5 Questions for Freedom Of Animals Designer Morgan Bogle

It takes considerable design chops to dream up the versatile, eye-catching bags that have made shoppers fall hard for Freedom Of Animals. And it takes considerable commitment to ensure that the accessories line is entirely vegan, eco-friendly and made in the U.S.A. Clearly blessed with both skill and soul, Morgan Bogle is high on our designer radar. Hear what she has to say about her inspirations, adventures in animal rescuing, and when Freedom Of Animals might expand into footwear.

Did you naturally gravitate to designing accessories over clothing, or was it a deliberate choice? When my boyfriend/business partner and I founded Freedom Of Animals and were in the first stages of developing products, it felt clear that the accessory world needed sustainable and ethical options. So we made the decision to start with bags, and later include shoes and other accessories. 

What can you tell us about Freedom Of Animals’ forthcoming shoe line? We are in the early stages, but we are sourcing materials and finding the U.S. factories. We hope to have a small collection launching for spring 2015.

You’ve said that Freedom Of Animals was born out of a desire to reconcile your love of fashion with your vegan lifestyle. What tips do you have for fashion-obsessed animal lovers? We're fortunate to have so many incredible online sites with a focus on sustainability. Finding sustainable, ethical and cruelty-free fashion is not as difficult as it used to be. Designers are shifting their perspective because the customer is asking for it.

When I first began my career, I would offset my fashion-focused days by volunteering at shelters whenever I could: walking dogs who needed homes, fostering them, and finding them new homes. My boyfriend and I would even travel around the world to volunteer with animals—South Africa, the Galápagos, a retired circus sanctuary in northern California. All were such incredible experiences!





Freedom Of Animals supports elephant conservation efforts in Africa. What made you choose this project specifically? We are big supporters of conservation and feel incredibly connected to the accomplishments and the system that has been set up for elephant/rhino conservation in particular. I've been a longtime animal activist and have been following these organizations for over a decade, so to have a goal of supporting them in a big way feels so right. Plus, what these organizations are giving back to people, in terms of education and jobs, feels very well-rounded. 

Finally, leopard prints—yay or nay? It's not really for me, but that isn't to say that I won't one day source an amazing interpretation of an animal print and use it for a bag or pair of shoes.