Welcome to The Good Guys Note #17
PART.2 "COUNTRY" with Simon Beins
Today we are interviewing Simon Beins , musician, producer, dad and more, who's wearing our new BABER-GV running shoes with Vibram sole.
Read the interview below.
Simon's Spotify (Music) Air Crickets (Music for films)
]]>Welcome to The Good Guys Note #16
PART.1 "TOWN" with Asia Rain.
Today we are interviewing Asia Rain who's wearing our new BABER-GV running shoes with Vibram sole.
Read the interview below.
Welcome to The Good Guys Note #15 about our "Renewal".
How it started?
Marion, who was a freelance shoe-designer in Paris, initially started Good Guys because she couldn’t find cruelty-free shoes she liked and felt others would follow her need for more conscious fashion and ethics.
In 2011, Good Guys was launched. Since then, Marion has designed and produced a wide range of Vegan shoes she wanted to wear on various occasions, from boots to clogs and sneakers. Good Guys was sold worldwide, from Japan to Europe to the United States, where she now resides and keeps creating her collections.
Today,
Marion works from her studio in San Pedro, California. Good Guys is still a fairly small company with a mighty cause and faithful following. For more than ten years, Marion never stopped working toward spreading her love for animals and our planet through her creations and searching the best alternative to leather and suede to work from.
Why a Renewal?
The past few years have been tough for everybody; Covid put our world upside down and changed the way we interact with each other, the time we spend outdoors or indoors, the need for isolation as well as the longing for real connection and the feeling of overstimulation coming from our computers, social media, and phones.
In the summer of 2021, Marion, founder of Good Guys, broke her foot, which led her to embark on a journey of chronic pain, resilience, and frustration. The joke was on her, a shoe designer who couldn’t walk more than 15 minutes at a time as she developed a rare condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, aka CRPS. Her world was forever changed, and designing shoes was almost as painful as being unable to wear anything except recovery shoes.
That is When and Why the Renewal was set in motion.
Our Logo,
We've come a long way from our "vintage" logo with many fonts (lol) to the cursive wobbly logo with a smiley. This change is also a change of "motto." We invite you to "go Vegan" with us and not ban people who wear leather from our circle.
The Logo itself was created by the founder, Marion, aka Mayon, a visual artist who wanted to take back her brand's aesthetic and logo to make it as personal as possible.
We invite you and want to put a positive spin on our message and mission of changing the approach toward cruelty-free fashion.
Why Rebrand?
As we mentioned above, We wanted to evoke a positive message that is non-exclusive, non-judgmental, and more invitational. Many of our customers, and maybe you, who are reading this blog entry, might not be Vegan, but you are here because you love our shoes or are curious about our mission and what we do within our collections.
That is why we needed to slightly change the name and emphasize the positive aspect that words can carry. "Good Guys" for the positivity and "Go Vegan" for a more invitational message.
We started this “renewal” journey by introducing our new running shoes, the BABER-GV, As mentioned earlier, Marion needed comfy shoes for her now sensitive feet, so she started by creating ideal stylish sneakers.
We will bring back your favorite boots and shoes in up-to-date versions, emphasizing the details and effort of using the best sustainable components, like Appelskin material, recycled rubber, bio-based lining and organic conton.
We will showcase surprising projects linked to Marion’s other field of interest that she noticed she has in common with Good Guys community; it will be projects related to artisanal and savoir-faire...
Stay tuned ! Thanks for reading this Good Guys Note !
Welcome to The Good Guys Notes #14
We hope you had a wonderful summer and a good September so far.
Maybe some of you already know, but we are thrilled about our Lucky vegan cowboy boots being featured in BARBIE, the movie. Ken and Barbie walking side by side in Venice Beach, Ken wearing our white cowboy boots. That's what we call an "epic" feature.
Wait! What?! KEN IS VEGAN? Apparently! He is wearing our Lucky boots in white with his cowboy outfit, which is fantastic, and we couldn't be more excited to share this with you all.
Thanks to Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, and Ryan Gosling are now immortalized as mythical and iconic Barbie & Ken dolls.
When we were asked to provide a pair of white cowboy boots for KEN to wear in "Barbie," we were very excited about the idea of the movie made by a woman such as Greta Gerwig and with incredibly talented actors. Still, we were surprised that we would be featured in such epic scenes.
Original Good Guys Lucky White boots
We absolutely LOVE the movie and have always been huge fans of Greta Gerwig's work. It is an honor to be part of "Barbie" and at Ken's feet nonetheless.
BARBIE is a powerful movie in many ways. Marion, the founder of Good Guys, said it really spoke to her and made her think about many aspects of her education and the toxic, misogynistic cultural environment she grew up in during the 80s and 90s as a "girl" and then "teenager" and how lucky we are to see a shift in recent years to allow more space for women to speak up and tell their truth.
"I am glad women are center stage now, behind and in front of the camera. We are done with the sidelines.!." -Marion.
The boots are so cool, Mattel turned them into miniature boots in a Ken cowboy outfit Doll.
Yeehaaa
GG
Welcome to The Good Guys Notes #13
It's Women's History month, and we have a history of collaborating with Women within Good Guys. We love it and are proud of it.
Today, we will talk about our collaborators and friends we got lucky to cross paths with these past few years, passionate women, artists, photographers, entrepreneurs, mothers, daughters, and most of it all, wonderful Human beings we had the honor and pleasure to work with and learn from.
