Hey everyone! My name is Amanda Tran and I am so excited to be apart of this fashion show. I have been vegan for 7 months and although that may seem like a short time to some people it is a life style I look forward to living for the rest of my life! Once becoming vegan I felt like I found my true self because it fulfills my soul knowing that this small choice makes a huge impact on the earth, animals, and my health for the better. I am a student from San Jose and love living in the Bay Area because of all the awesome vegan shops popping up everywhere…spreading the vegan love =)

Bergling

I´m a stay at home mom to my 2 year old son and 1 year old daughter. I´m from Iceland. I´ve been vegan for a year now because of my compassion for the earth and animals.

Ciara

Tech geek by day and vegan fashionista by night, this Bay Area native and 20-year vegetarian made the commitment in 2009 to eliminate all animal-derived materials from her wardrobe, but couldn’t find high-fashion animal friendly designers. Realizing there were probably many others in the same predicament, Ciara set out on a mission to prove that one could be ethical, fashionable, and fabulous at the same time and founded the vegan fashion blog Animal Friendly Shopping.

Kayla

I’m from San Jose. I’m a Campaigns Associate at Care2.com. I’ve been vegan for 5 years (vegetarian for 9) and I’m vegan because I love animals, so I don’t contribute to their exploitation or suffering. I have 4 bunnies and I wish I could spoil every animal like I do them. I’m also an avid half-marathon runner, and nothing fuels me better than a vegan diet And I blog at BabeinSoyland.com.

Katia

I was born in Belarus and had been living there my whole life before moving to the US last year. right now I’m going to Berkeley city college and working part time in SF. I love books, ocean, coffee, listening to music and stealing boy’s clothes. I’ve been vegetarian for about a year and 5 months and became vegan here in the US 10 months ago.

Minji

occupation: Learning and Organizational Development [leadership development for my company] where i live: San Francisco, CA

how long you have been veg: Vegetarian for 10 years, Vegan for 2 years.. initially for health/fitness it has evolved into a lifestyle of consciousness for animals and environmental impact.

Jacqueline

how long you have been veg, and why:  I first attempted to go veg when I was around 9yrs old after a school field trip to a dairy farm.  I finally made the connection after staring directly into the cows’ big beautiful black eyes between the hamburgers I ate for dinner and the amazing animals from which they came.  And then realized how many other of the foods I ate came from other equally amazing animals.  I had no clue what I should be eating and didn’t have access to any information on proper veg nutrition, all I knew was that I didn’t want to eat animals.  I eventually failed in my first attempt after a few months of eating an unbalanced and unhealthy diet.  It wasn’t until I moved out of my dad’s house in 2004 that I was able to fully embrace my inner veg in healthy way.  I have been vegetarian for 6 years now, vegan for the past two and I am so much happier and healthier than I have ever been!

Mare

22-year-old freelance illustrator and cartoonist, mostly known for the series “Letters To An Absent Father”, a self-published Pokémon fancomic. Originally from San Jose, but currently living in Seattle. Vegan since 2007. Vegetarian since never. Vegan because it’s easy, and I don’t like killing things.

Mike

I was born and raised in Burlingame, CA. Last spring I graduated San Jose State with a Political Science degree. A big passion of mine is fitness. I have completed a few ultra marathons and currently in the training process to become a sponsored professional triathlete. I am a believer that a vegan diet is the optimal way to fuel yourself as an endurance athlete. I became vegetarian about 4 years ago and have been vegan for the past two years. I started doing it due to environmental concerns and after realizing how much better I felt after the switch I now also do it for improved athletic performance and health.

