Tel Aviv has always been known as a vegan food capital, and as a local, I can assure you that this city is a match made in vegan food heaven to any plant-based eater. But something new and refreshing arrived in the city during the weekend: a fully-vegan and ethical fashion pop-up called FAKE TLV, the very first event of its kind in Israel, and I got the incredible opportunity to co-host it! The event took place in Comme Il Faut, a slow fashion boutique, and was made in collaboration with GeekChicTLV.
About FAKE Movement
Vegan Fashion movement FAKE, which stands for Fashion for Animal Kingdom & Environment, is a new global platform dedicated to promoting vegan and ethical designers by opening pop-up events where like-minded people get together and create meaningful conversations, share ideas and make an impact for a better world for animals, people and planet, together! FAKE’s goal is to prove that fashion can be stylish, unique, innovative and truly fashionable while being vegan and without hurting any animals.
FAKE started its journey in far Los Angeles and was founded by animal rights activist Jonathan Ohayon. “Being vegan is not just a diet, it’s a lifestyle,” said Ohayon. “Today, thousands of innocent animals will be killed for leather, wool, silk, fur… All in the name of Fashion. Apart from harming animals, it has a serious impact on the environment. It is our responsibility to change our way of consuming, and that’s where FAKE comes”.
The movement launched its very first pop-up event last May in Los Angeles, and after series of successful popups (and a vegan museum!), FAKE decided to go global- opening its very first pop-ups in Paris and Tel Aviv. The TLV event was made in collaboration with GeekChic TLV, a production company that specializes in conceptual and helps fashion and textile companies to transition into a sustainable framework.
Meet the TLV FAKERS
Any designer can be a FAKER Designer, However, there is one condition: having vegan products ethically made. “Nobody is perfect and running a business is not easy”, said Jonathan, founder of FAKE. “it takes time and money to go from non-vegan product to 100% vegan or to go from A fully vegan product to 100% ethical or sustainable. We need to have an open mind– This is why FAKE movement accepts everybody that offer vegan & ethical options for a better world. We need to support Designers that want to make that change!”.
During the TLV event, I got to meet some incredible brands that I already knew, as well as some that I didn’t know: it was so nice to meet with the people behind each of these brands, share ideas and see their passion and love to what they are doing. So, who did I meet? keep reading
1. Shanili: Vegan Shoes and Accessorise
Shanili is a TLV-based vegan & ethical fashion brand creating eco-friendly, animal-free shoes. Liat, the founder of Shanili, is an avid animal lover with a great sense of style and love for shoes. “The biggest challenge that I faced when we became vegan was finding vegan shoes”. said Liat. “I spent years searching for cruelty-free shoes, but the selection was very limited. Fast Fashion stores carry plenty of imitation-leather and plastic models, but they are far from being high-quality, long-lasting or ethically made. The idea of combining two of my greatest loves – fashion and animals – came true, and I called it Shanili- vegan fashion that was fairly made, for both humans and animals”. In Shanili, you can find shoes for both men and women and other vegan accessorize, like bags, belts, and jewelry. All the shoes worn in this photoshoot are by Shanili!
Is the brand fully vegan? Yes | Shipping internationally? Yes | Website: click here
2. Spapla: Cork Fashion & Home Decor
Cork is one of my favorite products, and Spapla is using it for everything fashion and home decor, from wallets to lamps. This family-run Israeli label was founded by the lovely couple Danna & Efi, both designers. “We love working together, coming up with new ideas and create new products”, said the couple. “We were looking for interesting textiles and came across cork a few years, and this was a love at first sight. We use Vegan, Natural and Recycled materials and make our beautiful items with our unique graphics. We use laser to engrave and print, and combine it with hand paintings and other printing techniques. All our products are made with care and love, in our Studio, without harming our fellow animals or humans”. Spapla is creating unique fashion and home decor pieces for both men and women, and also offers unique custom prints for individuals and businesses. I loved wearing this lovely belt and clutch wallet by them!
Is the brand fully vegan? Yes | Shipping internationally? Yes | Website: click here
3. Remeant: From Plastic Waste To a Unique Textile
Ever wondered where all the packaging waste from factories end up? well, Elinor, founder of Remeant, had the same question in mind before opening her brand Remeant. She came up with a wonderful concept of taking packaging waste from different factories around Israel, that otherwise would just end up in landfills, like Aluminum, bubble wraps and other kinds of packaging waste and created an innovative textile out of it, named Remeant. The textile is sold to different brands around the globe to create innovative fashion collaborations, and in her personal collection, you’ll be able to find some really cool vegan bags, jackets and much more! I absolutely love the Remeeant Bubble wrap creation where you can clearly see the actual bubble wraps- and no, it isn’t a print 🙂 Elinor’s creations are hand-painted and each piece is uniquely one of a kind.
