Alicia Lai is the founder of Bourgeois Boheme, a line of fashionable men's and women's vegan shoes. Based in London, the "fashion with compassion" brand is conscious of its environmental footprint and works only with manufacturers who provide ethical work conditions to their employees.
We recently had the opportunity to interview Alicia. In the answers below, she shares how she entered the fashion industry, where the idea for Bourgeois Boheme (BoBo) came from, the brands that inspire her, and the rituals that keep her creative.
4 Questions With Alicia Lai, founder of Bourgeois Boheme
1. How did the idea for the business model come about?
I had heard a good amount of people complain about the lack of quality, leather-free shoes and accessories for several years. I knew the struggle myself, so creating BoBo felt like the natural thing to do. Many non-leather shoes are either extremely expensive or of very poor quality and produced in sweatshops. We only sell shoes that are high quality and ethically produced, but still don’t cost you the world!
2. How did you decide to join this sector?
I stumbled into the fashion industry as I was struggling to find ethical, quality, on-trend products that also catered to my ethics and beliefs as a vegan. I worked in the health industry before, so fashion was a mystery to me, but I have always loved shoes and accessories.
3. How do you get your inspiration?
Being more of a traditionalist I have always liked classic designs. I am inspired by iconic brands such as Churchs and Tods. I also love some more original brands though, such as Tracy Neuls and Think, and I like giving classics a contemporary twist!
4. How do you reset yourself to be creative? Do you have any rituals?
If I can I always try to find some time to sneak away and enjoy a creative pleasure. It can be an hour wandering through an art exhibition, window shopping, a hike in nature or a visit to a special place. This is the best way to stimulate my creativity!
However I think creativity is a mysterious force that visits us unexpectedly, the most important think is not missing it when it comes…
(Image of Alicia via ModeAffair.de)
Alicia Lai, Founder of Bourgeois Boheme (INTERVIEW)
Ethical Vegan Shoes
Trend Themes
1. Ethical Fashion - The rise of ethical fashion provides an opportunity for manufacturers to explore more sustainable and cruelty-free methods of production that are inline with changing consumer values.
2. Vegan Footwear - With the growing number of vegan and vegetarian consumers worldwide, there's an opportunity for companies to explore the production of vegan footwear that meets the growing demand for sustainable and ethically-made products.
3. Sustainable Footwear - The sustainable footwear trend is an opportunity for manufacturers to explore alternative materials and manufacturing methods that minimize waste, pollution and overall impact on the environment.
Industry Implications
1. Footwear Industry - As the demand for ethically-made footwear grows, companies in the footwear industry have the opportunity to explore sustainable production methods and offer consumers more ethical choices.
2. Fashion Industry - The emergence of ethical fashion presents the fashion industry with an opportunity to align with changing consumer values and explore more sustainable, environmentally-friendly and cruelty-free methods of production.
3. Vegetarian and Vegan Industry - As more people adopt vegetarian and vegan lifestyles, there's an opportunity for the vegetarian and vegan industry to expand its offerings beyond food and explore other areas, such as fashion and footwear, that cater to this growing demographic.