Ami's website HERE
Read the Good Guys Note Style Guide HERE
Besties Vegan Paradise link HERE Vegan Coffee Los Angeles HERE
Welcome to The Good Guys Notes #12
Today, we will share one of our favorite Vegan recipes, the Vegan Spam Musubi ala Yaya. Thanks for being here and reading our Good Guys Notes when we find the time to share something we like with you!
Take your apron and get in your kitchen if you are hungry for a good ol' Vegan Spam Musubi*.
*Note: we are using "Omnifoods" vegan steak to replace the original non-vegan SPAM, but you can easily use Tempeh, Tofu, or Seitan instead if you do not have access to Omnifoods in your part of the world.
You can look at the video to understand the process of making the final Vegan Musubi.
Welcome to The Good Guys Notes #11
Today we invited Charlotte Huguet, Artistic director, and Stylist at Elle France, to style and share three looks with the BOBBY black, Tyrolean shoes from our Premium Made in Italy collection.
Charlotte has ties with Italy as her husband is an Italian woodworker, he's the one who built their wooden home. @sycomoretree
Read Charlotte's interview and have a look at her previous "Style Guides" in the "Good Guys Note #9 and #10"
Week#2- the Bobby Tyrolean vegan shoes.
Charlotte styled the BOBBY, a new addition to our Premium Line made in Italy, this pair has become a best-seller this season and will soon be a classic in our Made in Italy line. Let's see what Charlotte wears with the Bobby.
]]>
Welcome to The Good Guys Notes #10
Today we invited Charlotte Huguet, Artistic director, and Stylist at Elle France, to style and share three looks with the DA VINCI mid-heel vegan clogs black.
Read Charlotte's interview on the previous blog post " The Good Guys Note #9".
If you are looking for ideas to wear your shoes, stick around because we will share different looks and tips on a selection of three pairs.
Week#2 - The Da Vinci mid-heel vegan clogs
LOOK #1
Charlotte opted for a tight-shirred mini skirt with a floral print. She picked a wide sheer blouse that seemed light as a cloud and tucked it inside the skirt to show the waist, elongate, and add volume to the upper part of her silhouette.
The Da Vinci mid-heel is a perfect match with this fancy outfit. They leave the heel visible and free and give a slightly chunky look to it all. We love this styling!
Welcome to The Good Guys Notes #9
Today we invited Charlotte Huguet, Artistic director and Stylist at Elle France, to style three pairs of Good Guys shoes and boots.
Charlotte lives in the countryside with her two boys and her husband Emi @sycomoretree, who built their beautiful home where the photoshoot took place.
We interviewed Charlotte about her journey.
You can read the interview below in French 🇫🇷 at the very end of the page if you scroll down.
Marion/Good Guys: Hi Charlotte, we met at L'école Duperré when we were both studying fashion and design. What was your "journey" since you left school? Can you introduce yourself to our readers?
Charlotte Huguet: After Duperre, I arrived at Elle Magazine to work on the Art de Vivre and children's fashion pages. At the same time, I did the styling and art direction for various fashion and decoration brands.
GG:What does the word "sustainable" in fashion and design mean to you? I know you live in the countryside near Paris, do you feel closer to nature when you're at home?
CH: My husband and I left the city with our two boys to live in a small village, Barbizon, in the heart of the Fontainebleau forest.
I left Paris, where I grew up, to live in this house, and this change of life has completely changed my way of dressing. I now only buy second-hand, I patch a lot, and when I buy new, it's usually clothes from artisans.
In terms of decoration, it has changed a lot too. I don't buy anything anymore. Or only in second-hand shops. I live with fewer objects which have an emotional value above all. And I make ceramics. I eat from my own bowls or from my friends' bowls. Living with objects and a house-made by those you love is very comforting. It gives meaning.
GG: Can you tell us more about your project "Countryfication"?
CH: We set up this project with two friends, Gesa Hansen and Estelle Marandon. They have both moved to the country as well. We have just published a book (Flammarion) about our experiences as ex-city dwellers who left the city for the countryside. What it changed for us, what we gained, what we lost. We tried to be as transparent as possible.
GG: How do you pick an outfit in the morning?
CH: It depends a lot on my mood in the morning and the day ahead. Sometimes I need to be very comfortable because I'll have to move furniture and walk. I wear jeans, a T-shirt and trainers. Other times I want a dress or colors. I don't have a predefined style. I only have desires
GG: Did you have fun, and was it easy to style the Good Guys shoes? Which one is your favorite?
CH: It was very easy. Very obvious. I really like your work and your shoe collections. I always have. It's as if they were made to measure for me. I like all the models. The three you sent me are very different and yet they can be worn easily with trousers as well as with a short or long dress.
LOOK #2
The mini dress for the summer is the most fabulous look to pair with your Duke cowboy boots. You can still rock and walk around the garden with your shoes on, yet look delicate as a flower with a tight printed dress. This is a simple look we love and that we will try soon.
LOOK #3
Lengthwise you can play around with the Duke. If you prefer a long dress, then Charlotte showed us how perfect it can look with a tubular backless dress. Pick an ample or more fitted dress and pair it with your low ankle boots. There's no doing it wrong here.
We love the "Missoni" knitted pattern of this dress Charlotte is wearing.
