Join us for this eco luxe event covering beauty/ home/ food/ and yes-fashion!

petal dress, stage 1

Our team  has been creating a couture collection inspired by birds and bloom using the remnant eco-conscious and vegan fabrics from our fabric R&D, with handpaintings by Japanese artist Cecca Morrone, inspired by nature on a microscopic level. Design is a collaboration with dress designer Jess Audey and art-based designer and illustrator Julianna Luther.

Director: Leanne Hilgart Design Team: Julianna Luther, Jess Audey, Cecca Morrone

The Vyne Launch, organized by the SEC of DePaul and Net Impact chapter of Loyola,  includes apps by Wolfgang Puck, drinks by Veev, beauty by Aveda, and new Olafur Eliasson instillations at the MCA. 

::Where:: Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago IL

::When:: Friday, June 12th. Doors open 6:30 (After party at LV Penthouse.)

::RSVP:: Buy tickets online now (click here) or at the door for $20. 

If you’re free for drinks, apps, eco-luxe fun,  and a little runway show, we’d love to see you! <3

 warmest, 

Love in the Domes.

So every May, Nate and I take a week long road trip as far as we can drive in the span of daylight, and sometimes some night light too. This year- eh- work has me a bit wrapped up and we took a 2 day trip instead :/ Where can we head for only two days? Where could we find some new yummy vegan food? You’d be surprised- MILWAUKEE! With help from a certain incredible oh so fantastic blonde I know, we enjoyed quite the vegan tour. Check out our stops!

1. Beans & Barley. 1901 E North Ave. 414.278.7878 Vegan friendly restaurant with a little attached grocery store… man, if only I had a freezer in my car, there was so much yummy food I would’ve taken home with me. Fortunately one purchase did not need to stay chilled- my new vegan+ eco solid perfume by Pacifica (my favorite? Lotus Garden.)  Oh yeah, back to the food. We had the Reuben and sweet potato black bean burrito (both tasted pretty healthy but yum) but best was the Red Velvet Cake. They don’t mark what’s vegan so be sure to ask- and safe to say it’s omnis-can’t-taste-the- difference- delicious!

Riverwest Co-op

2. Riverwest Co-op & Cafe. 733 E Clarke Street. 414.264.7933 This one’s like the reverse- a grocery store with a little itty bitty attached veg kitchen, all run by volunteers. Milwaukee’s veg community is hippie to Chicago’s hipster, and I kinda liked this new flavor. We got the french toast (with bananas and chocolate chips- our idea) and biscuits and gravy ($5.75!) Both amazing, huge, and yes, took quite a bit on this busy Saturday morning. Well worth the wait! Next time I’ll order the breakfast muffins- I think I skimmed over it thinking it was something sweet, but it’s really like a vegan egg mc’muffin, which I never had pregan and am up for trying a guilt free version. yum.

3. Classic Slice. 2797 S. KK (at California) 414-238-2406. Vegan cheese, vegan sausage, and nutritional yeast with almost any darn thing you want! The slices have a bit of real cheese pre-sprinkled in, but you can get your own mini pie or a calzone like we did. This place is ADORABLE and their popularity is a no-brainer. I was told it’s the best vegan slice in the city. 

Palomino. Vegan Buffalo Wings, Ranch, AND Pool? Awesomeness.

4. Palomino. 2491 S Superior St. (414) 747-1007. This is. wait for it…. a BAR in…. wait again… MILWAUKEE. that has…hold your breath… vegan buffalo wings that by default come with…. hold on a second… tater tots with vegan ranch. INCREDIBLE. You can get the wings tossed in any sauce you want if you’re a baby about hot like me (I did the BBQ and it was fantastic.) The wings are like a mix of seitan, tofu, and vegan sausage- like a masterpiece of deliciousness.  We didn’t have a fridge at the hotel so we ate the leftovers in bed at 2am or so. I was not even hungry but yeah. I ate them. And yeah. they were still awesome.

5. Comet Cafe.  1947 N Farwell Ave. 414.273.7677. Another veg friendly fest with lots of vegan options, known for it’s pre-lunch food. We had the pancakes and  Comet Benedict. Both delicious- the latter was a lot like biscuits and gravy from Riverwest but still amazing, hearty, and a great huge plate.

