Mink in Mink Farm. Photo by Jo-Anne McArthur.
Kelly, you’ve been doing so well with your GFJ so far!
You’ve met some challenges with meal planning, grocery shopping, eating out at restaurants away from home, looking closely at labels for hidden animal products, and attended a party. You have also considered challenging issues, such as how to explain to family and friends your new choices and looking more closely at the dairy industry.
You mentioned earlier that you could use some help with cleaning products and how to find affordable clothing options. We can have a discussion about those topics and related issues (vivisection/animal testing, and the use of animals in fashion), or anything else that is relevant to you at this point in your journey.
We look forward to hearing about what you’d like to focus on today!
Coach Donna and Coach Rosemary
The opinions we express as GFJ Coaches are ours personally. We are not professional health practitioners. Neither are we treating a specific health care issue. That means we are not offering advice on health-care problems. If you are experiencing a health-care problem, it is important to seek the advice of a health professional. However we are experienced, practicing vegans and we look forward to coaching you on your journey..
I would love some tips for finding Vegan shoes. I have a Vegan shoe shop here in Vancouver but can’t always afford $100+. Any brands or suggestions? I can’t imagine wanting to wear leather with what I know but it is sometime hard to find quality with synthetic materials. What is everyones thoughts on vintage/reused leather items??? Fur to me is just ridiculous.
I would also like some cleaning brands to go for. I know a lot about animal testing…. working for LUSH it is a huge focus. We are in the middle of a global “fighting animal testing” campaign and I have learned so much! I usually end up using our shower gels… for laundry, dishes and cleaning. Would love your top brands!
Luckily with LUSH we mark all of our products with a V to show they are vegan… I wish more companies did that! So it is easy to make sure that all of my body care items and cosmetics are cruelty free.
As for cleaning products, Judy has some great resources and ideas as she states here. Judy, didn’t you have a company recommendation when you did your GFJ regarding laundry soap? I can’t recall the name, but it sounded really interesting.
I think it’s great to use the natural products like vinegar and baking soda when possible. I also use Method products, Ecover, and 7th Generation. They all work really well.
I continue to use some leather products that I bought BV (before vegan). It’s a bit uncomfortable to use these products, but in a weird way, it’s a reminder to me that I wasn’t always vegan, and to honor all the animals that were sacrificed for my (purse or shoes that I’m wearing). How do you feel about buying consignment leather products?
I have recently learned that Payless shoes have no animal products…. All synthetic there. Which is nice for when you need som cheap shoes then you can save the 100$ plus spending for your fancier footwear. I have the same issue and once a year, I go to New York and blow 400 bucks on footwear! crazy, but so much fun!
As for cleaning products, seventh generation is cruelty free, and I have recently rediscovered the joys of Vinegar and baking soda for cleaning my kitchen and bathroom.
I’m still searching for a vegan deoderant that will get me through a day without offending people, but have gotten frustrated with spending a lot of money to find the deoderant I purchased doesn’t last through my bike ride to work. Maybe you can help me on that!
Judy, did you try Kiss my Face Liquid rock roll on deodorant? I use the fragrance free, it really works!
You should check out Aromaco at LUSH… I find that it is nice and effective. I layer it with Coconut Deo Powder to feel dry and keep it in my bag to layer up if needed!
Kelly, I have tried the Aromaco (love the scent) with the Coconut Powder and it totally works. However, the Aromaco bar is very scratchy on my (tender) skin, and doesn’t feel good going on, so I rarely use the bar now. The powder is wonderful!
Someone told be that the Aromaco bar needs to be heated up with a blow dryer or to skim off a layer to get smooth application. What is your experience with this?
I usually just heat it up with my hands and use it straight out of the shower. The friction between my hands is key!
Thanks, Kelly. I will try to heat it up. Is it supposed to be bumpy and scratchy?
It shouldn’t be… Sometimes there are a few bumps… try shaving a little bit off. I always recommend buying smaller pieces so you always get the freshest ones. If it doesn’t seem right… bring it into the shop. They will help you out!!
Kelly, Danielle works for Lush as well! Here we are posing again with a Charity Pot 🙂
[img]https://www.theghostsinourmachine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/IMG_0931-2.jpg[/img]
Love that shot! And I love Lush! (My fave lotion is Creme Anglaise!)
LOVE IT!!! Charity Pot is amazing!!!
Danielle, where do you work?
Our fashionista-extraordinare, and Coach, Donna Oakes will have to chime in on your questions about shoes, Kelly. Donna may be able to post at some point today if she’s feeling better. If not, I will contact her via phone and get more information for you. From just a consumer’s point of view, I can suggest you take a look at Chinese Laundry, Steve Madden, and Rocket Dog as possible options for non-leather shoes. Also, there are many cotton/hemp espadrilles varieties out now this season. Another option, is to buy the higher-end brands when they’re on sale, like Jambu, J-41, Toms (casual shoes/sandals), and Cre de Coeur, Olsen House, MoHop (beautiful shoes and sandals). Sometimes, you’ll find nice quality shoes for a reasonable price at discount stores like Marshall’s or TJMaxx.
