Celebrating Veganuary
Veganuary comes to a close for another successful year. Last year 25 million people 'tried vegan' in January and I'm looking forward to hearing the numbers released for this year as the movement continues to grow.
For me Veganuary was the reason I became full-time vegan - coupled with wanting to exhibit as a vegan interior designer at Veg Fest Brighton in 2018 (pictured above). I felt I had to be authentic and vegan in my diet as well as my work. And as you hear so often, I wish I'd done it sooner for ethical reasons as well as health + environmental reasons.
I have been unwittingly working as a vegan designer in effect since 1996 - when I first started working for The Body Shop International HQ working on within the Retail Design team. Materials and supply chains used in the storefits were evaluated in the same way as the ingredients for the company's products - so we avoided animal tested paints, adhesives, animal product materials.
In 2017 I discovered Deborah DiMare speaking on LuAnn Nigara's 'A Well Designed Business' podcast. It was the first time I'd heard another designer talking about avoiding animal cruelty and testing in interior design. I went on to take her PETA investigation-backed course and was the first UK designer to be Vegan Design Certified. During the course I learned about the often enormous lack of animal welfare, the real understanding of bi products actually being co-products and the toxic chemical impact on people and planet.
It's been the most wonderful journey since aligning my values wholly with the ethics of my business.
Being more vocal about working this way has attracted likeminded clients - restaurants, fast food outlet, offices and homes.
It has attracted international press + awards. Connection to international designers + business owners who I would never have met otherwise. There's been much interest from my industry + a publishing contract with RIBA Publishing. There's been numerous podcasts + panel discussions. People are really receptive to working in this low impacting and cruelty free way.
Over the years I've shared my learning with my industry and early in 2022 I was approached by RIBA Publishing to write Sustainable Interior Design for them, published in April 2024. For this research deepened my education and talked to my industry, overlapping industries such as fashion and supply chains - and explored more innovative, next generation materials. Read more here.
And there's some great news to report this Veganuary.....
The International Vegan Interior Design Association (IVIDA) has officially launched. IVIDA was formed following a series of events which started with Vegan Interior Design Week launched by Australian-German interior designer Aline Dürr, with a follow up week of Vegan Interior Design Sessions co-ordinated with support from Vegan Business Tribe.
Aline and I both felt a community was needed next to assist designers on their journey. Set up in 2024, IVIDA is the first global initiative dedicated to uniting interior designers, suppliers, and businesses committed to ethical, sustainable and health-supporting design practices. Our group offers free membership, ensuring accessibility for vegan designers worldwide. We host regular virtual meetings and collaborate through a private Facebook group.
𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬! Here's the link to join us our Linked In group
IVIDA press release - link
Hello there,
I'm Chloe Bullock, I'm the founder of Materialise Interiors, Brighton-based B Corp certified interior design company which I started in 2005.
With over 30 years experience of the design industry and most of that time in sustainability, I work for clients, architects and interior designers helping with sustainable and regenerative design solutions, sourcing and materials - as well as running their businesses ethically.
Named PETA’s Compassionate Designer in their Vegan Homeware Awards.
I am co-founder of Interior Design Declares + active Sustainability Committee member of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID)
