by Holladay Allen
Native Foods Cafe
It's that time again... The Etsy Vegan Bag Round-up! Unique, stylish and cruelty-free.
The Everyday Crossbody by reabags
The Oversized Constellation Tote by LauraFrisk
For those who don't like schlepping, LunaDesignn makes a bunch of rad Pocket Belts...
The Hybrid Fold Over Clutch by BlueNini
Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan bags, vegan purses, Etsy bags, vegan Etsy bags
by Holladay Allen
Native Foods Cafe
Summer is here. World travel is upon us. You need some cool gear to traipse around in. Let’s do this. This week's Etsy Vegan Bag Round-up:
The 80's Faux Leather Weekender with Elephant Print from BTMVintage
(this is vintage, so there is only 1 in stock!)
The Ombre Shoulder Tote by CheriDemeter
Fly to the moon and back with this convertible Vegan Gold Backpack! by estelladesign
Forget getting lost. Let your bag guide you with the Map Tote by leyyabags
The Nautical Tote by byMART
Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant, vegan fashion, vegan bags, vegan handbag, vegan etsy bags
by Holladay Allen
Native Foods Cafe
A couple of months ago I had the pleasure of catching up with Michelle Schwegmann who founded the Herbivore Clothing Company with her husband Josh in 2002. For those of you who don't know, Herbivore is the go-to spot for all the coolest vegan gear! And it happens to be located in the only vegan strip mall in america... yahoo! It's in Portland, but not to worry if you don't live there.... you can order everything online too. Michelle is one cool lady and I can't wait to visit them in Portland again!
Native Foods Cafe vegan restaurant uses this photo courtesy of Herbivore Clothing Company.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Kansas and California - but I've lived in Portland, OR for the past 13 years. Portland is definitely home!
What is your sign?
Cancer
What inspired you to become vegan?
My husband. He was vegan and I was an omnivore. It was 1999 and it was a lot harder back then for us to go out to eat, so I wanted him to relent and at least become vegetarian. He dared me to read Diet for a New America knowing that it would make me go vegetarian, instead of him. Of course, I finished the book and my mind was blown with the information about animal treatment and the health concerns with animal consumption, and I became vegetarian. A year or so later I realized how silly it was that I was still hanging on to eating cheese and I went vegan.
Who or what do you think has had the biggest impact on the growing vegan movement in the past year?
I think T. Colin Campbell and Forks Over Knives has widened our circle tremendously!
What inspired you to start Herbivore? It started as a magazine, correct? Why did you decide to transition to a store?
We started Herbivore Clothing first, actually, in 2002. The magazine ran from 2003 until 2007. In the early 2000s we wanted to proclaim our belief in animal rights and vegetarianism/veganism with a tee (we are Americans, it's our way!) and there were none we loved. So Josh, being a designer, made some. We honestly didn't think it would actually become our whole lives when it all began, but when you are doing something you love and are passionate about, it makes sense that it all works out.
Native Foods Cafe vegan restaurant uses this photo courtesy of Herbivore Clothing Company.
Who does all of the amazing artwork for your line?
My kickass husband, Josh Hooten! We have worked with four other artists too, but he's designed the other forty!
Do you have a favorite vegetable? If so, why is it your favorite?
I love kale. I love Brussels sprouts. I love broccoli. So I guess, no, not one favorite.
What is your family’s favorite dish to enjoy at home?
We LOVE sandwiches.
Oh yum! The Best Vegan Submarine sandwich ever.
Vegan baking or cooking?
Both!
If you were to come back as an animal what would you like it to be?
A bird.
Do you have any pets? If so, what kind and what are their names?
Two dogs! An insane Bassett hound named Sassy, and the most adorable terrier mix mutt named Ace. Both are rescues, naturally, which only goes to show you can get a pure bred or a mutt and save a life. Take your pick! But mutts are less crazy.
Native Foods Cafe vegan restaurant uses this photo courtesy of Herbivore Clothing Company.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
I would live in Hawaii or Mexico. With all the grey and rain of Portland, in my next life I want some sunshine and warm water.
What is your favorite current menu item at Native Foods Café?
The Caribbean Jerk Kale Salad the Native Chicken Wings.
The Caribbean Jerk Kale Salad at Native Foods Cafe vegan restaurant.
Favorite Native Foods’ dessert?
I never get to pick -- my daughter always gets a cupcake.
If aliens landed in your backyard, what is the first food and drink you would serve them?
I would give them a delicious, frosty cold locally brewed Pacific Northwest beer and some really good artisan bread.
What one vegan product do you think you could never live without?
by Holladay Allen
Native Foods Cafe
We all know that Etsy is an excellent place to find really cool stuff.... like all kinds of stuff... art, jewelry, clothes, shark laundry baskets, thumb tacks, weird al dinosaur portraits and much more. And it is an especially great place to find unique vegan handbags.... so let's round em' up! This week's Etsy Vegan Bag Round-up:
Agnes' Large Tote in Vegan Gray Suede
The Flop Handle Bag in Mustard
Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant, vegan bags, vegan fashion, etsy
by Mandi Meek
Native Foods Cafe Boulder
Colorado winters are extremely dry – actually I think all the seasons are dry here, but the locals may disagree with me on that. All the scrubs, soaks, lotions, and potions in the world can’t keep my delicate skin satisfied.
At the start of the season, we were equipped with some long-sleeved tees at Native Foods in Boulder. I was so happy to have sleeves to survive the cold, but I loved the worn in feel of my other tee that I had since the start of summer. There’s something about worn cotton that puts a smile on my face.
Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant, homemade vintage tees
Worried about my skin and the scratchy feeling of a brand new crisp long-sleeved tee, I started digging up some stuff online about how to soften cotton faster. I wasn’t impressed by the online offerings. So being the DIY-diva that I am, I decided to grab all my new cotton shirts and experimented.
Note: Nearly every cotton shirt I own is black so I didn’t need to worry about bleeding of colors. Due to the new nature of all the shirts there was some bleeding out of the dye, but absolutely no fading. I would say that this recipe sped up the process of breaking in the shirt by 7-10 washes. Some of the cotton blends worked better than others, but overall, I was thrilled with the results.
Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant, homemade vintage tees
Here’s what you’ll need:
*1-3 tees per batch*
1 Plastic tub, large pickle jar, or something comparable to fit the liquid quantities
1 Large pot to boil ingredients
4 cups of water
½ cup of salt
½ cup of baking soda (if in mass quantity up to a 1 full cup only needed)
Combine salt, baking soda and water into pot. Bring to a boil. Allow simmering for about 3-5 minutes. Turn off heat. NOTE: If you have a shirt that is particularly scratchy more than the others you can put it in the pot as the brine cools and it should speed up the softening even more, but be sure to turn it inside out.
Next, pour brine into container. Fold shirts inside out, and layer them into the brine. Allow saturating for a minimum of 5 days. After the saturation period, wring out t-shirts and rinse with warm water in the sink. Launder ‘em as usual, and dry on high heat.
In hindsight, I would have liked to let mine sit for another 5 days or so. However, I was still extremely happy when I pulled my tees out of the dryer with no fading of the color or the screen-printing and a significantly softer feel. After a few washes, these babies are gonna feel as soft as a vintage tee from the thrift store.
Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant, homemade vintage tees
by Holladay Allen
Native Foods Cafe
I am supremely stoked on the new vegan line of bags and shoes from Italy called Krze Studio. Right now you can purchase some of the bags, but the shoes should be available very soon! Krze is the brainchild of Leila Kerze who hails from LA and has worked for BCBGMaxAzria and Donald J Pliner. She knows style, and the importance of a well-crafted shoe.
That is why she is sourcing high quailty vegan leather from suppliers in Italy. "It was through attending material tradeshows and working with different suppliers where Leila gained a deep understanding of the tremendous advancements that have developed in materials over recent years; most notably, the availability of synthetic leathers superior in quality to their dated animal based counterparts. Through her awareness and enthusiasm of innovative materials, and her experience and relationships built through working with amazing people across the globe, Leila recognizes that right now is the time and place for Krže Studio ." (Taken from the Krze Studio website)
Check out these bags for sale now... I love the Sharon....
Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant, vegan fashion, vegan handbag
by Holladay Allen
Native Foods Cafe
I just came across a very cool vegan shoe line created by Monisha Raja called Love is Mighty. She sources the materials for the shoes from Indian clothing artisans in the rural areas of India whose traditions are dying as they head in to the big cities to take construction and carpentry jobs, which she sums up here. Monisha has a background in some of fashion’s most prestigious houses and attended the Parsons School of Design, so she has an eye for glamourous detail. Born and raised in India, she created Love is Mighty “with the vision of bridging the dying world of indigenous arts and the world of modern innovation and design.” And she is an animal lover so the whole line is vegan.
You can purchase them here…. Below are some of my favorites…
Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant, vegan shoes, vegan fashion, Love is Mighty
by Holladay Allen
Native Foods Cafe
Hey fellas, this line of men's fashionable gear called Brave Gentleman is rad. Like really, really rad. And all vegan! It was founded by Joshua Katcher, who writes a great vegan blog called The Discerning Brute, and has fantastic style. Plus, I remember the issue of VegNews where they did a feature on what was in his fridge... and he has great taste in food too. Their vegan shoes are gorgeous, and they make custom suits too. So all you dapper gents, get on it. These are my two favorites from the shoe line.... I actually emailed them to see what the smallest size is so I can get in on the action too.
Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant, vegan fashion, vegan men
by Holladay Allen
Native Foods Cafe
While it isn't quite Spring in Chicago.... it sure doesn't feel like full-blown Winter, and I hear February is supposed to be the worst of the Winter months. I am totally fine with a mild Winter... and some of these warmer than usual days have me thinking about Spring and even warmer days ahead. And what really has me thinking Spring is seeing all the new Spring fashion in the annoying pop-ups on my screen, and in my email... here are three of my favorite vegan bags for Spring I've seen so far:
1. The Cork it Over Multi Cork Tote from Lulu's
2. The Fariview Hobo from Free People
3. Colorblock Sweater Tote from Anthropologie
Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan bags, vegan handbag, vegan purse, vegan food, vegan restaurant
by Native Foods Cafe
Halloween is almost here.... yippee! And we think 2012 is the year of the veggie costume. You can make it creepy, bizarre, mouth-watering or downright disturbing. Get creative and DIY. Some inspiration...
Bizarro Broccoli Invader:
Photo Credit: Bon Appetit
Vegetable Pad Thai:
Photo Credit: TheCostumeCafe on Etsy
Queen Victoria of Brassica:
Photo Credit: Design Swan
Asapragusta:
Photo Credit: DOOMtastic
Native Foods Cafe, veggie costumes, vegetable costumes, halloween costumes, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant
