Vegan Careers

It may not come as a surprise to you that vegans are everywhere.

From all walks of life, and from all backgrounds, more and more people are making the moral, ethical or practical decisions that lead them to a plant-based diet and the vegan lifestyle.

We at Plant Powered Planet wish to celebrate this, and in this issue we speak with 4 different vegan professionals about what veganism means to them, what led them to leading a more ethical lifestyle and how that applies to their workplace.

In this article:

Joanna Eatwell - Costume Designer:

Andrea Harvey - Vegan Hairdresser:

Adam - Vegan Policeman:

Rachel Brownstein - Actor, Writer & YouTuber:

Joanna Eatwell - Costume Designer

So tell us about your vegan journey... You have been vegan for an incredible 48 years right? What inspired you initially?

I became vegan just pre teens almost 50 years ago, I had been vegetarian before that. I never liked or drank milk, cheese and eggs made me feel dizzy, so when veganism was explained to me by an uncle and aunt who were both vegan at that time, having just returned from Kathmandu hippy tail, it was a great relief. I had a name for what I wanted to do, it was liberating. I joke now that I spent my teens living off the garnish on plates, it wasn’t always easy to get food, but I think we are all resilient at that age. I have never had much interest in the food side I was in it for the animals from the earliest age and still am.

How has being vegan impacted on your career?

I started my career as a costume designer in music videos and commercials, before moving into film and television, when I worked in advertising I always tried to be ethical in the type of campaigns I worked on. Historical dramas that I mainly work on now often require us to seemingly use fur or leather, to recreate period garments accurately and part of the challenge is to always find a cruelty free alternative.

What differences have you made within your career in connection with being vegan?

I do look for creative vegans and am always very happy when I have others working along side me. There are also quite a few actors now who are vegan, one of the more well known I have worked with is Woody Harrelson, a lovely man and a true vegan.

Tom Hardy in Taboo: Joanna Worked as a costume designer for episodes of the show

One of the things I like about my job, is working in other countries and spending enough time in those countries to really get to know them. As a consequence I have visited sanctuaries in many different continents and I applaud and where possible suppor the work people are doing in often really difficult circumstances.

What's your favourite vegan restaurant?

It was sad to see Tibits close along with a few other old favourites recently, but there are so many vegan restaurants now, we are spoilt for choice. Thank goodness for Happy Cow, it's the first thing I check when I arrive in a new country or city and it works all over the world.

Andrea Harvey - The Vegan Hairdresser

So tell us about your vegan journey?

Like many, I started out going vegetarian before going vegan. I just didn’t know about the dairy industry and it didn’t occur to me that it was as bad, if not worse, than the meat industry. I saw something on Facebook and stated researching and that was that. After being vegetarian for 13 years I took the next step. I have been vegan for around 4 years. I am now passionate about it and love the fact that Veganism is getting out to more people. Although the junk food options available now don’t help the waistline!!

How has being vegan impacted on your career?

Being in hairdressing, it was impossible to work and not use products that weren’t cruelty free or Vegan. The big 5 companies that most salons and Academies used just didn’t care about those things. When I went vegan, I became more and more frustrated and disillusioned with this so I decided to open my own 100% vegan salon. At the same time I was managing a hair academy in Shoreditch and the owner wanted to go 100% cruelty free - the first Academy in Europe to take this step. Leading this change , I grew more passionate and knew I would find it extremely difficult to go back to a salon that didn’t work with my ethos. I now get contacted by hairdressers who want to introduce vegan options into their salon but are unsure of what steps they can take, so I started a consultancy to help them. Thankfully, there are more vegan friendly salons popping up over the country and manufacturers are starting to change.

Although China still being a big money maker for them, it will be sometime before we can go to every salon and use products that are vegan and cruelty free.

What differences have you made within your career in connection with being vegan?

My own salon grew fast within the 2 years it had been open and then Covid hit!

I had been working with an eco salon in Rayleigh, Essex for a while heading up their training - when the pandemic took hold and with such uncertain times for businesses ahead of us, we decided to join forces and I moved Earth Salon to Salon Messina’s premises.

Salon Messina and Earth Salon now are leading the way in sustainable Salons.

We have just been awarded accreditation for being a sustainable salon…. only one of 24 Salons have got this award in the UK- and we are attracting a new vegan fan base!

As The Vegan Hairdresser, I get asked to do features in the press and other hairdressing related projects and give advice, such as the National Hairdressing Federation Magazine.

What advice would you give to someone wants to make changes within their industry / career to be more vegan friendly?

Follow your heart! I believe Covid has made people think about making the ethical choice, not just food, but a whole lifestyle.

Research, research, research! If you are going to go vegan friendly, make sure you get it right! Us vegans will check! If you get it wrong it can do more harm to your business than good!

And feel free to contact me!

What’s the best bit advice someone gave to you in connection with being vegan?

Don’t beat your self up if you slip up when you first set out on the vegan life! You are heading in the right direction and are on the right road!

This advice came at the right time for me, from a friend. I used to get really upset if I made a mistake and really get annoyed with myself that I messed upeven though I was learning!

What’s your favourite vegan restaurant?

Well ,not really close, but Falafel Land on the Greek island of Santorini . Just amazing if you ever get a chance to visit.

If you could invite 1 person round for a vegan dinner and chat who would it be and why?

That’s a difficult one! Probably Buddha! His life was not written and recorded so it would be amazing to ask him and meditate with him!

Failing that, Joaquin Phoenix.

www.salonmessina.com

Adam - Vegan Policeman

So tell us about your vegan journey?

I was vegetarian for around 12 years and thought I was doing right by animals, however it wasn’t until I started looking into the dairy and egg industry did I realise the daily atrocities I was still contributing towards. I’ve now been vegan close to 4 years. My father is Italian and a chef! So it was a bit of a shock to him when I went vegan, but he is very supportive, in that he tries to make new dishes for me, and has even put more vegan options on his restaurant menu.

How has being vegan impacted your career?

I don’t think it has impacted my career, although it may have impacted on those around me to a degree. A number of my colleagues have made positive changes towards veganism after discussions with me. The workplace can be difficult and frustrating being surrounded by predominantly non-vegans, however I try to remember it’s not about me, and just try to encourage veganism as best as I can, in hope that something will resonate.

What differences have you made within your career in connection with being vegan?

Other than purchasing vegan boots and belt?! A large part of Policing is protecting the most vulnerable in society. There are amazing cops out there risking their lives on a daily basis, and dealing with more trauma than most will ever experience. It therefore saddens me that this compassion and care is seldom extended to the many animals exploited for human gain. These animals are undoubtedly the epitome of vulnerable.

What advice would you give to someone wants to make changes within their industry / career to be more vegan friendly?

Considerations such as ensuring any uniform provided being vegan, or there’s a vegan alternative. The same with any catering considerations.

What’s the best bit of advice someone gave to you in connection with being vegan?

At the point of me and my partner going vegan, I don’t think I’d ever met anyone who was vegan! I’d like to think that had I met someone who was vegan and they highlighted the same issues I now try to raise amongst family, friends and colleagues that I would have made the connection and transition quicker. Some of the speeches I’ve seen online from the likes of Joaquin Phoenix and Earthling Ed are poignant and empowering. Once you’ve seen and heard certain things, there is no going back.

Have you ever attended a vegan march or demo – as a police person or a demonstrator?

I have not. Most of my advocacy/activism is done directly with my friends, family, colleagues and via social media…with varying degrees of success!

Do you know of other vegans in the police?

I’m sure there probably are a small handful but I’ve not come across any yet! One of my colleagues tried it for a few months but is now veggie, whilst another is following a vegan diet but still buying leather etc.

What’s a typical day like for you?

Due to the nature of my job, I cannot go into details! I currently work on CID - so I deal with serious and complex investigations. It’s a highly demanding role mentally and emotionally.

What’s your favourite vegan restaurant?

Temple of Seitan in London! I’d also like to give a shout out to Beer Riff Brewing Co in my home town of Swansea. They make a mean vegan pizza and have 15 taps of the freshest beer, all of which are usually vegan!

If you could invite 1 person round for a vegan dinner and chat who would it be and why?

I was a big Arnold Schwarzenegger fan growing up, and I’ve noticed over the past few years he has been promoting less meat and dairy consumption. I would like to sit him down and for him to hear me out, in hope that I could get him to go vegan! Having someone with his global stature going vegan would be a big step in influencing others to follow suit.

Rachel Brownstein - Actor, Writer & YouTuber

So tell us about your vegan journey?

My transition was a quick one! In editing terms, it was a jump cut; all to nothing in a couple of months. I loved animal products, meat especially, but I became more and more aware of the realities of animal agriculture, and the abuse and exploitation involved.

