Veshin NEWS | April: Veshin announces new sister companies at Vogue Business Shanghai event
Whether it’s spring growth or autumn blaze, April represents change.
And that’s what we’re celebrating this month at Veshin in our April newsletter.
Veshin Restructure Announcement
Since inception, our goal has always been to expand access to next-generation materials and reduce dependence on leather and synthetics.
And we know that this can be a huge and daunting shift for brands looking to become more sustainable but unsure how.
Enter our sister companies: Lishin and MATTTER.
With the three of us on board, we’re helping brands move from design to production, all with earth-friendlier practices in mind.
To find out how you can get started on your next-gen materials journey, get in touch.
MareBlu Artificial Reef
We’ve been friends with the MareBlu team for a while now, as part of our giving back initiative.
So, we were delighted to receive these updates from Geró last month, as they placed the artificial reef that we funded in the ocean.
Now the reef is ready to provide a home to local marine life and to welcome all creatures, big and small, back to the area.
If you want to learn more about or support MareBlu’s work, head over to their site.
Veshin Heads to Brazil to Expand into Footwear
If you watch the documentary Slay (see below!) you’ll know the cruel and excessive ways in which animals get pulled into fashion. And that’s where the footwear industry plays a huge role.
So, after many requests to bring next-gen materials to footwear, we’re partnering with Ahimsa to make it a reality.
Ahimsa’s core philosophy centres around one thing: love.
Love for each other, love for our animal brothers and sisters, and love for our one and only home, Earth.
Through our relationship with Ahimsa, we aim to significantly reduce the impact of the footwear industry on animals and the environment.
Expert Top Tip
“When developing a material sourcing strategy, it’s essential to think holistically and act boldly. A sustainable material is one that not only has minimal environmental impact to produce (and dispose of), but is one that we can morally justify sustaining. It is becoming increasing challenging for the industry to continue viewing ethics and sustainability as distinct, and we only waste our time and resources by investing in short-term solutions when more radically responsible ones exist — we need to push ourselves for the sake of life on Earth.”
Emma Hakansson
Founding Director of Collective Fashion Justice, author of Total Ethics Fashion
Get to Know the Real: Ani Wells
Credit: Simply Suzette
We get to work with some of the most interesting innovators in our industry.
But behind what we see on social media and at exhibitions, there’s a person with stories, hobbies, and a quirk or two that we love to uncover.
This month, we’re talking to Ani Wells, Director and Founder of Simply Suzette, Sustainable Denim & Communications Consultant, and our Director of Communications and Marketing.
1) What did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be a fashion buyer growing up. As I went further into my studies, I realized math was a big part of buying which fueled my desire even more (I used to be a wiz at math!) On top of that, I did always want to have an involvement in charitable work and believe I have been able to fuse both my passion for fashion and desire to leave a positive impact on the world.
2) What would you like to do if you were not in your current career?
I have been practicing yoga for over a decade now with a keen interest in naturopathic medicine. If I weren't in this industry, I would love to go into holistic nutrition and wellness, as I believe that gut health is of the utmost importance!
3) One of your favourite movies?
My guilty pleasure is animated movies with my all time favourite being Shrek!
4) Dead or alive, who would you like to go for dinner with?
I would have loved to go to dinner with Vivienne Westwood to pick her brain on her views on the industry and her opinion on the way forward.
5) Favourite thing to do outside of work?
I love to spend my time reading and going for walks in nature. I find reading to be a great escape, as well as educational, and I truly believe connecting with nature to be a part of my wellness routine.
6) Travel destination recommendation?
I would highly recommend visiting Milos, Greece for the cleanest beaches you'll ever find without the crowds of Santorini.
7) Fun fact people wouldn’t know about you?
I used to be a professional rhythmic gymnast.
8) One thing on your bucket list?
To do a half marathon in a foreign country, particularly the Faroe Islands.
9) If trapped on a desert island, what three foods & drinks you would bring?
