Très Chic: Vegan Fashion Brands That Elevate French Elegance

Whenever Paris Fashion Week rolls around, we're glued to our screens clicking through image after image of not only runway creations, but impeccably dressed French show-goers. There's something about French elegance that keeps fashion lovers coming back for more, whether it's the carefree chic of an artfully undone haircut or the unfussy simplicity of a jeans-and-blazer outfit. As a result, French brands are high on fashionistas' radars - including vegan and sustainability-focused brands.

By Sascha Camilli: writer, speaker, activist, and vegan fashion expert. 

Polished yet casual, the appeal of French style translates effortlessly into ethical fashion - one of the key pillars of sustainable style is longevity, and a classic, timeless approach fits that mindset perfectly. Sustainable fashion is also on the rise in France, with the ethical-fashion market valued at $8billion. France has also implemented some key laws and regulations for a more ethical fashion industry, such as introducing penalties on fast fashion and fee exemptions for brands with a more circular mindset, showcasing the country's dedication to ethics in fashion. Against this backdrop, more sustainable fashion brands are thriving. We scoured the country for some of our favourite French fashion labels.

Minuit Sur Terre

A mainstay of French sustainable fashion, this accessory label was founded by young entrepreneur Marie Viard-Klein when she was only 23. Specialising in shoes and bags, the brand has become known for their Virevolte sneaker range - for every pair sold, 5€ is donated to a charity the brand is partnering up with. The brand frequently works with vegan leathers made from grapes, apples or cereals, all of which come with a significantly lower carbon footprint than both animal skins and synthetics. Minuit Sur Terre also uses recycled materials crafted from plastic bottles recovered from the Mediterranean Sea, or fabric scraps from the textile industry.

Shop Minuit Sur Terre here.

Zeta Shoes

Loafers, sneakers and more: Zeta Shoes offers a collection of sneakers made from recycled, vegan and recyclable materials, with a focus on transparency. Produced in Italy and Portugal, Zeta's styles are crafted with PVC-free materials and made for circularity: all materials derive from waste, with nothing made new specifically for Zeta. Whether you're looking for a sneaker with a punch of colour or a classic derby shoe, you can find your new daytime footwear favourite at Zeta.

Shop Zeta Shoes here.

Thalie

Taking vegan luxury handbags to new heights, this innovative handbag brand launched in Paris' 16th arrondissement during the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. The name Thalie comes from ancient Greek, where “Thaleia” means "the flourishing", standing for the blossoming revival of nature. The brand's stuck with the Greek theme: the names of the three “sister” bags of the collection – Mia, Ambre and Adele – refer to the “Three Graces” of Greek mythology: they embody charm, beauty and creativity. The collection is made with Desserto, a vegan leather crafted from Mexican Nopal cactus.

Shop Thalie here.

COG

Founder Camara Omar Gwenhaël, whose initials make up the brand name COG, had a vision to to create high-quality fashion items that combine design, comfort and ethics with respect for animals and the planet. His aim has resulted in a truly versatile brand: aside from sneakers, the brand also offers ankle boots, oxfords, and other styles that make up a versatile, durable shoe wardrobe. Always putting the environment first, COG works with planet-friendly grape leather Vegea, as well as cork, and recycled fibres such as recycled plastic and rubber.

Shop COG here.

BLOOM Paris

Former animal rights student turned lawyer Sylvie Blum had a change of heart, deciding to drop her legal path to instead embark on the journey of offering women access to luxurious vegan footwear, with a simple yet effective design. Fast forward to today and her brand has been featured in outlets like ELLE, celebrated for it conscious materials and covetable designs. This PVC-free brand champions living wages and donates part of the proceeds to charity - making us feel even better about clicking "add to cart" on their ankle boots, strappy pumps and square-toe loafers.

Shop BLOOM Paris here.

Mood Walk

This French footwear label specialises in personalised vegan sneakers made in Europe from eco-conscious materials. Choose your style and then pick the message you want to stick on – the positive, upbeat slogans are all about equality, positivity, and respecting the planet. This fully vegan brand truly walks the walk: for every pair of sneakers sold, Mood Walk donates 2€  to a charity dedicated to girls' education in Cambodia, as well as environmental production and planet-friendly education. Their colourful, eye-catching designs effortlessly liven up a clean, classic look.

Shop Mood Walk here.

ASHOKA Paris

French luxury vegan brand ASHOKA Paris offers a timeless collection of accessories designed in Paris and handmade in Italy. The brand works with manufacturers who have over 50 years of experience of production of fashion free from animal-derived materials. A PETA-Approved Vegan brand, ASHOKA Paris donates part of their proceeds to charities dedicated to helping animals. Sleek lines, rich jewel tones and versatile silhouettes set their Parisian-chic collections apart.

About Sascha

Sascha Camilli is a vegan writer, speaker and activist. Her book Vegan Style is out now on Murdoch Books. For more about Sascha, you can read our interview with her or sign up to her newsletter Kind of Wild. 

Cover image by Thalie.

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