When Couture Meets Conscience: Inside the Ethical Luxury Summit
Los Angeles – Beneath the luminous California skies, the sixth edition of Vegan Fashion Week unfurled a new chapter in fashion history — reimagined and reborn as the Ethical Luxury Summit. Held at the California Market Center on March 10-11, 2025, this groundbreaking event did more than showcase fashion; it asked bold questions and set a progressive tone for the future of luxury.
With an invigorated purpose and fresh identity, the summit introduced four immersive eco-platforms designed to inspire dialogue, discovery, and innovation among designers, industry leaders, and culture-shapers. From the Designer Gallery to curated runway shows and a rooftop gala, the experience merged consciousness with creativity.
RETHINKING LUXURY
Is true luxury still rooted in heritage houses with overseas production, or has it shifted to a philosophy that values ethical craftsmanship, cutting-edge materials, and mindful sourcing? This central question permeated the summit — through panels, runway presentations, and intimate exchanges between changemakers.
The event’s producer, Emmanuelle Rienda, infused each moment with purpose, bringing together an eclectic and visionary crowd including bestselling author Jay Shetty, wellness advocate Radhi Devlukia, actress Richa Moorjani, spiritual guide Shaman Durek Verrett, filmmaker Kip Andersen, visual artist Chloe Trujillo, and Dimitri Demianenko, Deputy Consul General of France in LA.
FASHION SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
The runway was set ablaze with avant-garde visions that challenged form and function. Opening the shows, Ecole Duperré — one of Paris’s most revered fashion institutions — brought two of its brightest young talents to Los Angeles.
Victor Clavelly, recently celebrated for his ethereal Rick Owens collaboration, presented a surreal collection of metallic minis, elongated silhouettes, and alien-inspired details. His pixelated patterns and plant-print jumpsuits blurred the line between earthly fashion and extraterrestrial fantasy.
Following him, Guy Chassaing channeled nostalgic textures and the resourcefulness of generations past. “I was inspired by my grandmother, who would patch together scraps into beauty,” he shared. His voluminous, tactile looks felt like emotional artifacts brought to life.
But the evening’s crescendo arrived with a striking collaboration between Maison Balmain and Moroccan collective Label Oued. The collection — a masterclass in eco-couture — reimagined the life cycle of luxury through reclaimed Balmain fabrics, woven with Moroccan artistry and LA’s bold spirit. Designers Mina Binebine, Nadia Chellaoui, Youssef Drissi, and Angeline Dangelser honored heritage while shaping the future.
Adding to the sustainability narrative, French brand NØ NAME launched the new Carter Fly sneaker — a feather-light step into ethical footwear.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Beauty and self-care took center stage too, with glam teams powered by clean beauty pioneers Osea Malibu and Pacifica. Backstage nourishment came from Plant Power Fast Food, offering a deliciously mindful boost to models and creatives alike.
After the show, rain didn’t stop the celebration. Guests ascended to the California Market Center’s rooftop terrace for the VIP Black Carpet Gala, sipping Juni sparkling adaptogenic teas, Empress Gin cocktails, and indulging in delicate plant-based creations from famed French pastry chef François Daubinet — all while advocating for a new narrative in luxury.
THE DESIGNER GALLERY
In a sunlit corner of the summit, the Designer Gallery offered a curated showcase of over 20 brands committed to sustainable fashion. Names like Atelier 7474, Adiba, Brisara, Carter Wade, De Florencio, Maison Audmi, Tanaka Vintage, Wuxly, Willa Phoenix, and XIVI shared space with innovative labels such as Zingales Footwear and Evlox.
Many of these collections are now accessible for stylist pulls via the Green Room x Maison Privée PR showroom in Los Angeles — a sign that sustainable style is not just aspirational, but actionable.
Guests were greeted throughout the event with refreshing sips from Simply Pop Prebiotic Soda, weaving wellness into the fashion narrative from the first step.
A MOVEMENT, NOT JUST A MOMENT
Since its inception in 2019, Vegan Fashion Week has been more than an event. It’s a movement — an evolving platform championing ethics, sustainability, and innovation in fashion. This year’s evolution into the Ethical Luxury Summitcements its role at the forefront of cultural and environmental progress.
As the rain clouds parted and the final guests departed, one message lingered in the Los Angeles air: the future of fashion is not only beautiful — it’s ethical.
