Jill Milan
 | |
| Company type | Private Company |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Key people | Jill Fraser, Founder and CEO |
| Products | Apparel, Accessories |
| Website | JillMilan.com |
Jill Milan is an American fashion brand that specializes in animal-friendly fashion accessories,[citation needed] 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.[1]
History
[edit]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.[2]
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.[3] Fraser holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Oxford[4] and is a member of Mensa International.[5] 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.[6]
Products
[edit]Jill Milan launched the brand in 2011 with a line of handbags.[7] Items include:
- Art Deco Clutch, a stainless steel bag carried by celebrities including Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Lawrence and Eva Longoria.[8]
- 450 Sutter, a cylindrical stainless steel clutch. It was carried by Downton Abbey actress Joanne Froggatt to a Golden Globe party.[9]
- Pacific Heights Clutch, carried by Eva Longoria to the 2012 Presidential Inauguration.[10]
In August 2015, the company announced it would introduce a line of vegan coats and jackets designed in collaboration with celebrity stylist Laura Spinella.[11]
Celebrities
[edit]The brand has been carried to red carpet events by a number of high-profile Hollywood celebrities.[12][13] 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.[14]
- Rashida Jones: The Office actress carried Jill Milan to the Golden Globe Awards.[15]
- Jennifer Lawrence: Academy Award winner carried Jill Milan to multiple events, including the 13th Annual AFI Awards Luncheon.[16]
- Eva Longoria: Carried Jill Milan to multiple events, including the Desperate Housewives closing party.[17]
- Hailee Steinfeld: The Academy Award-nominated actress carried Jill Milan to multiple events, including the MTV Video Music Awards.[18]
- Kerry Washington: The star of television's Scandal carried Jill Milan to the premiere of her film Django Unchained.[19]
In fashion media
[edit]W Magazine’s "Most Wanted" feature has included Jill Milan's Art Deco Clutch,[20] Holland Park Clutch,[21] and Octagon Clutch.[22]
The Zoe Report profiled Jill Milan's Newbury Street Portfolio, calling it "Ready to go from the office to cocktail hour in the city."[23]
In popular media
[edit]On the television show Gossip Girl, Elizabeth Hurley’s Diana Payne character carried Jill Milan bags in multiple episodes in Season 5.[24]
Jill Fraser is often interviewed on fashion, especially vegan fashion, including a discussion on The Marilu Henner Show with Marilu Henner.[25]
Philanthropy
[edit]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.[26] 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.[27][unreliable source?]
References
[edit]- ^ "How Jill Milan Got Hollywood in its Clutches", Racked SF, February 10, 2015.
- ^ 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 (p. 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 [1]
- ^ 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, p. 46.
- ^ W Magazine, September 2012, p. 406.
- ^ W Magazine, October 2013, p. 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.