Marion/Good Guys: Bonjour Charlotte, nous nous sommes rencontrées toutes les deux sur les bancs de l'Ecole Duperré à Paris, quel a été ton parcours depuis le début des années 2000?Peux-tu te présenter en quelques lignes?
Charlotte Huguet: Après Duperre, je suis rentrée au Magazine Elle pour m’occuper des pages Art de Vivre et des pages autour de la mode enfantine. En parallèle, j’ai fait du stylisme et de la direction artistique pour différentes marques de mode et de décoration.
GG: Qu'est-ce que le terme " Sustainabilité" en mode et dans le monde du design évoque pour toi? Je sais que tu habites à la campagne près de Paris, te sens tu proche de la nature chez toi?
CH: Nous avons quitté la ville mon mari et moi avec nos deux garçons pour vivre dans un petit village, Barbizon, au cœur de la forêt de Fontainebleau J’ai quitté Paris ou j’avais grandi pour habiter cette maison et ce changement de vie a complètement modifié ma façon de m’habiller. Je n’achète plus que de la seconde main, je rapièce beaucoup et lorsque j’achète neuf c’est en général des vêtements d’artisans.
En terme de déco, ça a beaucoup changé aussi. Je n’achète plus rien. Ou seulement dans des brocantes. Je vis avec moins d’objets et ceux-ci ont surtout une valeur émotionnelle. Et je fais de la céramique. Je mange dans mes bols ou dans ceux de mes amies. C’est très réconfortant de vivre avec des objets et une maison fabriqués par ceux qu’on aime. Cela redonne du sens.
GG:Peux-tu nous en dire plus sur ton projet "Countryfictation"?
CH: Nous avons monté ce projet avec deux amies, Gesa Hansen et Estelle Marandon. Elles ont toutes les deux déménagé à la campagne elles aussi. Nous venons de sortir un livre chez Flammarion: qui raconte nos expériences d’ex-citadines ayant quitté la ville pour la campagne. Ce que ça a changé pour nous, ce que l’on a gagné, ce que l’on a perdu. Nous avons essayé d’être le plus transparente possible
GG: Quand tu te lèves le matin, comment choisis-tu une tenue pour la journée?
CH: Ça dépend beaucoup de mon humeur du matin et la journée qui m’attend. Des fois j’ai besoin d’être très confortable car je vais devoir bouger des meubles, marcher. Je mets un jean un thee shirt et des basquettes. D’autres fois, j’ai envie d’une robe ou de couleurs. Je n’ai pas de style prédéfini. Je n’ai que des envies
GG: T'es-tu amusée et était-ce facile de trouver des looks pour les paires de Good Guys? Laquelle préfères-tu?
CH: C’était hyper facile. Très évident. J’aime beaucoup ton travail et tes collections de chaussures. Depuis toujours. C’est comme si elles étaient faites à la mesure de mes désirs. Tous les modèles me plaisent. Les trois tu m’as envoyé sont très différents et pourtant on peut les porter avec aisance autant avec un pantalon qu’une robe, courte ou longue.
Welcome to The Good Guys Notes #8
Today, I will talk about my love for Sweden, and Swedish clogs and how our collaboration with Troentorp started, which led us to create the best vegan clogs around.
It was serendipity to find Troentorp. When I reached out to them a few seasons ago, they told me they were very interested in launching a line of Vegan shoes but weren't sure of the materials and had some hesitations. We decided to collaborate and focus on quality, simplicity, staying true to the classic Swedish clogs, while using eco-friendly and high-quality vegan materials. We kept their perfect designs with flawless traditional details and made them Vegan. A dream come true!
My love for Sweden and where it comes from.
I visited Sweden for the first time in 2006; I was invited that summer for my birthday by my now long-time partner in crime, muse, and occasional ghost-designer for Good Guys, David Herman Dune, who is Swedish.
First on my trip was, Stockholm. It was love at first sight; everything about Stockholm was appealing to me, the architecture, the style, the art, the food...I can rave about it all day long. That's where I met Nina from Greenlaces, one of our first vegan concept stores; Nina is passionate about veganism, fashion, sustainability. We always exchange ideas and love working with Nina. She's the first to carry our Vegan clogs, and it's a success. Greenlaces is situated in the historical neighborhood of Stockholm, Södermalm.
The second part of my trip was a deep dive into the countryside, surrounded by big lakes in the region of Dalarna, where the famous Red Wooden horses are from. It was magical as well, experiencing for the first time the midnight sun and northern light, alone in nature, no cell phones, swimming in freezing lakes, riding old bikes, and never missing a daily Fika with the family.
Why the idea of traditional Vegan Swedish clogs?
I spent many summers in Sweden, and over time, I acquired a couple of non-vegan traditional hand-painted pairs of clogs for myself, thinking I would only wear them in Sweden. I had a guilty feeling in my guts, but each time I started looking for vegan ones, they could not be found..yet.
That's when the idea of designing "real" traditional clogs but Vegan and including them into the Good Guys collections came around.
David, who often joined me in my reflections for Good Guys and was equally dying to find a pair of beautiful Vegan clogs, started to investigate. He concluded that Troentorp, a 100 years old Swedish clog company, would be the ideal partner for this new development. He even bought a pair of non-vegan clogs from him to test them, and it was a "go" for us.
