in Materials, Reviews, Sustainable Fashion

Designer Leanne Hilgart for Vaute Couture Outerwear

by Delia Montgomery May 25, 2010, 11:46 pm 66 Views

Designer Leanne became an activist at a young age and how she integrated her passion into a business is amazing. It doesn’t hurt that she use to be a model in Asia. This year brings much media attention from VegNews Magazine to Ophra.com.

Vaute Couture is a women’s apparel company specializing in outerwear designed by Leanne. The materials are always alternatives to animal-derived fabrics and hold an earth-friendly sustainable status.

Pictured is an up-cycled indigo windbreaker with limited ordering for boutiques last April. It is wind proof, water resistant, and fully lined. Ideal for bike rides, picnics, hiking, and drizzle-rain days. Made of 100% recycled closed-loop zero-waste satin ripstop, and fully lined in silver mesh. Leanne likes to describe them as windbreaker indigo dress jackets.

Leanne’s favorite recycled material is a new technologically-advanced Polartec® and Thermal Pro® fabric. It is designed for insulation and to retain heat, plus a flattering drape. It has a nice honeycomb texture that gives a similar appearance to a wool knit coat. This fabric is made from 64% recycled fibers.

It’s a challenge to be green as a coat designer, ‒ without wool, but Leanne’s determination with the right new fabrics spells success.

Written by Delia Montgomery

I am Delia, d/b/a Chic Eco on www.ChicEco.com, and established myself as an eco fashion guru by learning "who makes what in the world of environmental fashion and design."

Enjoy reading some of my freelance writing about environmental design, fashion and art -- from both consumer and supplier perspectives. You may notice I focus most on individual eco designers, movers and shakers.

From sustainable fashion apparel to paint and flooring, discoveries are a rush. I get my kicks this way. I also offer sales representation of earth-friendly designed products for wholesale buyers. Retailers may take advantage of my services with factory-direct pricing. Spend less time sourcing and prevent green-washed purchases!

My other forte is connecting suppliers with business-to-business tools. Aspects of my business vary with consulting services while I'm proud to be the aide that embraces unique and innovative gigs.

I'm originally a Kentucky Blue Grass gal who relocated to Maui early 2006 and the tropical Puna District of Big Island, Hawaii late 2007. Walk the talk is my motto here.

Early 2009 I constructed a yurt home office in a semi-urban setting on a tiny lot. My water comes from the sky, contained in a catchment that's not likely to dry in this rain forest. The electric is designed for solar conversion. I grow about 30% of my food organically, compost, and recycle to the hilt. Permaculture with a full eco system is my gardening style.

In fact, gardening is my ultimate joy. I seek gigs like design, weeding and planting between other jobs. My love is Hawai'i which has more climate zones than any state. There are frequent earthquakes here, typically under a 3.0 magnitude, and I happen to dig the vibrations. It's a wonderful simple life in paradise. As I grow older and wiser, I become more and more grateful.