Sunday , June 13, 2010
Eco-Fashion: Vegan Queen
Peeps who care for the provenance of their sartorial goods are getting luckier and luckier as the field of eco-friendly design grows and flourishes. Vegan and other strands of green design used to be mired in either a blandly hippie style or this sort of unisex urban utilitarian thing that made everyone look like they listened to electronica and ate at fusion restaurants. (Not that there is anything wrong with those things, but you know what I mean.) Glamourinas who want to be green but not give up their yen for old-school luxury are in luck when it comes to ethically produced goods now that Vegan Queen are on the scene, however -- the line fulfills that preppy-girly kick and manages to be totally vegan at the same time.
The eco-friendliness credentials of Vegan Queen are pretty high: absolutely no animal products are used, and neither is any toxic, gross PVC. The bags use vegetal leather, which is made from specially harvested rubber trees, and the company's shipping and packing policies reflect a commitment to minimizing the environmental impact upon the earth. Design-wise, Vegan Queen is unabashedly fancy, with detailing, shapes and lines that evoke European and British luxury. (The bags would not look out of place next to lines like Burberry or even Louis Vuitton.) I had the pleasure of taking a good, detailed look at a few of the items, and the details -- from the zipper pulls to the crest logo -- are meticulously wrought and rich with monied association. (I also heard that the stylists from "Gossip Girl" pulled some of the bags for the upcoming season -- knowing how costume designers and wardrobe departments work, who knows if they'll make it in, but keep your eyes peeled!) The materials of the bags, clutches and wallets are high-quality and extremely durable -- the wallet-clutch is especially great to handle and is kind of unbelievably awesome. It's pricey stuff, but those who truly invest in their accessories and use their handbags for years will appreciate a truly eco-friendly, animal-loving option that is of the highest quality and truly eco-luxurious.
Tags: accessories, eco-fashion, vegan goodness, Vegan Queen
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Posted by Kat in Eco-Fashion |
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Comments (6)
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6 Comments!!
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oh! preppy awesomeness!
By melanie on July 24, 2008 10:44 AM
I purchased two bags from Vegan Queen. One bag has been great and there have been no problems. The other bag, the Imperial Bag, costing $896 fell apart after one use. I used the bag one time--inside was my wallet. The next time I used it I notice one of the straps had popped off and that there was a hole along a seam on the other side. I called Evelina (Vegan Queen) to ask about a replacement. She was unapologetic and told me to send her pictures which I did. She then told me to send the bag back. I asked if, since the item was defective, if I could be reimbursed for shipping and she replied, "not really..." I then expressed concern over her customer service and heard nothing from her. I then asked for a refund due to lack of communication. Over the next two weeks I was unable to get Vegan Queen to communicate effectively.
I contacted VQ after the bag had been returned (I had tracking through UPS) and asked when my paypal account would be refunded, to which she replied, "at the end of the week." When that came and went I wrote again, saying I hadn't received the refund. I then got an email saying, "you are eligible for a full refund minus any shipping costs for VQ bag in perfect condition ...it must be unworn...otherwise VQ will have to charge you a fee! ...$150" This--two weeks after I first contacted her--was the first I had heard of this. It also is not listed on her website. Not only did she do this--refund my money minus $150--but she processed the refund as a payment through PayPal, which means that I was charged seller's fees. I contacted her about this problem, but of course, have heard nothing from her. I filed a dispute through PayPal to which she did not respond, then escalated to a claim. I have not got my money back.
I have also been in contact with one of her distributors who has since decided to stop carrying her line, due in large part to my experience. I wrote to the PR people listed on her website and they contacted me immediately and apologized for my difficult experience but told me that they no longer work with Vegan Queen. I went to her website and clicked on "contact" then called the number listed under "sales inquiries" but they didn't seem to know much about the brand. So basically the contact info listed on her site is not valid.
I really wanted to support this company, and throughout this extremely stressful process, I kept hoping Evelina would do the right thing. The idea behind the line is wonderful and the bags are beautiful. I'm not necessarily calling the quality of the bags into question, but exercise extreme caution if you decide to purchase a VQ bag. Do it through a distributor with a good reputation and good customer service. Make sure they will stand behind the quality of the bag, because Evelina will not. I urge you not to purchase a bag through the Vegan Queen website as I did. If you happen to have any problems, you will likely be treated the way I was treated. There is nothing luxurious about being treated disrespectfully and having your hard-earned money stolen!
By yeshlee on December 12, 2008 11:45 PM
Buy these bags at your own risk!!
http://girliegirlarmy.com/blog/20081024/vegan-queens-n-pistol-packin-mamas/
By Andi on December 15, 2008 9:13 AM
Yeshlee, what a bummer VQ treated you so badly! Esp. when making a bag that touts its integrity as part of its marketing, only for its owner to seem to not have any. I would suggest anyone who is still interested in the bags to buy them through thegreenloop.com, which is a reputable longtime eco online seller with stated policies. But as always with everything, buyer beware!
xo k.
By Kat
on December 15, 2008 2:29 PM
Avoid at all costs! Here is Vegan Queen's unsatisfactory rating with the Better Business Bureau:
http://search.newyork.bbb.org/reports.aspx?pid=44&page=1&id=105650
By anonymous on May 15, 2009 1:52 PM
I have also had a bad experience attempting to deal with Vegan Queen and reiterate above comments - gorgeous bags, pity about the people / person behind them.
By Julia on January 5, 2010 12:48 AM