Is the brand fully vegan? Yes | Shipping internationally? Yes |website: click here
4. ANER 5777: Zero-Waste, Unique Headwear
Paris & TLV- based ANER 5777 is a headwear brand founded by the stunning Aner Shevach creating unique, one-of-a-kind items inspired by fashion traditions from east & west as well as street culture and global trends. The brand got a lot of media attention and was featured in well-known publications like VOGUE. “I design my hats from deadstock textiles from the fashion industry,” says Aner. “I look for interesting materials, especially from Parisian or Israeli stockists who buy scraps of high-quality fabric leftovers. A small number of pieces are made from old textiles that I recycle from various upholstery and ready-made fabrics that I find. My advantage in making hats versus clothing is that I can use a small number of materials to make a hat, so I can sometimes afford a collage of different textiles I find.” All fabrics that Aner purchases are manufactured in European standards and traditional-local production. “I cut all the hats myself so that I can produce small, one-of-a-kind, series, I collect all the materials left in the studio afterward the cut and use them as a natural filling for dolls/pillows, etc.” I fell in love with Aner’s vegan selection of hats: not all of them are vegan, but the ones that are can be spotted on my head in all the pictures 🙂
Is the brand fully vegan? No, but carries vegan-friendly products | Shipping internationally? Yes | Website: click here
5. Hampi: Sleek, Minimalistic Vegan Bags
Hampi is a TLV based brand inspired by magical Hampi, a town in Karnataka, southwestern India, where originality and minimalism is not just a matter of saying, it’s a mantra. The Brand was founded by a wonderful Quatro: Ohad, Adam and Aviv, and it is PETA approved vegan! ”With a sleek, minimalistic design and the innovative combination of old methods with new technologies, Hampibag is much more than a simple fashion accessory”. Said Adam, Co-founder of Hampi. “All Hampibags are made by a unique process that includes distinctive handwork and materials, and all the production processes are locally and ethically made in our studio in TLV”. Besides being extremely durable, lightweight and uniquely designed, Hampibag is unisex and fashionable. I personally chose myself a true favorite: their big red clutch, that can be easily worn to make a causal statement.
Is the brand fully vegan? Yes | Shipping internationally? Yes | Website: click here
6. EMET– Eco-Conscious Vegan Bags
EMET (“Truth” in Hebrew) was created by a small team of Tel-Avivians. Driven by their dreams and passions, while combined with a serious sense of humor and an optimistic point of view, the brand’s vision is to make beautiful, useful and long-lasting bags. “Inspired by our everyday needs and using only high-quality materials, such as recycled polyester, waxed cotton, and PU combined with good-vibes, EMET bags will always be fully vegan, produced in an ethical process & wrapped in ecological and recyclable packing” – said Anat, co-founder, according to the brand’s core ethos. In the collection, you’ll be able to find different kinds of practical, chic backpacks and clutches for both men and women. I loved their stunning backpack, it is a great companion to stroll around in when in Tel Aviv or any other urban city.
Is the brand fully vegan? Yes | Shipping internationally? Yes | website: click here
7. FNF LDN: Non-Profit Vegan apparel
Friends Not Food London is a non-profit, activist-run brand creating vegan apparel supporting animal shelters and sanctuaries “Vegan activism comes in many shapes and forms, and we believe that when you are happy, healthy and enjoying life you set out a perfect example of how vegans live and look like, the only thing left to do is make sure that other people realize that this healthy smiling person is vegan”. Said Eyal, co-founder of FNF. The brand’s vegan state of mind is not shouting or using hard graphics to mark people as vegans, but in conversation starters, such as cool vegan shirts, that this non-profit creates. The brand offers an organic cotton line and 100% of the money they get goes directly to saving animals- a win-win for everyone!
Is the brand fully vegan? Yes | Shipping internationally? Yes | Website: click here
8. Liat Azar: Versatile Eco Womenswear
Shenkar Fashion School graduated Liat Azar was exposed to both European and middle eastern influences from a young age and quickly made her mark in the local fashion scene with a unique signature style of beautifully creative, feminine, handmade and culturally diverse clothing. Back in 2005, she launched her boutique studio and gallery in the heart of the historically inspiring Old Jaffa. Liat is such a positive, vibrant persona and her clothes are classic and vintaged and are made from luxurious, durable, eco-friendly fabrics of the highest quality that stand the test of time. Her collections include women’s haute couture, ready-to-wear and accessories suited for all women who like unique elegance. I wore Liat’s wonderful one-shoulder black dress that would be great for all occasions. The most outstanding this about Liat’s designs is that the items are super versatile: there are many design features in each design that allow you to wear the same jacket or dress in many different variations and lengths, which makes the, much more practical and sustainable. I am totally up for it!