We didn't want to create vegan clogs that would not be approved, worn, tested over time, and genuine. I reached out to Troentorp, and shortly after, they answered back, enthusiastically.
The first Vegan Clogs ever!
Success ! we are soon launching our 4th collection in collaboration with Troentorp. for Spring Summer 2022. The clogs that we are creating together are combining perfect designs and savoir-faire, with details that only "real" clogs get. The nails are one of them, the big toe shape carved into the wood, the bottom of the sole made of rubber for a perfect balance and shock absorption. And the toe shape and box are roomy and follow the curve of the feet for extra comfort and support.
Rockwell clog boots, vegan leather
If you have never tried a pair of clogs in your life, I would highly recommend trying the Da Vinci, a classic. You'd be surprised how a wooden sole can give so much comfort. I wear my Da Vinci clogs, all year round, barefoot or with thin socks. I wear the closed clogs, the Van Gogh, with thick socks or my Rockwell clog boots during winter.
We are launching a new Da Vinci for SS22, the perfect summer shoes with a higher heel for those who like a more feminine touch. We are also introducing a new color of Appleskin, the now-famous leather alternative made of 30-40% apple waste. Our lining is biodegradable,100 % recyclable, and 100% recycled, plant-based (made of corn). To give you one last piece of information regarding the sustainability of all our shoes, all our products are Oeko-Tex Classe I and PETA approved.
Marion
Tack Tack...Yeeeeeha !
]]>Welcome to The Good Guys Notes #7
Today, I will talk about our collaboration with the Skall sisters, Julie and Marie, from Copenhagen-based ethical company SKALL STUDIO.
Julie, Marie, and I (Marion) met many years ago when Skall Studio started carrying our Vegan shoes to their store in Copenhagen. We have always shared the same values of sustainability, and both our companies began with that concept in mind, using cruelty-free materials to introduce a more conscious fashion.
Their clothing line is vegan and is a perfect match with our collections.
JOAN loafers in Beige and Black vegan suede
I personally appreciate the timeless spirit of their brand, the hand-drawn logo of a shell. Skall means shell. There's also a vintage 'vibe' to their designs, making me want to live in the countryside with clothes that don't clash visually with the nature around me but blend perfectly and subtly into it.
Now that winter is coming to an end (barely:), and right before we can feel springtime arriving, we are launching an exclusive and limited edition of vegan loafers made in Portugal. The JONA is a soft loafer on a bouncy crepe sole. The upper material is our favorite high-quality microfiber made in Italy, 100% vegan, and with non-toxic materials.
I interviewed Julie and Marie to understand their creative process, and if you are not familiar yet with their beautiful work, I invite you to read the interview below and follow the link to their website.
Good Guys - I have known and worked with Julie and Marie Skall for quite a while now. I loved your timeless and pure designs right away. My question is, when did it all start for you? And what made you opt for "conscious clothing"?
Skall Studio- "Thank you – we are happy to hear and likewise. We have both lived and worked in India before founding Skall Studio. In India, we worked for design brands where the goal was to crate as much as possible as cheap as possible. At the same time, we could see how much India had to offer in terms of craftsmanship and know-how, and we both felt a great need to make fashion in a better way."
Julie and Marie Skall
GG-How is it to work together daily as sisters? I know it can be an asset and a challenge to work with your own family? Do you complete each other?
S-"We could not have done it without each other. It is a great privilege to look at each other and know what the other one is thinking. Skall Studio is built on strong family values, and recently, our mother has also become part of the company as she is now responsible for CSR and sustainability, just like our kids are often in our studio."
GG-I know you produce your different collections in India and Denmark, and you have many lines like knitwear, the classic line, and the home line. Which process is for you the most exciting or rewarding?
S-"Of course, it makes us happy to see our Skall Studio styles in the streets or to see our home collection in a private home. However, we feel extremely proud when discovering one of our first outerwear pieces or shirts in the streets. We make clothes made to last so to see that our customers feel the same way about our styles makes us proud. Also, we are happy when people hand in their old Skall Studio styles for repair. At Skall Studio we offer free repair on our styles – and all repairs are done in our design apartment."
GG-What made you choose Good Guys to collaborate on this project and create the JOAN loafer together? How did you hear about us in the first place?
S-"We are both vegans and never use fur and leather in our collections, so we have always been looking for the perfect vegan shoes, and suddenly Good Guys came up. We love what your brand stands for."
GG-You are developing a new collection for home now, which is beautiful. Do you have any other projects in the making? What are your plans for the future?
S-"We have many new initiatives coming up which we are not ready to reveal yet. However, we can say that the focus on craftsmanship and animal welfare will be some of the topics that we will dive even more into."
Thank you !
Marion
Founder and designer of Good Guys Don't Wear Leather
]]>
Today, I will talk about all the amazing artists I crossed along the way and that created artwork for Good Guys.
]]>Welcome to The Good Guys Notes #6
Today, I will talk about all the amazing artists I met along the way and who created artworks for Good Guys.
I, Marion, founder of Good Guys, love Art and Artists, and I always consider Good Guys an artistic, personal, and collaborative project.
I work daily with a small team and follow my tastes and desires when it comes to the Good Guys collections. I often fall in love with the work of other artists and offer them to collaborate with Good Guys.
