PG: You mentioned many small stories. Are
larger retailers starting to take notice of
sustainable clothing?
CS: I can’t speak too much on the menswear
because fashion is still very much “women
driven.” But we see vegan purses from a
company like Matt & Nat
(www,mattandnat.com) being carried by
Nordstrom stores. This is what is happening
now. Huge corporations are taking more of
what is happening in society and wanting to be
more econ-conscious with their clothing
options. A company like Zara just did a
wonderful thing with us about the number of
angora rabbits that are being live-plucked every
year in China. We were able to make the
supply chain connection with the Zara’s team,
they donated a million dollars worth of their
angora wool products to refugees in Syria.
That’s amazing.
PG: Do you think vegan celebrities are having
an influence?
CS: I think it can’t hurt. We have celebrities like
Casey Affleck, Joaquin Phoenix and Jared Leto.
It is becoming more of a thing now to flaunt
that you are eco-conscious in “animal friendly”
fashion. Of course, designers are smart to look
to these huge influencers and note that the
public will be following their lead.
TPG: Final thoughts?
CS: I think about how the world is changing,
more people are thinking about ethical choices
in not only what they eat but extending to their
wardrobe. It has started with women. About
85% of vegans are women but we do have a pull
on our boyfriends (laughs). I think they are so
many vegan influencers out there who are men.
There is such a growing narrative around this
that it will only get bigger. What also helps is
social media. PETA’s FB pages reached its 4.2
millionth follower, which is a huge growth from
last year. Where it was only at 3 million. We are
reaching so many people who are seeing
heartbreaking footage of how sheep are treated,
it is not because these people are evil but
because they are paid by volume and by the
hour. We have 5 or 6 investigations into the
wool industry in Australia, Chile, the US, and so
called sustainable farms in Argentine. We saw
Stella McCarthy walk away from the Ovis 21
network in Argentina because she saw our
footage and she knew she couldn’t support it.
When we shine more light on what really goes
on behind the scenes, it is only a matter of time
before everyone starts changing the way they
consume.
PG: Celebrities can afford expensive clothes.
What about people on a more limited budget?
Can they find clothing at reasonable prices?
CS: You can find eco-blends in stores like H&M,
Zara, and TopMan that offers options that are
high quality and durable. They look dapper and
wonderful. There are options that are good for
any budget – you just have to look for it.
A Gentleman Talks with Christina Sewell
21