My favourites are french fries, but I’d also bring cucumbers and hummus for sustenance! As for my drink, I'd have to go with sparkling water.
10) If you were a UN SGD, which one would represent you?
I am best represented by SDG17: Partnership for the Goals.
What We’re Watching
Credit: Slay
The producers of Cowspiracy and What the Health bring us another exposé, this time on the grim reality of fashion.
The film digs in to what the fur, wool, and leather industries don’t want us to know, including how both animals and humans are affected by unsustainable, unethical practices.
It’s a great reminder that the need for radical transparency and transformation is more urgent than ever.
Stream for free on WaterBear.
Shangahi Fashion Week 2024 Inside Scoop
As the season changes, so too does fashion. And our co-owners, Xiao and Hongliang, attended Shanghai Fashion Week which, in recent years, has given a platform to more sustainable practices.
At the event, the R.I.S.E Sustainable Consumption Innovation Platform presented the work of the top three designers participating in its Rise Up Sustainable Fashion Design Challenge.
Needless to say, we’re eagerly watching as sustainability finds its seat at fashion’s table.
Credit: Shanghai Fashion Week
Publications We Love
Credit: RIBA
Like most industries, interior design is facing a pressing challenge, asking “how can we personalize our living spaces without it costing the Earth?”
With her new book, Sustainable Interior Design, Chloe Bullock has the answer.
Suitable for both novice and seasoned interior designers, the book takes you through design concept, materials and finishes, more sustainable supply chains, and working with values-aligned clients.
It all ties back to how the environments we build for ourselves contribute to our health and wellbeing.
Another reason that we like it? We’re in it!
Innovators to Watch Out For in 2024
You know what they say, “Ale's well that ends well.”
Okay, we took some creative liberties there, but the left over bits from the wine and beer industries really are ending well. And that’s thanks to companies like Sabant and Planet of the Grapes using them to craft stunning next-gen materials that can be used instead of leather.
Then, from malt to marsh, there’s Ponda. The Ponda team is working to restore wetlands and uses extracts from fast-growing, carbon-sequestering plants to create BioPuff®. This high-quality fibre reduces the need for feathers or synthetic-based fillers.
And what’s really exciting is that next-gen materials are breaking into markets other than fashion. Companies like Modern Meadow are providing earth-friendlier materials solutions to industries including footwear, outdoor, automotive, and beauty.
If you want to discover more next-gen suppliers, check out our materials page here.
Chat with Team
Sam Schultheis | Graphic Design Intern
Each month, we chat with a member of the Veshin team to find out what drives their work with us and what their hopes are for the future of the industry.
This month, it’s the turn of our graphic design intern, Sam Schultheis.
Q: Where are you based?
A: Philadelphia, PA.
Q: How long have you been working at Veshin?
A: A little over a month now.
Q: What inspires your motivation to work with Veshin?
A: I've always been extremely interested in the niche of next generation textiles. It’s a dream of mine to discover THE next new creative textile. So, when I found Veshin I knew I had to find a way to join the team!
Q: What’s the next-gen material you’re most excited for?
A: Grape Leather, from Planet of The Grapes. I’m most excited for the textile’s Soil to Soil lifecycle.
Q: What are your aspirations for the future of fashion?
My biggest aspiration for the future of fashion is for large corporations to wake up! I want them to finally realize what damage they are doing to the world.
Q: Your top tip for living sustainably and mindfully?
A: Connect and educate. There’s always someone who is going to be living “greener” than you. So build a network and share your tips with one another, and never shut the door to education.
Coming up in May
Next month, we’ll be celebrating our existing collaborations, as well as announcing new ones.
May 22nd is World Biodiversity Day and we’ll be marvelling at the beautiful, ecologically diverse environments Veshin operates in.
And we’ll tell you more about what our expansion to Brazil means for next-generation materials in footwear.
In the meantime, we’ll be on Instagram and LinkedIn as always — see you there!