Jules is a Greek-American artist who lives in San Pedro. She is known for her "green portraits that covered New York and Venice beach walls where she resided for years." If you live in Los Angeles, look around you, you will find a painting by Jules anywhere it is guaranteed. She's been working for big hotels and companies like Google or any one who wants their garage door painted with a portrait of their dog on it. She's been painting cars and spray painting garbage on the side of the road, making them look beautiful and repurposing them into pieces of art before the garbage truck comes and throws them away.
I commissioned Jules a print for a pair of shoes. She created her "signature "mouth" as an all-over print that we printed on our loafers, the Brubeck.
Follow her on Instagram
@muckrock
Thanks for reading this post.
I don't write them too often as I want to take my time to pick a subject that will interest you GUYS! I hope you enjoyed this last one and see you here sooner than later :)
Bye!
Marion
Pssst...
(I designed this illustration above and you can have a look at my artistic side on Instagram @mayonscrayons)
]]>
Welcome to The Good Guys Notes #5
Today, the owner of Good Guys, Marion Hanania is interviewing PETA.
Before we start, let's try and understand what PETA is?
Let's introduce them to those who don't know yet. PETA was created by Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA President and co-author of Animalkind . PETA means "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals" and is the largest animal rights organization globally, with more than 6.5 million members and supporters.
PETA opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview, and focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the most extended periods of time: in laboratories, in the food industry, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment industry.
PETA works through public education, cruelty investigations, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns.
Let's start the Interview.
Marion: How are you usually celebrating Pride month at PETA, and why is it a celebration dear to your heart?
PETA: PETA has long participated in Pride events around the country to show its support for the rights of all individuals to be free from discrimination, harassment, and harm. Oppression against anyone is never okay, regardless of species. The same arrogance and indifference that some have toward animals have at times been directed towards members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
M: We created this T-shirt, "ALOHA to all beings", How do you connect Animal rights to Human rights daily in your many "good fights"?
P: When PETA compares animal suffering to human suffering, we compare the systematic oppression of certain groups of people, past and present, to the continued oppression of animals today (such as on factory farms, in laboratories, and in circuses). PETA's message is that oppression is wrong, regardless of the race, gender, age, nationality, sexuality, religion, ability, or species of the victims and our campaigns are designed to inspire people to put prejudice based on species behind them.
M: Obviously, we love Peta and all the fantastic work you are doing. How did you discover us at Good Guys? What caught your eyes?
P: Good Guys has a fabulous line of on-trend footwear and accessories that are comfortable, stylish, and durable. But of course what we love most is that your company is 100% vegan – meaning that no animal-derived materials are used. .
Just like eating vegan is vital to combating climate change, wearing vegan is also a must, and your products are a prime example of how footwear can be eco- and animal-friendly. There’s no excuse for wearing shoes made of skin torn from smart, social, sensitive animals such as cows, especially when you can bring your shoe game to the next level and slip on some Good Guys vegan shoes!
M: Do you see a growing interest in veganism and animal rights? Maybe more vegan companies or other non-profit that you think are doing a great job?
P: More than ever, compassionate shoppers are opting to buy the high-quality, animal-free fashions that are currently flooding store shelves. With such easy access to kind fashion, there’s never been a better time to rid our closets of animal-derived materials.
Right now, more than 1,500 companies are using the PETA-Approved Vegan logo (www.PETAApprovedVegan.com) to highlight their vegan apparel, accessories, or home furnishing goods. The logo helps consumers shop vegan at a glance and purchase animal-free, vegan clothing and accessories. Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather also supports our work as a PETA Business Friend – in this special program, PETA partners and recognises vegan or cruelty-free companies. You can check out all PETA Business Friends at www.PETAMall.com.
M: We are thrilled that we can donate a part of the sales to PETA. Can you tell us if the donations are directed towards specific projects and how it works? (I know it's a complicated and long topic, but we are very interested in the process)
P: A percentage of proceeds of the PETA and Good Guys limited edition Pride box* will go towards PETA’s campaigns targeting industries in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most intensely for the longest periods of time: in laboratories, in the food industry, in the clothing trade, and in the entertainment industry. We’re delighted to have Good Guys’ help in paving the way to a brighter future for animals!
M: Thanks so much for collaborating with us at Good Guys and creating a bridge between a more conscious fashion industry and activism to help "all beings" live better lives.
P: Thank you! We’re looking forward to our partnership with Good Guys, including the limited-edition Pride box. Each box is packed with fabulous vegan items that celebrate love and embrace diversity—and everything in it is made of vegan materials, because animals don’t belong in the closet, either!
*The PETA and Good Guys limited edition Pride box was a limited offer and isn't available anymore
Find the SILVER Pride Box and the GOLD Pride Box on our website, available throughout June. We donate 15% of the proceeds to PETA, and 10% of the T-shirts and Jerry slides we sell separately during June.
Thanks for supporting Good Guys since 2011.
Good Guys Don't Wear Leather.
]]>
For this "4th Good Guys note," we wanted to introduce you to an important figure of veganism activism on the west coast. Cristina lives in long Beach, California, which might be one of the most "Vegan-Friendly" cities in America. She lives with her adorable dog Dobby, and she's a pillar in the Vegan community. Cristina is an animal lover and works at PETA. She is stylish as hell and is going to walk us through her "Vegan journey."
