The Instagram feed of @VegansofIG has been decidedly silent for the past few years, but not because its founder has quit her cruelty-free lifestyle. After opening Vegan Scene in Venice three years ago, shopkeep Amy Wilde has had her hands full with her first brick-and-mortar boutique, which recently relocated from Main Street to Lincoln Boulevard. That's not all: In addition to doubling its space, the store is now stocking Wilde's first-ever clothing line, Legends & Vibes, which the designer fêted with a glitter-filled runway show at her shop's grand opening bash in early October.
"We simply outgrew our previous space on Main Street," Wilde tells Uncover LA. "We now have the room to have both a retail storefront and a design studio all under one roof." Fittingly located next door to Animal Wellness Centers, the 3,000-square-foot space exclusively stocks Vegan Scene's line of wordy basics alongside's Wilde's new print-happy label that's made of deadstock fabrics. The debut collection ranges from $68 for a one-shoulder blush top and $98 for a zippered cactus mini skirt to $128 for flowy black velvet jacquard pants and $140 for crushed velvet bomber jackets.
Also on shelves is clothing by Show Me Your Mumu, lingerie by Only Hearts, bags by Matt & Natt (faux leather, of course), footwear by Insecta, jewelry by Avindy, non-toxic nail polish by Ella + Mila, and beauty products from Gabriel Cosmetics and Kai Fragrance as well as a range of home goods and giftables.
The new Vegan Scene space "was custom-built with sustainability in mind," Wilde says. "Our new space needed a lot of love
We caught up with Wilde — who's been vegan for over 16 years — to learn about how she's seen LA's cruelty-free scene change and her plans to grow the mindful movement. Read on below, and see more inside the shop by scrolling through the gallery above.
When you opened your first location in 2015, your store was among the very few to offer all vegan-friendly products. As a vegan, how have you seen the landscape — whether in food or fashion — change in LA?
There has been a boom in plant-based restaurants and options in LA, but vegan fashion still has a way to go. LA has vegan shoe stores, and yes, more retailers are beginning to carry vegan leather, but when it comes to clothing, Vegan Scene is still the only 100% vegan boutique [here]. I hope that changes. Diet is only one aspect to cruelty-free and sustainable living. We're still working on expanding that.
We want to make veganism accessible, affordable, and luxe. That's a big reason for launching our own clothing line and working towards expanding into wholesale. We wouldn't just have representation in our vegan boutique, but vegan fashion would be available in retailers all over. We want to put vegan fashion on the map, and I think we're just the brand to do that.
Can you tell us more about upcoming events?
We have another Legends & Vibes fashion show that we're working
What are your plans for the future of the boutique and clothing brand?
We're kicking off 2019 with a Kickstarter campaign so that we can take Legends & Vibes to wholesale.
Vegan Scene, 4051 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, 90292; Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; (310) 448-2650
