Sascha Camilli is the definition of a superwoman. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of VILDA Magazine (the world’s first digital vegan fashion magazine), author Behind vegan fashion and lifestyle blook “Vegan Style“, vegan fashion podcast host at Catwalk Rebel, Public Speaker, PETA UK’s Media & Special Projects Coordinator and a true inspiration to me. I first ‘met’ Sascha Camilli around five years ago, when I first started my blog and there weren’t too many vegan fashion lovers around. I found Vilda through Instagram, and sweet Sascha kindly featured my blog multiple times on her #VILDAootd section. I finally sat down (digitally) to chat with Sascha about vegan fashion, sustainability, motivation and inspiration.
Your passion and contribution towards veganism and animal rights are remarkable! How did it all start?
I went vegan eight years ago. It had been on my mind for a long time – pretty much since I found out what vegan meant. I had stopped eating meat as a child, but for many years I was under the impression that being vegan would be too difficult. But after reading “Eating Animals” by Jonathan Safran Foer, I decided that I didn’t care how hard it was. I was doing it anyway. And… once I gave it a shot, I was astonished at how easy it was.
Did you have any struggles through the process of going vegan? If you did, how did you overcome them?
Honestly? No. Aside from little annoyances, like WHY IS THERE MILK POWDER IN EVERYTHING?? I must say it’s been pretty smooth sailing. Much easier than I expected it to be. But this might be because I put zero pressure on myself. I went into it with a mindset of “let’s see how this goes”. It was a really long transition – around six months until I was fully vegan. That made it much simpler than trying to be perfect from day one.
Were you a professional writer before becoming vegan? If so, how did becoming a vegan writer affect your job?
I was working as a journalist and copywriter in the fashion industry. Going vegan affected my working life massively. All of a sudden, I felt like a huge hypocrite, writing about leather shoes and wool sweaters all day, when I would never wear them myself, nor did I want anyone else to. Ultimately, this is what led me to leave the fashion industry, start working for an animal rights organization and start a digital vegan fashion magazine.
When did you decide to create Vilda Magazine? What initially made you start this project?
When I was first transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, I noticed that there was a lot of information about veganism online. A lot of it was very well-curated and aspirational. But it was all about food! And we know that vegan living goes beyond just what we put on our plates. As someone who was working in fashion at the time, I imagined there must be other people like me out there, who were interested in fashion and personal style, but didn’t want to wear animals. I loved magazines back then – still do – and so the idea was born to create something that was beautiful and aspirational, to inform and inspire vegans and vegan-curious fashion lovers.
I am a huge fan of your book, Vegan Style! Can you share with us a bit about it, as well as why you wanted to write this book?
Similar to Vilda, I couldn’t help but notice the abundance of vegan cookbooks on the market. I don’t really use recipes myself, but there were just so many of these books, and they were all absolutely beautiful. But once again, every piece of information about veganism seemed to be tied to food. At that time, I was learning so much about material innovation and fashion production by running Vilda. So I decided to document what I learned in a book. I had a similar vision for Vegan Style as I did for Vilda: I wanted to create something aspirational and visually interesting, to elevate the image of vegan fashion.
Where and how did you gain so much knowledge in regards to vegan fashion? How do you keep in date with everything that is happening in the industry? What are some recommended sources we should follow?
There was very little information available when I first started doing the research to start Vilda back in 2013. But in the last few years, awareness of vegan fashion has really boomed. I’ve been working in communications for animal rights organization PETA for five years, and they are a fantastic resource both when it comes to the truth about how animals are used in fashion and vegan alternatives. I recommend anyone who is interested in finding out more about vegan fashion to check out the PETA-Approved Vegan logo – it’s used by over 1000 brands, both in clothing and home decor.
Is there anything vegan fashion related you feel like the vegan market is lacking?
I feel like we need more awareness around vegan wool. There is fantastic progress being made in this area – innovators are creating wool made from flowers and coconuts, cashmere can be made from soybeans – but very few people know about it. We need to deconstruct the idea of wool and similar materials as sustainable or “natural” because they really are not.
What is the best thing about being a vegan fashion advocate? What was a particularly memorable moment in your role as a vegan fashion advocate?
Releasing my book is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. My release party was one of the best days of my life. Seeing it come to life and being able to share the message with people is one of the biggest things I’ve ever worked on. Receiving messages from readers who have received the book as a gift and are excited to read it beats everything.
You have also been working with PETA UK on media and special projects for quite a long time! When did you join their team, and is your position also focused on vegan fashion?
I joined PETA in 2015, after deciding to leave the fashion industry behind. It was…like coming home. Finding a community of people who felt the same way about animals as I did was an amazing discovery. During my time at PETA, I have taken journalists shopping for vegan fashion, disrupted fashion brands’ shareholder meetings to urge them to stop selling animal skins, and helping Helsinki Fashion Week go leather-free. It’s been an amazing five years, and I can’t wait to see what the future brings.
If you had to choose your three most favorite vegan fashion items from your closet, what would they be?
My Stella McCartney Mini Falabella bag is my first choice. It was a gift from my husband and it’s such an iconic piece in the vegan fashion movement – it’s the first-ever vegan It Bag that became a coveted item that non-vegans loved because of its style. Secondly, my vintage embroidered faux leather jacket – it’s a true gem. I’d been looking for one like it for ages and when I finally found it in a vintage shop, I could hardly believe my luck! Lastly, my vegan Dr. Martens boots – one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Durable, long-lasting, and the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn.
What are your favorite vegan fashion brands at the moment?
I pretty much only shop second-hand at the moment – and have for the last couple of years. But I really love LUXTRA– a London-based brand that creates bags made only from fruit leathers. Their high-end bags are made from pineapple leather, apple leather or mango leather – and you could never guess it. They just look like amazing fashion.
What is your opinion about purchasing non-vegan secondhand items? Also, what would you suggest new vegans do with their non-vegan items in their closets?
Second-hand is always more sustainable than new. I wouldn’t wear second-hand animal skins myself, but wouldn’t judge others if they do. And as for what was already in your closet, the way I see it you have three choices. You could either sell the garments – and not feel guilty for keeping the money, however you can also donate the proceeds to a charity or a sanctuary. Or you could donate the garments to a charity shop. Lastly, you could simply wear them until they fall to pieces and then replace them with a vegan option. There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing so, and it doesn’t make you any less of a vegan.
Any last words?
You are not powerless when it comes to making a change in the world. We can all help create the world we want through our daily choices, through making our voices heard, through establishing a new normal.
Sascha Camilli
Social media links: You can follow Sascha Camilli on Instagram and Twitter.
Website: visit Sascha Camilli’s website here: saschacamilli.com
Anything else: Link to Sascha’s book!
Featured image by Sharron Goodyear
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Until next time,
Noa