Compassion Is Always in Style: Building a Luxury Vegan Brand with Desiree Dupuis

In this episode, Shane Jeremy James sits down with Desiree Dupuis, founder of Voes & Co., a pioneering vegan luxury footwear brand that redefines fashion with compassion and sustainability. Desiree shares how a personal need for stylish, animal-free, and plastic-free footwear inspired her to create Voes & Co.

She discusses the development of her high-end designer shoes made from next-generation plant-based materials like cactus and corn leather, and why creating a brand rooted in values was non-negotiable. We dive into the realities of bootstrapping a mission-driven business in an oversaturated digital market, the struggle to build brand awareness without investors, and how technology, including AI, is helping her scale with integrity. This is a conversation about much more than fashion, about leadership, innovation, and building a brand that reflects a commitment to the planet, people, and purpose.