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Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart
Impact focused Entrepreneur, Community Builder & Brand Strategist
Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart is an ethical fashion entrepreneur and brand strategist who founded Humans We Love, a company specializing in high-couture, ethically created wedding gowns and accessories.12 Here are some key points about Leanne:
Background and Career
Leanne has a diverse background that includes:
- Working as a high-fashion model in Hong Kong
- Obtaining an MBA
- Lifelong activism for animal rights
In 2011, she founded Vaute Couture, described as the "World's First Vegan Fashion House" by NYLON magazine.3 Vaute Couture focused on creating ethically-made, high-fashion outerwear using zero animal products and "no-waste" material sourcing.1
After 11 successful years with Vaute, Leanne launched Humans We Love in May 2023.1 This new venture focuses on creating luxe, zero-waste, vegan bridal wear and accessories.4
Philosophy and Approach
Leanne's work is driven by a strong ethical philosophy:
- She believes in creating better systems and solutions that remove animals from industrial processes.3
- Her goal is to shift industrial defaults from negatively impacting animals, the environment, and workers to positively impacting them.3
- She sees the world as holistic and interconnected, believing that helping one area helps everything else.2
Achievements and Recognition
Leanne has received several accolades for her work:
- Named a "Gamechanger, embodying courage, creativity, and conviction" by Conde Nast
- Recognized as "Most Influential Designer" by PETA for their first U.S. Fashion Awards
- Described as "breaking history, the rebel of fashion week" by CNN3
Personal Life
Leanne has been vegan for over 23 years and has been an entrepreneur in the conscious consumerism movement for 15 years.3 She started her animal activism at the age of 8 and has been committed to the cause ever since.5
Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart continues to innovate in the ethical fashion space, combining her passion for animal rights, sustainability, and high-end design through her latest venture, Humans We Love.
Highlights
Does anyone own or know a vegan or animal saving business that could use legal support in NYC? I'm looking for vegan businesses in NYC who we can help!
I'm currently building a program for ADP (Animal Defense Partnerships, a vegan legal nonprofit) to support animal saving small businesses in NYC -- with free legal support, whether for typical legal needs like employment contracts, or IP, or something unexpected that's come up like getting sued.
What kinds of businesses? The business can be a person (a chef, an author, etc.), a restaurant, a food manufacturer, a fashion brand, an event (like a fest)
Let me know if you or a friend's business could use legal support and we can discuss what could be helpful for you! tag them or dm me <3
After a year in the works - my new zero waste vegan bridal brand HumansWeLove.com is hereee! If you know anyone getting married pls send em over and I'll owe you AT LEAST THREE AND A HALF HUGS