Scott Garner

I’m originally from Texas, but currently live in Seattle where I spend all of my time either making things or thinking about making things. I’m in my 10th year of being vegan and it’s so ingrained in me at this point that I can’t really imagine ever stopping. In addition to modeling in the show, I’m also the designer of one of the first round of vegan t-shirts for Lion’s Share Industries.

mission Mission Savvy pairs eco fashion designs with pressing issues in animal welfare; through consumer activism, fashion is a campaign for animal protection worldwide.

collections are adventurous and chic. It is important to us that clients feel comfortable in their clothes and confident as worldly advocates. As a company we maintain a commitment to sustainable production, free from poor labor laws and environmentally detrimental activities. Each of the five collections are designed to represent different issues in animal welfare through design where 5% of profits go to animal protection projects around the world.

they believe that as long as we make choices daily we might as well begin making better choices. All creatures are deserving of a life free of pain and suffering. It is our commitment to educate with honesty the truth behind the dark issues in animal welfare.

story In early 2008, Mission Savvy founder Jennifer Miller picked up her journal and began writing. Years of campaigning and documenting careless acts of animal neglect left her drained without much faith in the good of humanity. Jennifer’s journal exploded with scribbled notes, reflections on her travels and solutions for change. That day in particular she imagined a “what if” scenario where animal protection became part of mainstream lifestyles and everyday thinking. She explored the consequence of bringing these rather dark issues into the world; creatively, passively, kindly. Over the next several months her brainstorming amounted into the foundation of what Mission Savvy is today; a career, a promise and an avenue for creating passionate leaders.

Mission Savvy received it’s trademarked name in the Fall of 2009. 5% of profits generated by sales from Mission Savvy clothing collections are donated to a select group of animal welfare and conservation groups who work on the front lines of tough issues. Mission Savvy headquarters are located in Jennifer’s hometown of Charleston, West Virginia – a state that seeks to bring in “green” jobs while continuing to confront mountaintop removal as an unsustainable practice. Jennifer shares her home with two rescued parrots, Malcolm and Roxy, who both survived a dark journey through wildlife trade.

Never before has being so eco-friendly been so stylish. Thanks to Cri de Coeur, a line of top-quality vegan shoes, ladies around the globe can create eco-luxe looks in no time flat. Pairing deftly with everything from cocktail dresses to skinny jeans, Cri de Coeur shoes embody effortless chic.

Founded in 2007 by Gina Ferraraccio, the collection channels everyday wearable looks with modern sophistication. Every pair is handmade with a meticulous attention to detail and an eye for design. Rich color combinations, supple vegan materials and seductive yet comfortable heel shapes are marks of the brand. Whether you’re headed for a girls’ night out, a boardroom meeting or a pulse-raising date, Cri de Coeur shoes will fit the bill.

Cri de Coeur is a French expression that translates literally to “cry from the heart.” To us, it symbolizes our heartfelt desire to change the face of the fashion footwear market. Cri de Coeur provides stylish, contemporary women’s footwear that is ethically produced from start to finish.

Affordable Luxury. That’s the simple philosophy behind the Melie Bianco line. Founded in 2003 by Melissa and William, a husband and wife team, this wildly successful family-owned accessories company has always kept one thing in mind: bringing runway-inspired handbags to the everyday woman.
“I design bags to reflect the season’s trends, but within a budget of women like my sisters,” says Melissa who lives in Los Angeles, where her Melie Bianco line is headquartered. “Women—especially working women—want high-end handbags but at an affordable price.”
When she was a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, Melissa became a master at pulling together chic ensembles on a shoestring budget. One thing she learned: a great accessory could carry nearly any outfit. It was the “A-ha!” moment that would later become her company’s mantra.
The small label began by garnering fans at local boutiques in LA. Word-of-mouth (and purse) grew to find devotees going crazy over stylish designs, top-notch construction and (the best part) prices that were a fraction of other handbags on the market. For handbag lovers shying away from animal-based products, Melie Bianco’s high-quality faux-leather materials were the perfect answer.
Today, Melie Bianco commands a large share of the market for vegan, budget-friendly fashion handbags. Melie Bianco’s designs have been spotted in major fashion magazines like Vogue,  Marie Claire, Glamour, Lucky, Instyle, Oprah, Cosmo Girl, Seventeen, Self, People, and Life & Style among others.

Reco® jeans (www.recojeans.com) is an innovative new line of recycled denim that is authentically committed to creating jeans that reduce waste and environmental impact. Cutting‐edge in the industry, reco® jeans is a super‐soft and strong denim line made with the highest percentage of recycled denim fibers.  Reco® jeans is bringing integrity to the Green denim industry by proving that much more is possible in the field of eco‐friendly denim with its the hip cuts and savvy styles. In addition to boasting the highest percentage of recycled/reused material in their industry, reco® jeans is the first company in the industry to feature recycled denim in their entire line.

Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart, founder of Vaute Couture, spent a year developing the first winter coat line that was at once warm enough for a Chicago winter, chic, vegan, and eco-conscious.  Her line of high performance conscientious winter dress coats made of recycled & recyclable fabrics launched in fall of 2009 to an international cult following and celebrity fan base including Alicia Silverstone, Emily Deschanel, Ally Sheedy, and Ginnifer Goodwin. For the warmer months & climates she offers a shockingly blue upcycled windbreaker, hand dyed origami inspired organic mini dresses, and eco-blend racerbacks. Named 1 of 7 best New Green Designers of 2009 by Ecouterre, 1 of 40 Redefining Green by Grist.org, and 20 under 30 by VegNews Magazine, Vaute Couture has been featured on Oprah.com, the cover of VegNews Magazine, on FOX’s TV show BONES, and in Marie Claire Magazine. Teen Vogue says, ”We can’t think of a better way to stay warm this winter.” Teen Vogue and Oprah.com states ”Vaute Couture proves that compassionate, animal-friendly styles can be cute, chic and sexy.”

Officially, Lion’s Share Industries is a Seattle-based limited liability company (LLC) owned and operated by Anika Lehde and Kirby C. Johnson. In reality it is a special art and fashion experiment made possible by many talented vegans and friends-of-vegans all around the world.  It was founded in March of 2010 from three thoughts:

1. they have serious vegan pride. no lie.
2. they wanted better more fashionable t-shirts.
3. they know tons of vegan artists.

Each series of Lion’s Share shirts is based on a theme. Five artists are then commissioned to design a shirt that says “vegan” in words or pictures. The designs are identifiers, not arguments. The artists are given choices of various eco-materials such as organic cotton, bamboo, and recycled materials, each with its own color pallet. The artists choose the inks. They also vote on where 15% of the series profits will be donated. Only 200 of each design is produced. About 20 of the shirts are given back to the artists, models, and others who donate their time. The remaining 180 are hand numbered. Once they are sold out, they won’t be replicated again.

Laura Collins, the Maker behind Pansy Maiden, is a self-trained handbag designer who feels a responsibility to run her business in the same manner she lives her life: Cruelty Free. Collins grew up in a meat-and-potatoes family in a small Indiana town and now works out of her home-based studio in Medford, Massachusetts. Collins debuted her first collection,“Back to Simple“, in Spring of 2009. This debut collection highlights Collins‘ whimsical and urban aesthetic, “less is more” philosophy, and attention to sustainability. In Spring 2010, Collins announced her “LIttle Birds” collection; matching bags for mom and daughter. Pansy Maiden has recently been featured on several popular blogs including Alicia Silverstone’s blog, The Kind Life, Ecouterre, Inhabitots, Eco Stiletto, NBC New York, and Daily Candy.

If you are new to the veg community and haven’t heard about the vegan icon, here is her bio:

#1 New York Times best-selling author Rory Freedman was always completely obsessed with food, but she wasn’t always a healthy eater. So eventually, when she did change her ways, she experienced firsthand the difference a healthy diet could make. And the more she learned for herself, the more she wanted to share her knowledge and help others. With 2 million copies in print and translations in 27 languages, Skinny Bitch sparked a worldwide movement. It’s is a wake-up call that exposes the problems with the food industry while inspiring people to eat well and enjoy food. Since Skinny Bitch came out, four others in the series have followed, including the cookbook Skinny Bitch in the Kitch; Skinny Bitch: Bun in the Oven, an eating guide for pregnant women; Skinny Bitchin’, a fun, self-help, motivational journal; and Skinny Bastard, for men. Voted VegNews magazine’s first-ever “Person of the Year,” Rory has successfully counseled models, actors, athletes, and other professionals using the Skinny Bitch method.
Learn more about Rory at www.SkinnyBitch.net.