Meet Mel Sherwell, an interior designer, zen addict, and founder of Soul Shapes. Specializing in vegan interior design to create harmonious and holistic spaces with soul; Mel creates spaces that visually and energetically draw on nature to help us feel a sense of place + purpose and loves offering vegan alternatives in the finishes and materials used in her projects.
Q: When did you first go Vegan?
A: I became Vegetarian at 21 , Vegan at 40
Q: What happened, what was the reason you chose to go Vegan?
A: I am an interior designer + Founder of Soul Shapes. My design philosophy is about creating spiritually aligned spaces filled with beautiful soul-filled energy. The more I researched materiality in my projects (and at the time, I also had a furniture store) the more I learned about the irony in furniture, design and architecture. I started to delve into where finishes like leather, wool, and feathers came from, looking (like many) to slap an 'ethically sourced' label on my pieces. It was then I realised, none of this is ethical, all of it is disgusting and cruel.
I knew from that moment that although I was a Vegetarian, I had to go Vegan. How could I claim to create beautiful spaces when I was filling them with pieces that embodied torture, pain, and bloody murder! All of this research of course, led me to learn about the dairy industry, something I had avoided through just plain ignorance. The veil on the industry and my life was lifted. I became committed to going fully vegan, and I have never looked back.
Q: How did you feel when you made the decision to go Vegan?
A: When I first decided to go Vegan, I did it very gradually. I was already Vegetarian so I thought let's just try remove dairy milk/cheese first. After 2 months I was finding that step very easy and I noticed how good I was feeling. So I then dropped eggs and after another couple of months flew by, I was like I can do this and I am absolutely going to commit to this lifestyle for the rest of my life. I always tell people I felt so lighter. I know it's a strange thing to say but I just felt like my body and energy was flowing so smoothly and floaty.
Q: How did you feel when you made the decision to go Vegan?
A: When I first decided to go Vegan, I did it very gradually. I was already Vegetarian so I thought let's just try remove dairy milk/cheese first. After 2 months I was finding that step very easy and I noticed how good I was feeling. So I then dropped eggs and after another couple of months flew by, I was like I can do this and I am absolutely going to commit to this lifestyle for the rest of my life. I always tell people I felt so lighter. I know it's a strange thing to say but I just felt like my body and energy was flowing so smoothly and floaty.
On a personal note, I really felt a strong sense of pride and contentment because I was actually living authentically. My actions matched my values for the first time in my life, I was free from living in a way that made me feel yucky, I had made a choice based on what I felt was right, not what society told me was right.
I grew up in a family who ate meat and continue to do so. So yes I made the decision on my own when I was 21 to go Vegetarian and then at age 40 I decided to live a Vegan lifestyle. I only have a few Vegan friends, most of my network still eat meat and I enjoy sharing with them the benefits of this lifestyle, along with facts about the cruelty in the animal agriculture industry.
Q: What 3 words best describe how you felt?
A: Joy, Authentic, Healthy
Q: What was the hardest food for you to 'give up'?
A: Eggs
A: Eggs
Q: What do you find the most challenging about being around non vegan people?
A: Realising so many people I love lie to them selves every day. When people I love refuse to learn the truth and bury their head in the sand it makes it hard to connect with them and respect them. Hearing the same ridiculous excuses over and over unfortunately pushes me away. I just cant keep witnessing the way they avoid the facts, using humour to deflect. I love them all of course but it makes me feel a strong disconnect and I find it puts my walls up.
Q: What's it like being Vegan in Meldbourne, Australia?
A: We have a growing Vegan community. Lots of lovely restaurants, cafes, bakeries popping up. Its a little harder in my area which is an outer suburb in the hills. Although we do have many Vegans living up this way, there are only a handful of places that offer a Vegan option.
A: Realising so many people I love lie to them selves every day. When people I love refuse to learn the truth and bury their head in the sand it makes it hard to connect with them and respect them. Hearing the same ridiculous excuses over and over unfortunately pushes me away. I just cant keep witnessing the way they avoid the facts, using humour to deflect. I love them all of course but it makes me feel a strong disconnect and I find it puts my walls up.
Q: What's it like being Vegan in Meldbourne, Australia?
A: We have a growing Vegan community. Lots of lovely restaurants, cafes, bakeries popping up. Its a little harder in my area which is an outer suburb in the hills. Although we do have many Vegans living up this way, there are only a handful of places that offer a Vegan option.
Q: What's your favourite animal?
A: Parrot
A: Parrot
Q: What's your favourite food or what do you eat the most, at least 3+ times a week?
A: Something I eat the most = I love a bowl of strawberries, blueberries, banana, mango and chia seeds, topped with chia seeds, Zealy Bay Orange + Spice Organic Granola and Cocobella Dairy Free Yogurt. I eat this at least once every two days. I must have all the ingredients in the house at all times!!! haha
A: Something I eat the most = I love a bowl of strawberries, blueberries, banana, mango and chia seeds, topped with chia seeds, Zealy Bay Orange + Spice Organic Granola and Cocobella Dairy Free Yogurt. I eat this at least once every two days. I must have all the ingredients in the house at all times!!! haha
A: I would definitely say shoes!! I'm very happy to have found Voes & Co!! It's difficult to get full transparency on most shoe brands.
Q: Can you share 3-5 of your favourite Vegan Brands or Products?
A: Voes & Co of course!!
1. Vegan Vanguards (might be bias :)
2. The Vegan range from Synergie Skin is to die for - everyone should own these products!
3.'Vegetology' supplements are amazing vegan vitamins that I trust and love!
Q: What was the funniest/craziest thing that someone has said or you've heard/read about Veganism or about being Vegan?
A: Oh theres so many, this is hard!! I guess it would have to be the crop death argument. Arguing that Vegans cause so much death to animals who end up getting caught in harvesters /tractors etc.
Firstly, the stats show this is quite minimal and not intentional murder, regardless I think it's hilarious because most of the crops harvested are actually providing produce to feed animals in the animal agriculture industry.
It's also crazy that they suddenly care about animals in crop deaths, but not about the fact they contribute to the billion of animals that are intentionally slaughtered every year. I just can't understand how someone who eats meat can use this argument, it's funny but it's more scary than anything.
Q: What's your spirit animal?
A: Owl
Q: As a Fierce female, what do you consider to be your #1 Super Power?
A: My Intuition
Q: What's your BHAG? (Big Harry Audacious Goal) (optional)
A: My BHAG is to use my platform as an interior and fashion designer to redefine the meaning of luxury. True luxury should go beyond aesthetics - it should honour the origin and story behind every piece. My mission is to shift the industry’s mindset so that using animal products in the name of beauty and pleasure is taboo and seen for what it truly is: unethical, cruel, and certainly NOT beautiful.
Q: The #1 reason you are Vegan:
A: The documentary 'Dominion' and anything from Joey Carbstrong
A: The documentary 'Dominion' and anything from Joey Carbstrong
A: For the Animals
Additional thoughts:
There are so many arguments around Veganism but I want to just take a minute to strip it back to the important truth that is often lost in the many debates people have. Taking another's life is not ours to do.
Life is a beautiful precious gift that is to be valued and respected.
We have NO right to take another's life be it a human or non human animal. Life is life and I'm so proud to be amongst millions of others who strive to bring to light, this simple right that has become so wronged.
Love to all x Mel
You can follow Mel on Instagram @soulshapes_mel_sherwell and @veganvanguards
https://www.melsherwell.com/mel-sherwell-soulshapes#/mel-sherwell-interior-designer/soulshapes/
