Jill Milan
 | |
| Private Company | |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Key people | Jill Fraser, Founder and CEO |
| Products | Apparel, Accessories |
| Website | JillMilan.com |
Jill Milan is an American fashion brand which specializes in animal-friendly fashion accessories,[1] the majority of which are produced in Italy. The brand has been carried to red carpet events by a number of high-profile Hollywood celebrities,[2] and Jill Milan was named “Vegan Business of the Year” in 2013 by Vegans are Cool.[3]
History
Founder Jill Fraser, who has been vegan for decades and does not wear any clothing made with animal-derived materials such as leather, fur, wool and silk, conceived the company when she was unable to find luxury-quality handbags that were not made of animal-derived materials.[4]
Fraser’s prior experience includes serving as Chief Marketing Officer for a venture-backed online ad network serving the luxury space. She also founded and served as President of soft drink company Virgil's Root Beer.[5] Fraser holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Oxford[6] and is a member of Mensa International.[7] She founded Jill Milan with partner Milan Lazich, who had been part of management teams which took two Silicon Valley software companies public via IPOs on Nasdaq, most recently as a vice president at Magma Design Automation.[8]
Products
Jill Milan launched the brand in 2011 with a line of handbags.[9] Items include:
- Art Deco Clutch, a stainless steel bag carried by celebrities including Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Lawrence and Eva Longoria.[10]
- 450 Sutter, a cylindrical stainless steel clutch. It was carried by “Downton Abbey” actress Joanne Froggatt to a Golden Globe party.[11]
- Pacific Heights Clutch, carried by Eva Longoria to the 2012 Presidential Inauguration.[12]
In August 2015 the company announced it would introduce a line of vegan coats and jackets designed in collaboration with celebrity stylist Laura Spinella.[13]
Celebrities
The brand has been carried to red carpet events by a number of high-profile Hollywood celebrities.[14][15] Actresses who have carried Jill Milan bags include:
- Anne Hathaway: The Academy Award winner has carried Jill Milan to a number of premieres and other events, including Les Miserables premieres.[16]
- Rashida Jones: The The Office actress carried Jill Milan to the Golden Globe Awards.[17]
- Jennifer Lawrence: Academy Award winner carried Jill Milan to multiple events, including the 13th Annual AFI Awards Luncheon.[18]
- Eva Longoria: Carried Jill Milan to multiple events, including the Desperate Housewives closing party.[19]
- Hailee Steinfeld: The Academy Award-nominated actress carried Jill Milan to multiple events, including the MTV Video Music Awards.[20]
- Kerry Washington: The star of television’s Scandal carried Jill Milan to the premiere of her film Django Unchained.[21]
In Fashion Media
W Magazine’s “Most Wanted” feature has included Jill Milan’s Art Deco Clutch,[22] Holland Park Clutch[23] and Octagon Clutch.[24]
The Zoe Report profiled Jill Milan’s Newbury Street Portfolio, calling it "Ready to go from the office to cocktail hour in the city."[25]
In Popular Media
On the television show Gossip Girl, Elizabeth Hurley’s Diana Payne character carried Jill Milan bags in multiple episodes.[26]
Jill Fraser is often interviewed on fashion, especially vegan fashion, including a discussion on The Marilu Henner Show with Marilu Henner.[27]
Philanthropy
The company's support of non-profit organizations that work on behalf of animal welfare includes sponsorship of the Genesis Awards, a production of the Humane Society of the United States to honor members of the media and entertainment industries for works promoting animal welfare.[28]
Jill Milan also dedicates a portion of sales from certain products to Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue, an all-volunteer charity which rescues thoroughbred horses from slaughter, neglect and abuse.[29]
References
- ↑ ‘PETA-Approved Vegan’ Logo
- ↑ ”How Jill Milan Got Hollywood in its Clutches,” Racked SF, February 10, 2015
- ↑ The Vegan of the Year Awards 2013 Announcement, October 14, 2013
- ↑ Peaceful Dumpling, April 3, 2015
- ↑ "English Root Beer Triumphs In The Colonies," Chicago Tribune, January 12, 1995
- ↑ Peaceful Dumpling, April 3, 2015
- ↑ "Today on The Marilu Henner Show," October 17th, 2013
- ↑ “Securities and Exchange Commission Form S-1, Amendment No. 7, November 19, 2001, (page 49)
- ↑ "Cruelty-free Fashion Brand Jill Milan Launches Fall 2011 Collection,"One Green Planet
- ↑ "Top 5 Metal Plate Clutches: Shiny New Toys," Bag Snob, April 10, 2013
- ↑ ”Awards Season,” Mr. Brad Goreski, March 21, 2015
- ↑ PopSugar
- ↑ "Laura Spinella Collaborates With Jill Milan," Celebrity Intelligence, August 7, 2015
- ↑ ”How Jill Milan Got Hollywood in its Clutches,” Racked SF, February 10, 2015
- ↑ Jill Milan Celebrities
- ↑ "The Buzz,” SF Gate, December 23, 2012
- ↑ ”Vegan Handbags Abound at 71st Annual Golden Globes,” EcoRazzi, January 14, 2014
- ↑ ”Jennifer Lawrence Does A Double Take In Prabal Gurung,” PerezHilton.com, January 11, 2013
- ↑ Vegetarian Star, May 22, 2012
- ↑ Los Angeles Confidential, August 31, 2015
- ↑ ”The Many Bags of Kerry Washington,” Purse Blog, February 28, 2013
- ↑ W Magazine, April 2012, page 46
- ↑ W Magazine, September 2012, page 406
- ↑ W Magazine, October 2013, page 60
- ↑ The Zoe Report, September 28, 2012
- ↑ ”Spotted Handbags on the Set of Gossip Girl,” FuseInk
- ↑ The Marilu Henner Show, October 17, 2013
- ↑ ”The Humane Society of the United States – Jill Milan Luxury Vegan Handbags,” Brooklyn-Bliss
- ↑ Cocktails and Quinoa, November 5, 2014
