S2, Ep10: Do Good, Look Incredible with Stacey Chang
Jan 8, 2020
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Vegan entrepreneur Stacey Chang talks about founding Veerah, the first apple leather shoe brand. She discusses her journey to veganism, challenges in the fashion industry, and the sustainability of vegan materials like apple leather. The episode explores the environmental impact of non-leather alternatives and promotes ethical and compassionate fashion choices.
Stacey Chang advocates for veganism as a core value in fashion design.
Vera prioritizes sustainability with apple leather and innovative cruelty-free materials.
Empowering female consumers with stylish vegan fashion, Vera aligns ethics with aesthetics.
Deep dives
Stacy Chang's Vision for Sustainable Vegan Fashion
Stacy Chang, the founder of Vera, a luxury shoe company, focuses on creating high-quality vegan fashion that is accessible and mainstream. Her brand, inspired by balancing compassion and beauty, reflects her commitment to creating a cruelty-free world. By sourcing materials like apple-based vegan leather, Vera aims to offer versatile collections that prioritize sustainability without compromising on style.
Championing Sustainability and Innovation in Vegan Fashion
Stacy Chang emphasizes sustainability and innovation in vegan fashion through her brand, Vera. By utilizing apple-based vegan leather, she showcases the potential for environmentally friendly materials in luxury fashion. Despite initial challenges and higher production costs, Vera sets a standard for cruelty-free, stylish footwear while continuously exploring new ways to reduce environmental impact.
Empowering Female Consumers and Driving Ethical Entrepreneurship
Stacy Chang empowers female consumers by offering quality vegan fashion through Vera, aligning ethics with aesthetics. As a vegan entrepreneur, she encourages budding entrepreneurs to prioritize core values while considering broader consumer preferences. By engaging with customer feedback and providing versatile, sustainable products, Vera sets an example of how vegan brands can drive positive change in the fashion industry.
Dealing with Rejection and Building Resilience
When facing rejection from a business partner, the initial reaction of self-blame and questioning one's actions is common among women. However, it is crucial to understand that not all negative outcomes are a result of personal flaws, as external factors like production issues can also play a significant role. Learning not to take everything personally and developing a thicker skin while maintaining empathy and sensitivity can foster resilience and growth in professional settings.
Self-Care and Coping Strategies for Challenging Days
Amid the societal emphasis on strength and confidence, it is essential to acknowledge moments of vulnerability and low energy. Strategies like prioritizing sleep for better decision-making and engaging in personal challenges outside work can help maintain balance and a sense of achievement. Additionally, focusing on one's well-being and adopting a compassionate approach towards oneself can lead to a more empathetic and positive outlook, influencing interactions with others for a more compassionate world.
This episode is brought to you by Vivo Life! Use our code 'chickpeeps10' to get 10% off your order at vivolife.com!
This episode is also sponsored by Kinder Beauty! Use code CHICKPEEPS at checkout to get a free bonus item worth up to $24 in your first box.
The future is female and made out of apples! Or at least our shoes will be! This week Evy speaks to vegan entrepreneur and sustainable fashion guru, Stacey Chang, the founder of Veerah. Disillusioned by the lack of non-animal, stylish shoe options, and the fashion industry’s disregard for sustainable practices, Stacey decided to design the world as she’d like to see it when she defied all the obstacles and founded the first apple leather shoe brand in 2016. Stacey considers veganism a core value of her brand and is determined to show the fashion industry that beauty and compassion can coexist. Also on this episode…
How Buddhism nurtured Stacey’s compassion towards all creatures and led her to veganism.
Stacey shares about her early experiences in the mainstream fashion industry and how working at big-name brands showed her what she wanted to do differently.
What gave the Stacey the inspiration to try making shoes with apples.
Where do all the apple skins come from?
Do vegan leathers have a greater carbon footprint than their animal leather counterparts?
‘Non leather materials - such as cotton fabric, polyesters - are found to have less than half the environmental impact than their animal derivative counterparts.’
Is it even possible to be sustainable and fashionable?! Stacey shares her tips for making the most of your wardrobe.
What it takes to create a thriving vegan business.
‘Being vegan should be your core value, that’s something you should never compromise on.’
Will vegan textiles ever be price-competitive with their animal counterparts?
We talk about being a woman in a leadership role and how sensitivity can be an asset in intuiting what the customer needs.
Stacey emphasises the importance of tending to one’s own needs to fully unlock our naturally compassionate nature: ‘When we’re in a better state both inside and out then naturally we will be more compassionate’.
Tylor and Evy discuss many vegans’ discomfort about eating vegan options from places like Burger King and McDonalds, and whether or not we should be supporting these options.
A listener question prompts discussion about whether disgust is the right response to taxidermied animals.
Links
Use code “Chickpeeps” to save $50 on your first order of regular priced shoes on Veerah!
