
Research shows that the plant-based retail market is exploding in the United States: It’s worth around $5 billion, having grown 29 percent in just the last two years. Consumer demand for vegan-friendly items is projected to continue to grow, and here in Indiana, these local women, whether from their products, their blogs or their advocacy, have all helped to make Indy’s vegan scene more vibrant and exciting.
QUIANA QUARLES, FOUNDER OF BLACK VEGAN FEST INDY AND OWNER OF ANOTHER VEGAN JOURNEY, LLC
FACEBOOK.COM/BLACKVEGANFESTINDY, @AVJPRESENTS, @BLACKVEGANFESTINDY

“I created Black Vegan Fest Indy and started Another Vegan Journey to highlight Black vegan chefs and to dismantle the cultural stigma of veganism. The idea of the festival is a fun way to expose this healthy lifestyle to underserved communities of Indianapolis, as well as to educate people on its benefits. This year would have been the debut of the event in Indianapolis and it would have been held at Frederick Douglass Park, but it has been postponed until next year, 2021. However, due to COVID-19, this year’s event has been transformed into a digital experience that will be just as engaging and informative!
“In addition, through Another Vegan Journey my team and I launched a month-long initiative called the ‘Adopt a Family Program’ during the start of COVID to deliver vegan meals and essentials to elders and families in need, and we hope we will be able to expand on this idea.”

AKSHAYA BHAT, OWNER OF TRAILHEAD NATURALS
TRAILHEADNATURALS.SQUARE.SITE, @TRAILHEADNATURALS
“Trailhead Naturals came into conception to create foods that are not only nourishing and tasty, but also integrating science that focuses on bringing balance and simplicity in lifestyle. Our products are infused with superfoods and ayurvedic herbs, which lends to the unique flavor profile and melt-in-the-mouth texture. We take no shortcuts in providing the best quality food, and our products are available at most local retail food stores and major farmers’ markets.”

AMANDA RENINGER, OWNER OF SEA SALT & CINNAMON
SEASALTANDCINNAMON.COM, @SEASALTANDCINNAMON

“Sea Salt & Cinnamon is a vegan food business based in Muncie. We have partners all over the state of Indiana and work hard to offer delicious, cruelty-free options in a way that is accessible to everyone. Our mission is to invite others into compassion through their food choices. We figure the best way to do that is to hand them a cupcake!”

SHANEQUA BOYD, BLOGGER, FOOD PHOTOGRAPHER AND OWNER OF PRETTY BROWN VEGAN
PRETTYBROWNVEGAN.COM, @PRETTYBROWNVEGAN

TORI CHAPMAN, CHEF AND OWNER OF VEGAN EATS AND TREATS
@TORIVEGANEATSANDTREATS

MARCI TIPTON, OWNER OF FREYA’S CHARIOT
ETSY.COM/SHOP/FREYASCHARIOTLLC, @FREYAS.CHARIOT.LLC

AIMBRIEL LASLEY, MA, IBCLC, BLOGGER AND OWNER OF BLACK MAMA VEGAN
BLACKMAMAVEGAN.COM, @BLACK_MAMAVEGAN

OPE OJO, CEO OF ORIRE ORGANICS
ORIREORGANICS.COM, @ORIREORGANICS
“While on this journey, I also learned that a lot of products were either tested on animals or even derived from animals, and this was a big no-no for me. So, I decided to make ORIRE products vegan, meaning we do not use any animal products in our line. All our products are made from ingredients that are plant-based! While I was able to make products for my family, I decided to extend this love and care to everyone—and ORIRE Organics was founded. ORIRE Organics offers natural, organic, vegan, and preservative and toxin-free products, all handmade to meet your unique skin and hair needs. We source for the best butters and oils to use in our products: 100 percent of our oils and butters are cold-pressed and unrefined, meaning you are getting 100 percent of the benefits they have to offer.”

RACHEL KLEIN, FOUNDER OF REVIVAL FOOD CO.
REVIVALFOODCO.COM, @REVIVALFOODCO

JESS WALTON, OWNER OF BODY ECLECTIC SKIN CARE
BODYECLECTICSKINCARE.COM, @BODY_ECLECTIC_SKIN_CARE

NICOLE KEARNEY, OWNER OF SIP & SHARE WINES
SIPANDSHAREWINES.COM, @SIPANDSHAREWINES
“Sip & Share Wines is a boutique winery passionate about creating ‘commUnity’ with wine for wine lovers overlooked and underrepresented by the wine industry. Our diversity of artisanal vegan wines are approachable to all palates, and fun to sip and share. With a family and many friends who are vegan and seeing how much of the country is moving towards being healthy, creating vegan wines was an easy choice. Sip & Share Wines believes everyone should have the choice to drink affordable, animal by-products free, delicious wine.”

LISA ABNER, OWNER AND ARTISAN OF CENTRITERRA NATURAL BATH & BODY PRODUCTS
CENTRITERRA.COM, @CENTRITERRA
“I started my company in 2013 as a means to become a work-at-home parent when my daughter was born. I’ve had sensitive and eczema-prone skin for as long as I can remember, and had major skin breakouts to almost every commercial product I tried. I wanted to formulate high-quality skin care products that were affordable, sustainable, 100 percent natural, and were just as good for the planet as they were for the skin. I have long had a passion for environmental stewardship and advocacy, and organically grow many of the herbs that make their way into my product formulations. I choose packaging that can be composted or recycled, and source my raw materials from companies that place high priority on environmental sustainability and stewardship, and support the rights of their workers.
“After I launched CentriTerra Natural Bath & Body Products, I saw an unmet need in my customers—they wanted skin care products that were entirely plant-based, and there were few local, affordable, and quality options for them. In response, I reformulated my products to be free of animal products, and now I am happy to offer a line of vegan skin care.”

Main image credit: Veganliftz
Stephanie Groves is an Indy-based freelance writer who gets psyched whenever she learns about a local, woman-owned business.