Is the brand fully vegan? No, but carries vegan-friendly products | Shipping internationally? Yes | Website: click here
9. Chandally: Fairmined Fine Jewelry
The woman behind the luxurious jewelry brand Chandally is the lovely Sharon. She’s a new-yorker living in TLV that comes from a lineage of Yemenite filigree jewelers: one day she decided to leave her hometown in New York to come to Jerusalem and learn the Yemenite craft. She draws her artistic vision from her roots, nature and ancient wisdom cultures and incorporates playful elements such as asymmetry and kinetics. Sharon uses recycled or fairmined metals and conflict-free stones whenever possible. She is a proud member of ethical metalsmiths and has donated pieces for the pure earth benefit bash for the last three years. “for me, ethical means doing what is right when it’s more convenient to do what’s not”, she says. “When you’re creating something that will be worn so close to the body, integrity is key. All parts of the creation process should be as pure as possible”.
Is the brand fully vegan? No, but carries vegan-friendly products | Shipping internationally? Yes | Website: click here
10. Ronny’s Doodles
Ronny’s doodles are a collection of prints and original work in a limited edition of amazing mentor Ronny Hatchwell. She developed the Be and it will Be method throughout the world and is based on her best selling book of the same name. Ronny’s doodles give you the grace of messages through art which speaks straight to the heart and emotion. Her art comes printed on high-quality canvas or poster paper with an original signature of Ronny Hatchwell. The fun part is that Ronny also creates eco-friendly, fully vegan tote bags that are locally made in a socially-empowering factory hiring people with mental struggles and giving them work while allowing them to recover. I love the beautiful messages coming with each tote: I got the Frida Kalo tote and a cute bunny tote too!
Is the brand fully vegan? Yes | Shipping internationally? Yes | Website: click here
11. Yana Rozen
Yana Rozen is a brand making vegan-friendly jewelry from wood and other eco-friendly materials. The brand is located in a TLV based luxury boutique and offering customers a more mindful alternative. They are offering colorful statement pieces as well as boho chic and classy ones. Their jewelry can easily spice up outfits and add a pop of color, wherever you go and whatever you do.
Is the brand fully vegan? No, but carries vegan-friendly products | Shipping internationally? No
Apart from the brands showcasing in TLV we also had a FAKE World Expo, featuring some brands I absolutely love like Arsayo eco-vegan bags from Paris, Mink vegan shoes from Italy and Los-Angeles based eco-friendly, sustainable and vegan Arcas Bear. I also got to know Ipsilon, a positive conscious Paris-based brand making their sustainable clothes in Italy. I loved exploring the global movement of FAKE designers, and this is just the beginning!
Vegan & Cruelty-Free Makeup by Paula Fay
Whoever came by FAKE TLV couldn’t miss Paula Fay– this stunning ray of light recently moved to Tel Aviv from Ireland and she’s a super talented cruelty-free and vegan makeup artist. During the event, Paula explained everyone who came by about the importance of buying cruelty-free makeup, the difference between cruelty-free vs vegan and even gave quick vegan makeup makeovers and recommendations. Paula is such a sweetheart and did all my makeup during the photoshoot- from my experience with her work- it was just wonderful- she believes, just like me, that makeup is there to enhance what we already have and not to cover. I am sure we will work together again in the future.
I also have to give a huge shoutout to the WONDERFUL and extremely talented photographer Tzipora Lifchitz, who took all the pictures in this beautifully captured event. We made this beautiful editorial shoot together and worked hard, but the results are better than ever before. She is such a passionate positive human being and photography is in her blood- that’s exactly what happens when you do what you love with passion.
It was such a great pleasure to meet all those lovely brands, take part in the FAKE party and talk in a wonderful panel about the future of independent fashion brands next to some wonderfully-inspiring women. I had such a great time seeing everyone (and some of you, too) and creating such a positive, fun and supportive community of vegan and ethical fashion lovers. I am sure FAKE will have a second round in Tel Aviv soon, and hopefully, more and more to come internationally!
What do you think about FAKE TLV? let me know in the comments below!
Until next time,
Noa
ALL PHOTOS BY TZIPORA LIFCHITZ. MAKEUP BY PAULA FAY.
** Paid Partnership: This post was made in collaboration with FAKE TLV produced by GeekChicTLV. All the content, thoghts and opinions are mine.
LOVE IT GIRL!!! SEE YOU IN JAN. in BERLIN!!!
Thank you so much, Nino! see you soon in Berlin 😀
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