Environmental Approach

As vegans, we are all aware of the mountain we have to climb in order to make a real shift in the way society views and treats animals. This perspective is not to be negative or glass half empty, it is a fact, we all know how ingrained and committed millions of people are to continue to abuse their power, torturing billions of animals every year.

With this reality at the forefront of our mind, we decided that whilst fast fashion is not an ideal contribution to the planet, in this instance, we wanted to see if we could tackle things differently as we believe the impact can be so powerful which was worth the challenge!! 

We considered how can we make the biggest impact, create the largest dent, whilst minimising our footprint as much as possible?

Vegan Vanguards truely believe that one of the most impactful ways we can share the vegan message is through using fashion, culture and trends to engage in subliminal messaging. We want to reach the unreachable, we want to connect and create conversations with those who may never think to research animal cruelty. We want to crack open the minds of those who would remain ignorant if not for the conversations our clothing will create!

 

Our approach and philosphy is this;

      Let's make the biggest dent we can possibly make, creating a bold, impactful collection that not only looks good, but inspires thought, awareness and awakenings of just how horrific humans are behaving to animals. Let's create a cultural shift all over the world, an impactful shift in our global mindset.

Our next consideration, how can we do this with as minimal environmental impact as possible? How can we reduce our footprint so we can thoughtfully create products that carry as much positive energy as possible?

  • We are printing with Vegan, water based inks.
  • We offer Peta approved,  certified by OEKO-TEX Standard 100, organic cotton options.
  • We aim to continue to research materiality, the life cycle of our products and have 100% commitment to improving at every turn.
  • We are collaborating with UPPAREL Australia’s leader in textile recovery and recycling.
  • Working with UPPAREL means that we are taking responsibility for our contribution to landfill, offering a full cycle solution that rewards you for doing the right thing.
  • We will reward you with a $25 discount voucher when you return any unwanted/outgrown Vegan Vanguard piece to us for recyling.

Everything returned to us, is then forwarded to UPPAREL AUSTRALIA

Where do our unwanted garments end up? 

Re-use

For items that are still fit for wear, UPPAREL have an open-door policy for charities, social enterprises, and not-for-profits. They can come to the UPPAREL warehouse and collect as much clothing as they need, go out and make an impact with it, and return anything that is unused free-of-charge.

Every charity and social enterprise is vet to ensure they are Australian-based and that the textiles provided will remain on-shore. UPPAREL provide them with guaranteed wearable goods and reducing the burden for these not-for-profit organisations to dispose of textile waste.

 

Recycle

Where items are not fit for wear, UPPAREL break down the textiles into a variety of categories depending on their material and decommissioning required. From there, they begin the recycling process.

Mainly, this means taking these textiles and tearing them into a super fine fluffy fibre. This material is call FillUP can be utilised as is to replace virgin polyester fill for cushions and stuffed toys.

To take it one step further, UPPAREL compress this fibre to create their revolutionary circular product, UPtex. This completely recycled and recyclable material can be used for packaging, signage, homewares, and more!

 

Please send your unwanted/well loved pieces, along with your email address to ;

Vegan Vanguards

CO The Patch PO

The Patch. VIC

Australia 3792

We will forward you a $25 discount voucher for every piece returned. :)

The Vegan Vanguard Collection (VVC) was founded by Mel Sherwell, a Melbourne based Vegan Interior Designer. After living as a passive vegetarian for over twenty years, Mel found herself researching further into veganism as a direct result of her work as an interior designer.

" I had always thought being vegetarian was enough, I didnt realise what happened in the dairy industry until I started researching further into animal based materials for my design projects. The more I delved into where items like leather and feathers came from the more I discovered just how bad things are. When I realised so many industries where supporting and profiting off horrific cruelty to animals, I decided I just had to work towards becoming vegan and have now been vegan for almost 5 years.

The 'Vegan Vanguards Collection' comes from a deep sadness I have for our world and the animals who are born into hell on earth. Every day humans abuse their power and turn their back on their own inherant nature to be kind. Billions of animals are tortured in incomprehensible conditions all for the sake of an inamate object or a plate of food that is devoured in minutes by greedy humans who prioritise their stomach over the precious gift of life we are ALL so lucky to be given. Humans who care for animals and try to stop others from hurting them are ridiculed and made to feel like extreme outcasts for calling out cruelty, desensitisation and ignorance. What a world we live in where common sense abandons the many who attack humans for displaying acts of kindness and good will for others whom they share the earth with.

I hope these pieces help all vegans, who like me want to see the entire world become vegan. I hope 'Vegan Vanguards' all over the world feel supported by these pieces, I hope they help you feel heard, authentic and strong as you continue to walk in your truth of authenticity, kindness and compassion.

To all the animals whom are currently now standing in their own filth somewhere in a slaughterhouse, being trampled on, rotting away in darkness wondering what they did wrong to find them selves in this place, waiting for their petrifying death,

.... this collection is for you, your babies and your beautiful souls who do not deserve this pain.

Dreaming of a world where we can live peacefully with all creatures.

- Mel Sherwell -