-How long have you been a Vegan? I wish I knew my exact vegan anniversary! I first began dabbling in veganism while I was in college. In 2007, I reached out to PETA for help with navigating a vegan diet and being an athlete. I swam 4-5 hours a day, and I was worried that I was going to run out of energy if I didn’t consume animal products. They gave me a ton of great information that lit the spark, and the rest is history!
-Was there a particular event that drove you to become a Vegan? At the core of your will to change your diet, was there primarily a concern with health, ethics, or ecology? My reasons for being vegan have changed and evolved over time. When I first became a vegetarian in high school, it was just a diet and a way to lose weight. Honestly, animal rights did not cross my mind at all. But as I started learning about veganism and animal rights and started reflecting on my own life experiences over the years, I realized that there is no way I could ever be anything less than vegan. Animal rights, immigrant rights, environmentalism… it’s all connected and I am still learning!
-Do you consider yourself an activist?Absolutely. Even before working in AR, I considered myself an activist because I believe being vegan is a form of activism. As consumers, your dollar is your vote and your power. Why do you think KFC, of all places, recently launched vegan chicken? Because money talks and the demand for vegan options is rising.
-You work for PETA now, how did you find yourself doing so? Yes, I do. I’ve gone full circle! A few years ago, I decided that I needed to be more involved and work somewhere that I could make a bigger impact. PETA played a big role in my road to veganism so I decided to apply for TWO positions at their Los Angeles office. I figured I had to get one of them, right? And here we are!
-You have a pet, a dog, a canine influencer, tell us a bit about her? Yes! How much time do you have? Her name is Dobby (@Dobbyisvegan on Instagram), she’s a 12 year old chiwinnie and we’ve been together for about 10 years now.
I first started her Instagram account because she is SUCH a picky eater, omg. I always offer her the food off my plate and 9 times out of 10 she will sniff it and turn her nose up in the air. I absolutely love her. She has more personality in her left paw than I do in my entire body!
-Is your dog a Vegan (when you feed her)? Yep! Dogs are perfectly able to live happy, healthy lives on a vegan diet. Dobby has been living her best vegan life for about 3 years now. And home girl loves her veggies! She will wake up mid-nap if you even whisper the word “carrot”.
-Do you seek out cultural icons (artists, singers, actors) who are Vegans? Does it matter? Can you name some? Growing up in the punk scene, I never really had to seek out vegan artists because veganism and other social issues were always front and center. Bands like Youth of Today, Gorilla Biscuits and even The Smiths released songs about animal rights that influenced me and so many of my friends. Now that I work in AR, I am becoming more aware how veganism is making its way into popular culture. From Greg Gin of Black Flag to social justice icon Colin Kaepernick, vegans are everywhere and their influence cannot be understated.
-How does being a Vegan influence your style? Fashion is actually a great opportunity for activism! I am always on the lookout for new, eye-catching cruelty free items. I always wear at least one bold piece that will hopefully spark conversations. One of my favorite things to do when someone compliments something I am wearing is letting them know that it's vegan. A lot of non-vegans think that veganism is just a diet and when I say that my shoes are vegan they always come back with something like “oh you can eat your shoes?” People tend to disconnect animals from fashion and cosmetics because they don’t see the process. They don’t understand that sheep are abused for wool or how countless animals are killed in cosmetic testing. So I use these interactions as an opportunity to educate on cruelty-free fashion.
-A few years back some styles, like cowboy boots, or motorcycle jackets, were exclusively reserved to leather lovers, is there an item, a style you thought you’d never be able to wear, and have been surprised (and excited) to find in a Vegan version? Oh man, there is so much! I just read that Adidas came out with a vegan version of their classic Superstar shoe. I have never in my life owned a pair of Adidas –they were never really my style- but I might just buy a pair now!
-What’s your favorite Good Guys shoes and how did you find Good Guys? Let’s see… I met you guys at California Drifters in Long Beach, CA a few years ago through my friend Matt. You only had one pair Dolly Baby Blue shoes left and I HAD to have them! I ended up buying them and throwing away the shoes I was wearing so I could wear the Dolly’s for the rest of the night J Right now, my favorite GG shoes are the Jenny Mustards. I LIVE in my Jennys! They are sooooo comfortable and really, the perfect quarantine shoe haha.
-Junk Food or Health Food? No offense to salads, but we are living in the age of vegan junk food! The day that I discovered vegan pan dulce was one of the happiest days of my life… shout out to Vegan by Victoria’s for bringing back the flavors of my childhood! Also, I never in a million years thought that I would be able to go through the drive-thru at Del Taco and get vegan tacos or go to Carl’s Jr. for a vegan burger. Don’t get me wrong, I am still team tofu, but man…what a time to be alive!
- Your dream shoe? My dream shoe would probably be some type of platform vegan leather ankle boots in a fun, bright color. Something that would make someone say, “Wow! That’s vegan?!”
The new SS2021 Rainbow Jerry
- Do you have a favorite Vegan quote? “It takes guts to be gentle and kind” – I Know it’s Over by The Smiths. I know it’s not a vegan quote, but I think it fits.
Links and references to this "Good Guys Note #4"
That's, believe it or not, a persistent question. It's for sure meant as a joke but also a relevant question. So no, you cannot eat your shoes; let's make this clear.
There is a wide range of "Vegan Leather" that are available for us to work with. Many types, from 100% PU to almost 100% recyclable. One common "ingredient is the PU" that binds everything together, and it is still part of all synthetic leathers because it makes it durable and stronger.
