Chicago Designer Shines in PETA’s First-Ever Fall Fashion Lookbook

For Immediate Release:
October 15, 2015

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

PETA’s first-ever Fall Fashion Lookbook highlights designs from the winners of this year’s Vegan Fashion Awards—including Chicago native Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart of VAUTE. From cork handbags to faux-fur stoles to the vegan leather “It” platform of the season, we’ve got autumn covered for any shopper who values eco- and animal-friendly fashion.

PETA’s interactive lookbook features Hilgart, who’s this year’s Most Innovative Designer. All of PETA’s 2015 Vegan Fashion Award winners are moving fashion into the future with sustainable production, high ethical standards, and cutting-edge innovation—and VAUTE is no exception. Long known for its vegan wool-like hats and coats—which are made of 100 percent recycled plastic bottles, crafted in Chicago, and insulated and lined with the same advanced materials used by Arctic explorers—the company recently started developing a vegan wool-like chunky knitted sweater. Indistinguishable from sheep’s wool, this chunky vegan knit has never been attempted by any other designer.

“The future of fashion today is forward-thinking, with fabrics that protect the planet and all of the animals who live on it, and that’s exactly what Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart is doing with VAUTE,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA’s Fall Fashion Lookbook shows how easy it is to stay on-trend and wear your cruelty-free, eco-friendly values right on your sleeve.”

This year’s other winners include Joshua Katcher of Brave GentleMan (Most Influential Designer), Barbara Mattivy and Pamella Magpali of Insecta Shoes (Most Talented New Designers), Della (Most Socially Conscious Company), and Reformation (Most Loved Vintage/Repurposed Designs). Details are available on PETA’s website and a short teaser video featuring fashions from the lookbook can be viewed here or downloaded here.