BETWEEN EATS: Ok, you can’t just go from eats to eats (or maybe you can- we tried!) But there’s lots more to do in Milwaukee- check out Yahoo Travel Milwaukee’s page for the big ones, but there is also fabulous shopping in the Arts district of the Third Ward (be sure to stop in Hot Pop), and great vintage shops on KK before/after you get a slice at Classic.  

Hope you’ll visit our neighbor up North!

warmest,

the bomono in blue. one of four styles + four colors.

!!! (that is my excited face via blog.) After 8 months of research, an artwork competition, and loads of designing, fitting, and experimenting (yes, 11 months total)– we’re ready! For a compassionate windy city winter with wind and water resistant shell and windproof liner, 100% vegan, 100% recyclable shell (with recycled options available), 100% recycled closed loop zero waste satin ripstop liner, all finished with tagua nut and vintage deadstock buttons. Our research continues every day, and we hope you join us in our mission to push and support the fashion industry in more ethical, eco-conscious, and conscientious practices and processes.  

Warmth + Comfort: It’s not rocket science to make a coat- or a vegan coat, for that matter. But a warm, weather-ready, yet slim & pretty one, that’s vegan and eco-conscious? That’s been our mission, hence the nearly  year long fabric R&D. The new Polartec(R) Wind Pro(R) fabric we discovered is a stylish and advanced fabric designed for weather protection in an elegant finish, is wind and water resistant and retains body heat, while staying slim and flattering. The Polartec(R) Thermal Pro(R) (Recycled Option) is designed for insulation, and is warm while slim, highly breathable, and retains body heat.  In addition, our recycled windproof liner, a Teijin (R) EcoCircle (R) fabric, adds an increased level of protection from the elements, as do our longer style cuts.  Please Note: This coat line is a conscientious city winter alternative to those pretty wool peacoats we vegans never have (a down-alternative line is in the works for ski-level warmth for future winters.)

Style: Think casual luxe- like you just happen to look this effortlessly gorgeous and comfortable at once. Our fabrics are soft and lovely but comfortable, warm yet slim, and finished with an elegant texture- constructed into graceful ultra feminine silhouettes with a flattering structure, designed to bring out the best in you, both inside and out.  They are also versatile and made to move- stun in nearly nothing else, or finish off an already chic look with a new level of fabulousness.

Construction: Our coats are constructed in Chicago at a living wage, about 10 minutes from my apartment. Love Chicago!

Pricing: We did everything possible to make our pricing accessible for this line while constructing them as ethically as we could on each level of the process. Suggested retail ranges from $300-600.

The line consists of four distinct styles: (each in four colors- black/ivory/gray/blue)

• the Vaute: an hourglass pea-dress/coat inspired by art of Brooke Hagel
• the El: a vintage shawl collared knee length dress coat inspired by art of Dallas Shaw
• the Pea: the military inspired vegan pea coat with versatile collar and vintage buttons.
• the Bomono: the oversized bomber kimono with vintage buttons and fold over cuffs.

The El in Black. Press + Retail, contact us for Look Book + Line Sheets.

 Now we need your help! After all our work, it means nothing if we can’t find the right boutiques to get the coats to you! If you know of an eco-conscious, ethical, or just fabulously conscious boutique that you wish would carry our 100% Vegan, Eco-conscious, Fair made in Chicago coat line, please tell them, or tell us! They can contact me directly, at 773-295-1432 or Leanne@vautecouture.com, for our Line Sheets & Look Book. Or, send me their info and I’ll contact them. Merci SO VERY beaucoup. 

Thanks again- I’m crossing my fingers (and toes!) that you like.

warmest,

Spent the day with the wonderful crew from the I’m Vegan documentary… Eric, Matthew, and Spencer.  Whitman attacked them, licked his butt, then drank my water. Stopped by Green Exchange- Phil did an amazing walk on role. Ate at Karyn’s- vegan pizza stole the show. Other fun caught on tape coming soon!

To follow the I’m Vegan and American Vegan Documentary 8 week National TOUR-

visit www.VeganDocumentary.com

some pics!

Eric snuggles Whit during the interview :)

from left- with Matthew- Spencer- me- and Eric. at Karyn's- YUM.

these guys are awesome! Stay posted on the national vegan tour at www.VeganDocumentary.com.

warmest,