As of today, we can find "vegan" alternatives to leather made with apple wastes, the "Apple Skin," with pineapple, the "Pinatex" or with cactuses "Deserto," and even grapes...More and more exciting innovative materials. I found it so interesting that "plants" are basically the "future" of our planet, fashion-wise, and food-wise.
We, at Good Guys, are working with Apple Skin. Why? Because we found that it is the most "good looking" material so far that allies "durability" and "sustainability."
There is a season for Apple cider, Apple strudels, and Apple pies, but for Good Guys don't wear leather; it's always the season for "Apple Leather." Our favorite fall ingredient became our go-to material, which is, at its core, eco-friendly.
What is Apple leather? It's a fantastic Award-winning material that is the "living" proof that we can use fruit's waste and not dead animals' skin to make beautiful shoes. In a region where Apples are the center of the local "industry," Apple Skin was created in Italy.
The apple waste was so important that someone got the brilliant idea to try and use these wastes to create a material that would be an alternative to leather. A microfiber made of 30 to 50% Apple waste. They created the "Appleskin," a smooth material that comes in various textures and colors, bound together by Polyester. Moreover, the company is researching and working on a recycled Polyester version of the Apple leather ready by 2026.
If you like you can check our Apple Skin collection here
You have to know that the leather industry and the meat industry are the prime reasons for global warming and other ecological disasters. So first, opting for an alternative to leather is a huge commitment towards the environment. Our Apple leather and all the other microfibers we use are made in Europe (Italy, Spain, or Portugal). They are the most eco-friendly you can be, by the way, they have all the European certification (labels AEKO, Reach, Certifié OekoTex Standard 100 Class I )
As mentioned in my previous question, "What is Vegan Leather?" microfibers always have a part of their components that's synthetic, like PU or Polyester. They can be recycled or not. It binds everything together, and without it, the material won't hold and won't be durable and resistant. We need a long-lasting product; we do not want a pair to fade away after 6 months and be part of the piles of trash that Fast-fashion produces.
The truth is, if you want a strong material, you need PU. We try to reduce the amount of PU and focus on the best materials with the least amount of PU or Polyester. It is tough to find a 100% recyclable microfiber, but manufacturers are constantly researching how to improve their materials and make them more eco-friendly. The Apple Skin manufacturer's goal is to be 100% eco-friendly and remove all PU from their material composition by 2026.
My first answer would be that nothing is worse than taking a life. I'd rather go barefoot than wear leather.
On another level, vegan leather's quality and practicality make it so much more attractive than leather. It's easy to clean, resistant, anti-bacterial.
Most of all, it imitates leather and suede to perfection, so why keep wearing animal skin when you can switch in a heartbeat.
Vegan leather is better than leather, ethically. It's sustainable because you don't need to buy a pair every 6 months, they will last, and you will learn how to appreciate their durability and timeless look through the years.
If you have to choose between leather and vegan leather and are still not convinced, I invite you to look at PETA's work around the leather and fashion industry that will show you how fast fashion and luxury brands alike are abusing animals and how Vegan leather is the future for our Planet.
Designing small collections, well curated products that are not disposable is "eco-friendly". Keeping your shoes for the longest time is "eco-friendly," and that's what we want to create, long-lasting shoes with durable materials and a timeless style.
So Yes! At the beginning of the microfibers industry, the main idea was to create a material with "High performances, resistant, Durable." It was mostly for racing cars and aircraft interiors. It was a luxury product made to regulate temperature and resist abrasion and extreme conditions. Nowadays, microfibers are used for work boots, nurses' shoes, and all items that need extra durability, easy cleaning, and comfort.
Now is the perfect time to act according to your heart and beliefs. If you love animals, if you care for your planet, have a passion for style, and thrive on finding timeless, cool, and elegant shoes, give it a try and check out our wide range of vegan and sustainable shoes here .
Wear cruelty-free shoes and start an interesting conversation with a stranger that will give you a compliment on your shoes or a friend or family member that doesn't understand yet what are "vegan shoes." Especially that now you know more about your shoes and what they are made of.
Thanks for being part of the Good Guys club, it's an open-minded family, and we are happy to have you all!
Don't forget to share this note with your friends and family! By doing so, you will contribute to making more people interested in this subject and thus making the planet better.
Good Guys Don't Wear Leather.
M.
Illustrations by M. Hanania @mayonscrayons
References and comments:
*You can read an interesting article on Coveteur.com about the effort from designers to be more sustainable by using new innovative materials (Read the article HERE)
**A small list of websites to help you navigate and understand what "Vegan and sustainable fashion" really means.
]]>
Here is a simple, fast, and most of all, Yummy recipe for you all. A Vegan take on the Hawaiian Poke Bowl.
Poke means diced fish in Hawaiian and is prepared raw. Here we will marinate diced Hawaiian Strawberry Papaya, which, combined with the marine aroma of Nori seaweed, dill, and pickled ginger, will bring a nice sea breeze to your table without hurting any of our oceanic friends. Our Rainbow bowl’s success will rest on the diversity and the mix of flavors, sweet, tangy, and umami; textures, crispy soft and chewy; and temperature, raw and warm. Across the spectrum of colors and tastes, we invite you to try our Vegan Rainbow Bowl, a healthy delight: Aloha!