A friend became vegan and started posting information on social media, and of course; the more you see, the more you get shown. I started feeling guilty after eating meat and knew I had to make some choices. I initially considered vegetarianism, but then watched a video of male chicks being fed into a shredder, and knew it wasn’t enough. I’ve always been experimental in the kitchen, and have collected lots of spices and random ingredients, so making the change wasn’t as tricky as I’d initially feared. It does take some extra thought at first, but it’s really woken up my palate and made me curious about food again.

How has being vegan impacted on your career?

It’s opened up a whole new career path for me! I started spending a lot of time in the kitchen during the pandemic; I needed the distraction and creative outlet.

Whenever I’d post pictures of my creations, friends would ask me why I didn’t have a YouTube channel. I then asked myself; “Why don’t I have a YouTube channel?!” It seemed like such a no-brainer; film what I was doing and stick it on the internet to help other people explore the possibilities of plant-based food.

I’m an actor, so I have editing software, but I’d barely scratched the surface, so found myself faced with the task of teaching myself how to create engaging videos (and how to cut 4 hours of content into 15 minutes!). The editing side of things has actually become very enjoyable as it ticks a lot of my boxes; creativity, problem solving, and challenging.

How do you invent these brilliant vegan creations?

It really varies; sometimes I have an ingredient that I’d like to explore (eg sweet potato), or the idea of a finished dish pops into my head and I’ll reverse engineer it to figure out how to achieve it.

For example; I knew I wanted to make some ribs, and started looking online for ideas of how to mimic the bones. I saw ideas from lollipop sticks to jícama, but none felt quite right.

I then wondered if I could use bamboo garden stakes but didn’t know if they were food safe.

That led to “Cedar! That’s used in barbecues!” and off I went on a hunt for BBQ accessories. I found some thin planks that are meant to be used under a piece of meat to give smoky flavours.

I dug out my Dremel and got to work carving the bones. I have to say; I am very proud of them. I was shocked by how well they came out! Often, something will go wrong or I get a completely different result to what I’d planned, and this then feeds lots of other ideas. I keep a Google Keep note pinned to my phone’s home screen for jotting down those 2am “Oooooo, how could I make that happen?”

What’s the best bit advice someone gave to you in connection with being vegan?

I don’t know if I ever got any about veganism as a whole, other than making sure I took supplements.

I’m quite self-reliant so I just dived in headfirst. In terms of cooking, Grace (the Admin of a Facebook group called Mangled Brains and Droopy Genitalia) has given me lots of tips for making WtF (Wash the Flour) seitan that have been invaluable. The best advice I could give would be to buy/ loan some vegan cookbooks, ideally written by someone who lives in the same country as you. I’ve bought several American ones, and many of the ingredients aren’t available in the UK, which can lead to feeling overwhelmed/ disheartened.

YouTube is also a fantastic resource; so many different creators are sharing knowledge gained by experience, and that can take away some uncertainty and spark some ideas.

Also, I would like to stress that it’s OK to slip up and eat something non-vegan, nobody is perfect! Labelling yourself “VEGAN” can put real pressure on yourself, which leads to feelings of failure. I know a few people who have tried and then felt terribly about themselves after eating a chicken burger after a night out and then gave up totally on trying again. Just go at your own pace, making small changes/substitutions here and there.

What’s a typical day like for you?

I have a part time job in a call centre Monday to Wednesday, and I often bid farewell to the working week with a few pints in my local pub on a Wednesday evening. Then I start the editing process on Thursdays (videos are published every Tuesday). It can take anywhere from three to thirty hours to cut, polish, and create all of the marketing materials.

I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome which effects my joints and energy levels, so I have to take things dayby-day in terms of filming content; I try and keep a few videos “in the can” in case of a flare up. I tend to film over the weekend, and again, this can take a couple of hours, or in the case of the ribs video; nine hours!

What’s your favourite vegan restaurant?

I went to Lisbon, Portugal for my 40th birthday a couple of years ago, and fell in love with The Green Affair. I stumbled on it completely by chance, and was immediately blown away with the amount of choice and quality of food.

It’s so rare to see beautifully-plated vegan dishes in restaurants; so often it’s piles of casserole or risotto. The bill was also a delight; 40€ for three people including wine. The pandemic has stopped me finding new places to try where I live in Leeds, England, so I am very much looking forward to getting out and about in the coming months, and discovering some new favourites.

If you could invite 1 person round for a vegan dinner and chat who would it be and why?

It would have to be Andi Oliver. She’s a British chef, and tv/radio presenter. She has a vast knowledge of food, and always comes across as a complete blast to spend time with; full of laughter, and supportive/ constructive.