An inside look at what it means to be vegan…
Leading a vegan lifestyle requires both heart and dedication. It’s a decision that can bring you positive changes in your life if you make the effort to understand what your body needs. At the Free People home office, we were curious to hear from a few vegans on why they made the switch, and the benefits that they have observed since doing so. But leading a vegan lifestyle isn’t just about the food you eat. It transcends beyond food consumption, to consumption of any animal byproduct, such as clothes. So without further ado, meet Claire, Katherine and Ana. These three women work within our creative sphere and play a large role in creating the magic at Free People.
What are the benefits of leading a vegan lifestyle to you? (including food and vegan clothing)
Claire: After being vegetarian for a few years I made the jump to being vegan and saw almost immediate boosts in my energy, changes in my skin and an all-around clearer mind. I also learned how to cook! Committing to a plant-based diet is definitely not as hard or intimidating as it seems and has opened me up to so many different kinds of foods I may never have tried. Also, vegan clothing is a no-brainer! With all the options out there today, it is too easy to keep a stylish vegan wardrobe. Feeling more energized in my body and knowing I am doing my part to reduce the carbon footprint on our planet are huge benefits to this lifestyle.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone who’s thinking of starting a vegan lifestyle?
Ana: Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t transition overnight. For me, personally, it was important to take things step by step. That made me confident about the choices I was making. I was vegetarian for a long time, then gave up eggs/dairy and then started looking at my closet…
What led you to making the decision to lead this lifestyle?
Katherine: I was vegetarian for 7 years, then I met my now husband who’s been vegan for close to 20 years and he’s the strongest, healthiest person I know. To see him lifting 200+ lbs at the gym every day and hardly ever getting sick made my decision to switch from being vegetarian to vegan extremely easy and natural.
What’s your favorite vegan Free People piece that we currently sell? (clothing, shoes, etc.)
Claire: My favorite clothing piece that we currently sell is the Vegan Legging. I am a notorious legging wearer in the winter and it’s the perfect piece to dress up my look without forgoing comfort. Also, my current obsession is FP beauty! The products we use on our body are just as important as what we choose to eat. With little regulation in the states, it’s important to know what’s going into our products and whether or not animal testing is involved. It’s so exciting to see FP carry awesome vegan-friendly brands I already use such as Mad Hippie and Juice Beauty. Currently in my cart: Rahua Voluminous Shampoo — can’t wait to try.
Ana: I have a couple staples that I could not live without. We have a lot of great vegan jackets — I have worn our Vegan Leather Hooded Jacket since it first came out. I also love the Vegan Legging that we carry. It feels great and dresses up a casual outfit.
Katherine: Definitely the Slouchy Vegan Tote!
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I also own that vegan leather jacket you mentioned – I love it and I get so many compliments on it!
I have maintained a vegan diet for several years now, and this past year I’ve been working hard to make my closet vegan, too. Being a vegan has made me more connected to myself and my body, animals everywhere, and the planet in general. I can’t recommend it enough.
http://www.theequinoxodyssey.com
The most important reason IMO to go vegan is the fact that animal agriculture is destroying our planet. 91% of Amazon deforestation is for animal agriculture, whether it be for cattle grazing or growing feed crops. And animal agriculture (all the parts that contribute – raising livestock, killing them, processing the meat, transporting the meat) is the leading contributor of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, more than the entire transportation industry around the world.
I decided to go vegan after being vegetarian for 15 years,the easiest thing I’ve done and stuck with.i was raised on a farm in the south and watched animals be killed for food.as a child I generally lived on a plant based diet anyway but my mother and grandmothers used the left over bacon drippings to flavor fried foods and they also made gravy from the chicken drippings and skins.the thought of an animal being tortured and killed for food makes me feel ill and protective.i have a daughter who has 4 year old twins,when I’m taking them for lunch I get veggie burgers and tell them why we are not eating meat,i even show them animals being tortured.now my granddaughter ask for the veggie burger.