Aware (vegan) collection this season and I am here for it! This was my first time trying out the brand and it’s safe to say I am obsessed. Full disclosure, I was gifted these sandals, but I love them so much I have been thinking about purchasing more colors and styles — they were way comfier than I was expecting!

Comfort with any shoe is huge for me, and these have a pillow-like cushioned footbed that squish with every step! According to Aerosoles, they describe the Jamaica sandals as, “Crafted in premium Italian vegan materials, the Jamaica flat sandal stands out as part of our new Aerosoles Aware collection. Ruched uppers imbue this style with dimensional detailing; pillow construction ensures unparalleled comfort. 3/4" Heel Height. Synthetic Upper, Balance Synthetic Materials.”

Check out my favorites from the Aerosoles Aware Collection!