HOLISTIC EDITOR - Curator of Holistic Luxury Vegan Ethical Lifestyle & Fashion | Cruelty-Free, Sustainable, Eco, Vegan, Ethical, Organic, Travel, Design, Art, Food, FashionHOLISTIC EDITOR

TRAVEL

PLANTA SOUTH BEACH

July 26, 2018

I remember the last time I was in Miami, walking along the rows and rows of restaurants in South Beach, thinking “I really wish there was some great vegan or vegetarian restaurants.” It was next to impossible other than just the basic menu options. Fast forward and now, and behold PLANTA South Beach.

We are pretty familiar with PLANTA here at KA, seeing as our offices are in Toronto, home of the original PLANTA in Yorkville, T.O. We could not be more overjoyed at the news that the Chase Group had teamed up with David Grutman, the Miami hospitality entrepreneur best known for LIV at the Fontainebleau, OTL in the Design District, and Komodo in Brickell. It’s a pretty heavy team and one that is destined for massive success.

The future is plant-based and cruelty-free eating and PLANTA hits us with all the senses, tastes and flavors that we are looking for in our meat and dairy-free meals. Dishes include cauliflower tots, plant-based crab cakes, a burger (best veggie burger ever), coconut ceviche, and an “18-carrot” dog. The restaurant also offers a vegetable sushi bar and cold-pressed cocktails.

The goal at PLANTA is not to sacrifice mouth-watering meals for plant-based foods. Even if you are not a vegan, you will be immersed into a new world of eating that will blow your mind and you won’t even realize you are eating plant-based.

As PLANTA lovers, we highly recommend visiting the South Beach location next time you are in town – be sure to make reservations.

Planta.850 Commerce St., Miami Beach; plantarestaurants.com.

Story published on www.kaonlinemagazine.com

FASHION

KEVIN ALLWOOD + HAITI 2017 COLLECTION

January 13, 2017

A year ago, two powerhouses of ethical fashion were introduced and the union is now bearing fruit to a new beautiful artisan-made collection. Kevin Allwood and the Ethical Fashion Initiative led by Simone Cipriani, are now working with Dot.Haiti, a Donna Karan initiative- to create a line of bracelets and bags made entirely by artisans in Haiti. The Ethical Fashion Initiative’s goal is to build a responsible fashion industry that measures its impact. Together they believe in a responsible fashion industry, where workers earn a living wage, are offered dignified working conditions and minimizes impact on the environment. Not Charity, Just Work. The beads are made out of natural clay and hand painted in 3 different colours. The bracelets also come with a lucky charm that designer Kevin Allwood has designed for his clients to wear with them daily. The Kevin Allwood + Haiti bracelets are now available at KASPACE Toronto, and the bags will be available in Spring 2017.

Made with Love.

“The storm is an illusion like everything in this holographic Universe. We are/ were never separated from source. This is why it is so impossible to go back. How can we go back when we were never separated. Just know.” – Kevin Allwood

Photos of artisans in haiti by Jessica Eileen

FASHION

STELLA MCCARTNEY : CREATING WITH CONSCIENCE

May 22, 2016

The beauty for Stella McCartney, is that when all the other major brands start to shift into being sustainable, McCartney would had this philosophy the whole time.

I don’t think I need to introduce Stella McCartney. At least I hope not…it is like someone not knowing who Paul McCartney is. But a fact that so many do not yet know; a fact that is so unique to such a global brand such as hers, is that Stella does not use any leather or fur in her designs. How is this possible!? Luxury handbags, shoes….how are they not made of genuine leather? The answer is, innovation, evolution and dedication.

BODY

BEST TOFU SCRAMBLE EVER : NO EGGS NO PROBLEM

January 16, 2016

No Eggs, No problem!

I find that one of the hardest things about becoming vegan is actually giving up eggs. You know there are healthy milk substitutes, butter, and even cheese….but what is going to replace my morning veggie omelettes???!!! To be honest, its been hard to find a tofu scramble recipe that I actually love and this one is it. Thank you Minimalist Baker – Amazing recipe, so much so, that I just had to share it. I often make mine with Spinach which also tastes amazing and definitely add some Daiya vegan cheese on there to give a little extra deliciousness.

DESIGN, FASHION, TRAVEL

KASPACE CONCEPT SHOP OPENS IN TORONTO

January 8, 2016

“Everything feels good – from the general vibes to the fabrics, music and art photography on the walls – it is all carefully thought out. The cosmic black and gold mannequins have a way of marking your psyche for days, they are like nothing I have seen before.”