This is a healthy and satisfying meal in a bowl. Delicious for a brunch and a lunch or as a day’s sole meal, inspired by Hawaiian and Asian cuisine but also not really.
(quantities are for 2 big bowls)
Here is the recipe, step by step.
(if you don't find Tempeh you can use firm Tofu or even Seitan)
Almost Ready now....
With Chopsticks, eat by digging down to the bottom. The textures, the tastes, should be savored slowly. The nori has softened with the warm rice, the papaya is tangy, the Tempeh crunchy.
This recipe was developed by Yaya Herman Dune, vegan for 24 years now, Musician and Vegan food lover. We hope you will enjoy it as much as we did, let us know how it went for you!
]]>
Good Guys is launching a periodic blog with articles, essays, and interviews about shoes, style, animal protection and wellness, ecology, the environment, arts, music, and entrepreneurship in and out of the Good Guys world.
For our first issue, we’ll meet and talk with Good Guys founder and designer, long-time vegan Marion “Mayon” Hanania. She tells us about early struggles with France’s meat and leather culture, creating a concept from scratch, and how the world evolved in the 10 years she’s run the First French shoe brand.
Marion Hanania by David Ivar
We met Mayon at the Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro, California. She grew up in Paris where she studied art and fashion at École Duperré and École Estienne. She started Good Guys in France and now runs the brand from her bungalow in San Pedro.
GG: Hi, first, what drew you to shoes?
I have loved designing and sewing my own clothes for as far as I can remember. My grandmother was a seamstress in a family business owned by her sister back in Alger (Algeria) where my mother grew up. I learned everything from my grandmother, she had a unique name "Jesuela" and I thought she was so funny when she was teaching me how to build my pants and dresses.
After the grandmother/self-taught phase I went to l'Ecole Duperré, a great art school in Paris, and studied Fashion Design. After graduating I felt an attraction to accessories and shoes in particular. I won a European fashion contest when I was 20 years old and that led me to create my first pair of boots for a prestigious company at the time " La Redoute" and sold 2000 pairs this same summer...It was a hit and I worked with them again and again and started a long journey as a freelance shoe designer for various brands in Paris like Isabel Marant, Ventilo, Christine Phung, Devastée, and more.
GG: Shoes were always defined by leather, what made you confident you could bring a consistent product to the market without harming or killing animals?
I researched it for a while and found out that "microfibers' were the alternative to leather and suede and were highly used in various technical fields like the aeronautic (interiors of planes) the racing industry (the interiors of cars). Microfibers that looked like leather or suede were technical, innovative, strong, resistant to abrasion, heat, waterproof for the most part, and long-lasting. They were created to endure rough conditions and at first mostly made of PU. Now we found amazing materials that are eco-friendly and sustainable, it's evolving. But I was sure that if they were trusting these microfibers for the aeronautic or racing cars it should be great for shoes too.
GG: What was the reaction to your concept, 10 years ago in France?
At first, it was not taken very seriously, people kept asking me "Can we eat them? lol" and I guess the product, the design is what attracted some of my first non-vegan customers and resellers. Pretty quickly, the vegan world opened its arms and welcomed Good Guys with great enthusiasm. I could feel that vegan customers were looking online and I set up an E-shop and started to get customers from all over the world. After 2 seasons I was sold at Colette in Paris and in Japan at United Arrows and Beams and it all started from there.
GG: Do you have a typical customer in mind when you design shoes?
I have to admit that mostly I think about what I want to wear, what is missing in my closet, what new material I can use...I imagine a typical customer to be a person who wants to get a pair that will last for a long time in terms of quality but also in terms of "look and style". So I always design with the idea that we will keep the shoes through many seasons. I want to create a durable product that belongs to our times too. My customers are Vegans and non-vegans, they love fashion but they also love timeless pieces and spending their money wisely knowing that the shoes are beautiful, they will last and they are cruelty-free is what I think is the main reason why they buy from Good Guys.
GG: is there something you wouldn't have thought was possible 10 years ago that turned out to materialize?
I have to say I am very optimistic when it comes to my creations, I Would say "sky's the limit" haha and I always aim for success in my mind :) if I start thinking something is impossible that wouldn't be me. I like challenges and new ideas and collaborations.
The one thing that really blew my mind over the years is that people like Emma Watson, Woody Harrelson, Zach Vouga, Shania Twain, Bryan Adams are wearing my shoes... This is amazing to me.
GG: what is a distant dream for your brand you still hope for?
I hope that we can grow stronger, with a slightly bigger team to stay at human "size" but also work even more efficiently, have more time for amazing collaborations with artists, and develop more accessories, bags, and clothing. For now, we are working with the support of our resellers, suppliers, and customers. We have no investors, I don't know if that is something for the future for us but right now we are a team of two women working with a lot of external collaborators.
GG: Why LA?
Because the ocean is near my house because the sun shines, nature and the city are side by side and I can hear the mariachis singing and playing right now!
Surfing in Venice Beach
GG: tell us about painting?
Painting and drawing have been my passion since I was a child. I left it on the side for a while, only drawing daily in my sketchbooks. Now I am trying to allow this passion to become more real. I paint as much as possible, I have a small studio, I draw for magazines, create album covers, I sell paintings, I show my work in galleries and I hope it will be more of a career than a passion soon.
GG: your 5 records of 2020 ?
Easy !