World Vegan News - January 13 2007
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How wonderful to see the headline on the front page of the style section of today's, Thursday January 11, New York Times: "Uncruel Beauty." The article, by Ruth La Ferla, is about vegan chic. It discusses attempts to market vegan products to those who are embracing a more conscious way of life but aren't dying "to forsake a croc-embossed bag or patent leather pumps" or "to wear hemp."
There is a nice quote from Denise Mari, owner of the new store Organic Avenue on the Lower East Side:
"At one time being vegan meant focusing on what you had to give up. Today we're stepping beyond the mundane what-you-need-to-survive approach." She is now concentrating on "how to make this a fun lifestyle that other people can relate to" and says she wants people to say, "Wow, look how fashionable this is! I want it for its style."
The article tells us, "Designers are aiming at potential customers identified in a survey last year by Mintel International, a consumer research company, as 'occasional vegetarians.' They shop vegan selectively, as the Mintel study pointed out, but their 'purchasing power is paramount.' This health- and eco-conscious population has contributed most visibly to the growth of a $1.2 billion market for vegetarian goods...."
We learn about mass market stylish vegan products such as "Geoff Rowley vegan skateboarding shoes, made from synthetic nubuck and rubber" and luxury vegan fashion such as that designed by Stella McCartney who "sells canvas, linen, Lucite and imitation leather shoes and handbags, which, despite prices in the $800 range, have an avid following."
You'll find the whole article on line at
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/11/fashion/11VEGAN.html
It presents a wonderful opportunity for letters to the editor on the joys of compassionate living.
The New York Times takes letters at letters@nytimes.com
Always include your full name, address, and daytime phone number when sending a letter to the editor. Remember that shorter letters are more likely to be published.
Yours and the animals',
Karen Dawn.
(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets. You can learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at http://www.DawnWatch.com. You may forward or reprint DawnWatch alerts if you do so unedited -- leave DawnWatch in the title and include this parenthesized tag line. If somebody forwards DawnWatch alerts to you, which you enjoy, please help the list grow by signing up. It is free.)