It has been an incredible 2015 and I could not have asked for a better way to start the new year, other than standing inside of the beautiful new sparkling KASPACE in Toronto. I know every letter, word, paragraph and edited parts of this story and the fact that this space is born is a testament to true faith, hard work and believing in one’s dreams.

It has been years (6 years to be exact) of listening to my other half tell me about this vision he has; a vision of creating a space that redefines the way retail is created. You see, he knew since the very inception of KA Magazine in 2009, that he would eventually bring the pages of this publication to life within a live experiential space – where the visitor could taste, touch, feel, listen, read, wear and just be in this good vibes environment of beauty, art, inspiration and fashion with a single thread linking it all – mindfulness and ethical lifestyle.

FASHION, TRAVEL

SOHO WALK NYC

November 8, 2015

“I turned quite some heads the day we venture through Soho wearing the Kevin Allwood Atelier mesh dress from the 2016 spring collection. I remember the sales girl from Saint Laurent asking me – wow, where did you get your dress?”

In July I had the most fantastic week in New York. It was mainly filled with editorial work/fun for KA Magazine and buying / fabric sourcing at Premiere Vision with my other half for the Kevin Allwood collection. I turned quite some heads the day we venture through Soho wearing the Kevin Allwood Atelier mesh dress from the 2016 spring collection. I remember the sales girl from Saint Laurent asking me – wow, where did you get your dress? Paired with my vegan leather bag and eco leather-free wedges by Melissa Shoes – it was a perfect afternoon. We stayed at the Morgans Hotel on Madison Ave in Midtown East and it was just right, monochromatic design by the fabulous Andrée Putman. Loved it. Especially the breakfast lounge, a fantastic way to start the day. While there we tried some amazing vegan restaurants….I would highly recommend Franchia on Park and just loved the vibe at Local Thyme at 286 Madison – perfect for quick and healthy.

FASHION

NYFW LOVE : OSKLEN S.S. 2016

September 19, 2015

“I believe OSKLEN should be a staple for any modern woman looking to make (or already making) ethical and sustainable purchases in their wardrobe. It is about buying less, but better, and supporting brands that are putting in the effort.”

Brazil is growing at such a rapid rate, and quickly becoming a true world super power. There seems to be a large amount of consciously created eco friendly brands coming out of this country…could this perhaps be connected to it’s growth? I wouldn’t put it past the Universe to reward such good behaviour =) South Americans live with a certain connection to their land, nature and wildlife. There is a respect so fundamental, so needed, that I believe this is contributing largely to their overall success.

FASHION

DANIT PELEG ISRAEL FASHION STUDENT – CHANGES THE GAME

August 16, 2015

The future is here. Can you imagine a world where designers can create their own fabrics or manufacture entire garments from a printer? No wasteful textile industry, no animal cruelty or terrible working conditions for human beings who sew our mass produced clothes.

Let alone, can you even entertain the thought that these clothes can be printed in your own home? Although we are not there yet, there is certainly promise of the 3d printing fashion evolution coming our way. Read on about Danit Peleg, a fashion student in Israel who is changing the game.

FASHION

ADIDAS X PARLEY FOR THE OCEANS CREATE SHOE USING OCEAN WASTE

July 12, 2015

We need to detox our lives, our minds, our eating habits, our shopping, our screen obsessions, our lifestyle, our work imbalance, our air and we also need to detox our oceans.

The world is evolving, or at least a portion of it is. There does exist pockets and groups of innovators, thinkers, designers and missionaries out there who are purposefully generating new ideas and products, not for consumerism or consumption, but for life. As individual people, and as a planet – we need a giant cleansing. We need to detox our lives, our minds, our eating habits, our shopping, our screen obsessions, our lifestyle, our work imbalance, our air and we also need to detox our oceans.

Last week, ADIDAS, Parley for the Oceans and British shoe designer Alexandre Taylor, unveiled the prototype of a shoe with an upper made entirely from yarns and filaments produced using plastic salvaged from the ocean.

DESIGN, TRAVEL

A LITTLE BIT OF WELLNESS IN SOUTH BEACH

June 7, 2015

“What I loved about the hotel is it’s boutique style, a more intimate feeling to a large hotel. The staff is kind and laid back and the property is bathed in white, with accents of wood, green, sand and orange.”

South Beach is a cool place right…all the sun bathers, great cocktails, over-indulgence and late night partying. But what a little bit of calm and wellness, detox and purification? Although Bali might be the first place you think of when self-care is concerned, Miami’s Royal Palm Hotel might also be a shorter plane ride option.

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