Meet Madelynn De La Rosa, a vegan and slow fashion advocate whose YouTube videos inspire us in the same way that we imagine French films from the 50s or 60s would. Madelynn is no stranger to YouTube, using her platform to tackle various important issues, such as feminism, cruelty-free beauty and sustainable fashion. So it's only natural that we were eager to interview her for this feature and ask her questions about why she first started her YouTube channel, how she integrates slow fashion into her life, and much, much more.
For this week, we're partnering with Madelynn to donate 10% of proceeds to the Los Angeles LGBT Center organization when anyone makes a purchase from her list of picks below!
Since 1969 the Los Angeles LGBT Center has cared for, championed, and celebrated LGBT individuals and families in Los Angeles and beyond. The Center is an unstoppable force in the fight against bigotry and the struggle to build a better world, a world in which LGBT people can be healthy, equal, and complete members of society.
Who is Madelynn De La Rosa? I’m a filmmaker/video editor based out of Los Angeles. I’m passionate about shooting film, veganism, feminism, and sustainable fashion
Describe your personal style? I’m a dress or jumpsuit kind of girl because it takes the guesswork out of picking out a whole outfit! Haha
What’s the first thing you do in the morning when you wake up? I drink a glass of water, take Violet on a long walk, read a chapter of whatever book I’m reading at the moment, then start my work day by answering emails.
What made you decide to start a YouTube channel and how do you find inspiration for your videos? I started my channel nearly 7 years ago because I LOVED video editing. I edited my first video in middle school and would make videos of my friends and I throughout high school. After high school I started making fashion/makeup videos and uploading them to the internet.
How do you keep yourself grounded and prevent yourself from burning out? This year has definitely been the toughest for me because it has happened — In fact I’ve been going through it all year this year. I think I’m slowly but surely coming out of this funk, but I think it’s incredibly important to take a break from social media when you need to. Everything you consume including what you eat, drink, watch, read, matters. So I’ve been trying to be more mindful of how I spend my time and have taken a step back to fall in love with myself again and find passion in my work. It’s all connected, so if you’re not feeling well mentally or physically, it seeps into all other areas of your life. So take all the time you need :-)
How did you first get interested in sustainable and ethical fashion and how are you sustainable in your day-to-day life? I was already living a vegan lifestyle, meaning I wasn’t buying, wearing, or consuming anything having to do with animals. I don’t eat meat or dairy, and don’t wear leather or fur, but I was still buying into fast fashion. It took a little while for everything to click for me, but I realized how connected everything is in regards to feminism, the earth, the animals, how mindlessly our society consumes at such an alarming rate. It was a lot to take in and I realized my values weren’t aligned quite right yet. So I’m very passionate about feeling empowered by what we choose to participate in and being mindful of all of these little decisions that add up.
More than ever, we need to speak out against harmful issues prevalent in society. What issues do you find dear to your heart? I think more than ever I get really upset seeing people “other” others. Whether that be in regards to racism, sexism, speciesism, or the whole lot, we tend to disconnect because we can’t seem to empathize. It’s incredibly disheartening and detrimental to society. Our current political climate in the US is not a very good one (that’s putting it very mildly) so I think more than ever it’s time to be as compassionate and patient as possible.
What have been the greatest lessons you have learned since beginning your career? To take the time I need for myself to feel whole again and to not worry about the numbers.
Any excited projects planned for the future that we can look forward to? Shooting on film and making more shorts!
What are your favourite restaurants or coffee shops in L.A.? At the moment Organix and Lento Market are my favorites — They’re both little vegan grocery stores that have delis where you can order some of the best vegan food in LA in my opinion. As far as coffee shops go I love Cuties Coffee. It’s an LGBTQ+ run and owned coffee shop that’s filled with vegan snacks and queer coloring books if that’s your sort of thing! :-)
What are you currently listening to? Currently have John Maus’ new album on repeat :-)
Favourite city to travel to? Honestly anywhere in Italy… I can’t wait to go back!