Check out our Fashion Resources Guide for all the details and links to many sites.
Hi Kelly,,
Cri de coeur is having an incredible sale right now
https://Www.cridecoeur.myshopify.com/collections/sample-com.
If you look at the fashion section under The Ghost Free
Journey, you will find quite a few ecommerce sites. Alternative
Outfitters has many moderately priced styles. Every site has end of season sales – it is worth checking out the discounted styles. Most of the vegan/Eco designers create timeless styles.
There are also a number of flash sale sites worth signing up for-
Pure citizen.com, ethical ocean.com to name a few.
Many people continue to wear their leather goods until they wear out. It is not financially possible for most people to replace everything all at once.
Also, Moo Shoes in NYC has the largest selection of vegan styles for men and women – in a variety of price ranges.
Check out their website https://www.mooshoes.com – look at the sales and clearance section for some amazing prices. They do ship internationally.
Are you looking for any specific type of shoe, Kelly?
Nothing in particular, I just love shoes!! 🙂 I will definitely check out these sites. I also got an update that a Vegan shoe store in Vancouver https://www.gotniceshoes.com are having a huge sale… all clearance is on for $35 on Saturday and Sunday.
I will continue to use my old things until they wear out but am committed to staying away from leather in the future.
Donna is glam and wears Cri de Coeur, and this is about my speed, Kelly 🙂 I took this photo because I was so excited to see so many converse all-stars in one place!
As far as accessories go, I have many favorite brands of vegan shoes and bags, shops, etc. I don’t think I have ever made a purchase without a discount code. I typically go to each website and sign up for newsletters/discount code emails. Also, for vegan shoes, many shoe websites, such as Zappos, have a vegetarian category. Thankfully, I am seeing this more and more. Also check out DSW.com, which carry many synthetic styles, along with Payless.
GirlieGirlArmy.com is a great website for a vegan fashionista. So many articles on accessories, coats, cosmetics and a list of discount codes for various vegan fashion stores and websites.
As far as cleaning brands go, there are so many to choose from: 7th Generation, Ecover, Method, Mrs Meyers, Biokleen, Earth Friendly products. I use a few products from each brand, they all work very well. If there is a cleaner in particular you are looking to replace, let me know!
For cleaning products, I really likeMrs. Meyer’s. They may seem pricey, but a little bit goes a long way.
I agree with Judy about baking soda and vinegar – cheap, non toxic and very effective!
Those of us who have commented above, may not even consider fur, but I can’t help but look at the Mink photo and think about how many women and men that do still purchase fur. In addition, recently, there has been so much written about faux fur actually being real fur from dogs, cats, rabbits and coyote.
Do you think there is a difference between wearing an animals fur or skin or eating animal products?
I love the Coconut Deo!!!
I think for shoes, if you can avoid buying (even if it’s the thrift store) leather, I would. I mean, we all have those shoes that we bought BV (I love that Rosemary!) My running shoes are the only shoes I didn’t ditch, and to be honest I’m not even sure why I didn’t. Leather and fur are one in the same, one simply has no hair. Both belonged to someone else. If you can avoid them, try 🙂
As for furniture and such, it’s a journey (and the same can be said of clothing too) You do what you can, when you can. If people DO ask questions about what you’re wearing it is an absolutely PERFECT opportunity to educate them about what you know.
Leather belongs to her 🙂
[img]https://www.theghostsinourmachine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/unnamed.jpg[/img]
Love her!!! I agree!
🙂
We have a organization that we work with Fur Bearer Defenders… the amount of dogs and cats farmed for faux fur is disgusting. I stay away from anything furry as a rule.
I know some people say that they have ethical fur… meaning that it comes from animals that were slaughtered for meat… they feel that that justifies using the left overs. To me, any penny sent to a factory farm supports their treatment of animals. NOT OK!!!
I don’t know about the Fur Bearer Defenders, but will definitely check them out. I think you’re smart by staying away from “anything furry” to be safe until products are labeled properly and authentically.
I believe, and I may be totally wrong, that ethical fur is meant to represent “green” fur. The ruse of environmentally friendly fur. In Canada I was maddened by the billboard I saw saying “Fur is Green”
It’s insane, and people buy it!
Hi Kelly,
I’m new to this blog and I’m loving following your journey. I have been a vegan for 3 years now, and LOVE lush for everything! Maybe you can help me with this question. I was looking at trying your coconut deo powder, but I found that is wasn’t labeled with a V on your website or on the package. Do you know why? Has some sort of milk powder added in with the coconut milk?
Sam, Welcome to this blog! We’re always happy to hear from new people. Hopefully, Kelly will be able to answer your question a bit later today. I’m curious as well, as I love and use the Coconut Powder.
Please join in the discussion today, on Day 5 posts!
Hey Sam! I looked at the ingredients and I couldn’t see anything that is not Vegan. I will email my buying team and hopefully have an answer to this by monday! 🙂