Founded in 2019 by Franco-American Emmanuelle Rienda, Vegan Fashion Week has now been reinvented with a new look and a new name, “Ethical Luxury Summit.” Since its launch in Los Angeles, the event has been held on Monday and Wednesday at the California Market Center in downtown LA.
“The ethical luxury summit marks the turning point and great evolution of vegan fashion week,” explained Rienda. “Six years ago, no one was talking about vegan fabrics or sustainability. My personal journey, meeting emerging designers, and the conversations about using recycled animal fabrics and ethically produced materials helped the event evolve.
The event’s highlight, the Golden Hour Fashion Show, attracted many guests, including podcasters and bestselling author Jay Shetty. Actress Richa Murujani. Norwegian Prince and Sherman Durek Verett. Roman Blau, a French actor and artist. Stylist Philip Heater.
The famous Parisian school Ecole Duperée held the show with a presentation of the collection by two young designers at the school. “Our participation focuses on our curiosity and sustainable fashion in our DNA,” explained Matthew Bourde, director of fashion and image studies at Ecole Duperé.
“Schools have been dealing with recycled fabrics for a long time, even before they began talking about ecology and sustainability. This theme is at the heart of educational programs, particularly the creative and design processes,” Buard added.
Watched by 400 guests, the mutant silhouette of designer Victor Clevery captivated a Los Angeles audience who have always fallen in love with alien stories. A few months ago, in collaboration with Rick Owens around the extraordinary feathered boots, Clayley presented a short glitter dress with pointed shoulder pads, pixelated tops and a plant-printed jumpsuit separated by long hands, reminiscent of alien anatomy.
This was followed by Guy Chassaing, an alumnus of Ecole Duperée, and now Guy Chasaing, a part of the Alaïa Fashion House. “Eight huge silhouettes inspired by my desire to recycle and my grandmother who uses rags, shreds and scarves to assemble his looks and outfits,” Shasine said.
“This is the starting point for my collection. It involves hanging needles one by one onto the silk organza from scraps of wool needles. Each dress requires over 250 hours of work, but there is a need for a new texture and a way to create new creations from textiles.”
The second part of the show featured the Moroccan fashion collective label with a highly coloured collection filled with nods to Morocco and California. A collection of manifestos created by four designers – Minabain Bein, Nadia Chelawi, Yousef Drish and Angelin Dengel – and produced in collaboration with fabric supplier Balmain.
“Since 2023, Label Oued has been bringing together Moroccan designers and helping them shine internationally,” explained Dangelser, a former designer of Paris’ luxury homes currently based in Casablanca.
“In addition to traditional know-how, we encourage them to be interested in textile innovation and offer alternatives to fast fashion. Collaborations with textile manufacturers such as Balmain and Sabriwear have produced this original collection that plays with Moroccan symbols and California codes.”
In addition to the show, the ethical luxury summit also hosted six round tables and conferences exploring the relationship between luxury and ethical fashion. The topic discussed was, “Is ethical fashion a new luxury?” “AI, fashion technology, and transparency in luxury goods.” “The role of artisans and cultural heritage in modern luxury.”
The event also invited around 20 international brands and ethical designers to present their collections and stories in the designer gallery. Among them were local Los Angeles brands, such as Tanaka, an upcycling brand founded by British designer Tanaka. A bag made from cactus or apple fiber by Carter Wade.
On behalf of Maison Privie, the Los Angeles-based press conference office, De Florencio has unveiled a “rockstar, streetwear, futuristic” label founded by Nino Catralo and made entirely from Los Angeles’ dead stock. A label where Tik-Tokers and influencers flock to Melrose Trading Post, and brands regularly present their collections.
In the very opposite genre, Paris’ Couture Atrieriater 7474 and its founder Audrey Geschwind announced the creation of its Supra VIP. From Balmain to Loeu, he created Parisian costumes and outfits, and featured works that revisited traditional Tutus in Los Angeles for top international stars such as Rihanna, Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga.
“We’re back from Las Vegas, where we featured unique outfits at the Magic Trade Show. Geschwind said: “The American market is important to us, so we’re leveraging ethical luxury summits to showcase our collection of modular jewelry dresses made from dead stock,” Geschwind said.
In a few stages from the Atelier 7474, Italian shoe brand Zingales revealed the vegan Richelieu and Derby models. “The American market is important to our development and is particularly open to vegan footwear,” explained Vincenzo Zingales, the brand’s founder and vegetarian. Even the soles of Vibram are made from 90% non-life-like ingredients, ranging from natural pigments. ”
The first edition of the Ethical Luxury Summit, organized with the support of the MMGNET Group, ended with the fundraising gala on the rooftop of the California Market Center.
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