Hellin Kay
Photo: Courtesy of Freedom of Animals
Creating fashion that is kind to the environment is no easy feat. Labels like
Stella McCartney and Matt & Nat have already paved the way for vegan accessories, and
Freedom of Animals follows suit, adding to the cruelty-free conversation with a line of luxury bags.
The label was founded in 2012 by stylist Morgan Bogle and her photographer boyfriend Scott MacDonough—and trust us, these well-crafted carriers could easily pass for high-quality leather. The couple's journey to green fashion design began just a year and a half ago. "We got to the point where we felt that all our volunteering with animals—taking dogs in and working at wildlife sanctuaries—wasn't enough," Bogle told us. As they brainstormed ways to be more vocal about their passion, they realized fashion was a great platform—and it didn't hurt that their day jobs gave them a leg up in understanding the industry.
Citing McCartney, Céline, and The Row as design inspiration, the duo decided to tackle accessories, since animal skin is generally the go-to material for bags and shoes. But they upped the ante even more when they agreed to also stand by a one hundred percent sustainable MO. Not only is the faux-leather composed of recycled plastic and organic cotton, the accessories are colored with vegetable-based dyes. Still, it's clear that the couple remains as devoted to style as they do to ethics—take an exclusive look at a backpack from the label's upcoming resort collection, below, and we think you'll agree.
Bogle told us more about the brand's mission, her favorite eco-chic boutiques, and what it's like for her and MacDonough to count Anne Hathaway, Kerry Washington, and Sarah Jessica Parker as brand fans.
Have you always had a soft spot for animals?
I was raised vegetarian and have always been super conscious of being ethical in every part of my life, so the passion for cruelty-free came from a very early age.
And the accessories aren't just cruelty-free…
Without sustainable production, we leave too much of a carbon footprint behind. Our materials are EPA approved eco-friendly, we make them locally so that we can keep our footprint down as much as possible, and we ship in recycled bags and boxes. Additionally, we only use ethical factories in the U.S., and our hardware is recycled. We also donate a percentage to wildlife conservation efforts. What you purchase and consume is the biggest voice that you have in the world—the biggest way to make a change. We hope to give people an option to participate in positive change.
Where do you pull design inspiration from? When you were first getting started, was there a particular brand that you identified with aesthetically?
As a stylist in NYC, I've always been particular about the brands that inspire me, so I naturally gravitate towards a simple, clean, and chic design. I work side by side with our factory pattern maker to ensure we are only developing sleek and chic bags.
Faux leather can look tacky or unrealistic. How do you manage to achieve such amazing texture?
We spent a long time sourcing our materials and are so grateful to have found the most luxurious fabrications around! This was an area that we could not compromise, and we have been highly critical of the texture and touch of each element. Not only are they luxurious, but they pass U.S. durability testing to give them a long shelf life.
Where else can we shop with a clear conscience?
I'm a big fan of Stella McCartney and her devotion to being cruelty-free, I love A.L.C. because they support U.S. factories, and there are a lot of responsible brands that can be shopped on various ethical websites like
shopethica.com and
modavanti.com.
How does it feel to have a celebrity clientele already, when you just launched in 2012?
We couldn't be more grateful that these beautiful women have worn our bags. It means so much that with all the amazing products they are given on a weekly basis, they choose to wear ours, either because they like the style or because they believe in the mission, or both.
With celebrity advocates like these, why do you think that sustainable fashion hasn't quite blown up in the high-fashion market yet?
I'm not totally sure. It could be the cost; it could be that a lot of factories aren't willing to work with non-leather; it could be that people in the fashion industry aren't aware of an alternative. I do believe there is a demand for it, though, and since we have launched, we have discovered that so many people want options. We hope that the fashion industry focuses more on sustainability and truly hope that it takes a turn in that direction!
Give us the scoop on that adorable resort backpack.
The white backpack—the Coletta—was designed to support our love for structured bags and combine that with my obsession with backpacks. I love that it is practical, as backpacks are, but can also easily be worn out at night because of its shape lending to a dressier look. My personal favorite style is to dress tomboyish and wear a feminine bag! It's a great contradiction. The great thing about the materials we use, especially the white on this bag, is that they are relatively easy to clean. Soap and water can take most dirt off these bags and they are also water resistant!
Photo: Courtesy of Freedom of Animals
