Vaute
Humans We Love (Vaute) is a female-founded NYC-based DTC fashion house selling vintage and bespoke handmade jewelry, zero-waste vegan wedding gowns, and artisan ring boxes through a Shopify storefront, serving eco-conscious couples and brides globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Vaute does
Humans We Love (operating under the brand Vaute, at vautecouture.com) is a female-founded, direct-to-consumer fashion and fine jewelry house based in New York, founded in 2010 by designer Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart. The company sells handpicked vintage and antique engagement rings and fine jewelry (1920s-1980s, verified by gemologists), bespoke one-of-a-kind wedding and engagement rings produced in the Bay Area using ancient lost wax casting techniques (including "Memory Cast Rings" and "Modern Posy Rings"), a collection of zero-waste 100% vegan wedding gowns handmade in NYC's garment district, and handmade stained glass ring boxes produced by artisan partners in Lviv, Ukraine. Pricing spans $65 ring boxes, $440-$2,600 vintage rings, $750-$3,500 gowns, and $2,000-$5,000+ bespoke commissions, with ShopPay Installments and Klarna payment plans.
The business operates as a single Shopify storefront shipping globally to 25+ countries, supported by a curated partner ecosystem that includes Tamsin Rasor (NYC) and Ciara Bowles (London) for wedding bands, Hyde Nor Hare for vegan candles, and Veerah and Bhava for ethical shoes, alongside an OEKO-TEX/GRS/GOTS-certified recycled-fiber textile house supplying gown materials (each gown recycles 20+ plastic bottles). Distribution is purely self-built; there is no wholesale, marketplace, or B2B channel of note. The company is privately held by the founder, has 11-50 employees, and has raised approximately $341,406 in disclosed funding (November 2017) with no subsequent institutional rounds. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The brand has earned editorial coverage in Vogue, ELLE, WWD, CNN, Forbes, and others, broke history at New York Fashion Week, and has been worn by Miley Cyrus.
Vaute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vaute
- Legal name
- Humans We Love
- Website
- https://vautecouture.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Humans We Love (Vaute) is a female-founded NYC-based DTC fashion house selling vintage and bespoke handmade jewelry, zero-waste vegan wedding gowns, and artisan ring boxes through a Shopify storefront, serving eco-conscious couples and brides globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vaute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Ethical Bridal Jewelry and Vegan Wedding Attire
- NAICS
- Jewelry Retailers (458310)
- SIC
- Retail-Jewelry Stores (5944), Jewelry, Precious Metal (3911), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Custom/Bespoke Jewelry Retail Studios (CRAKAGAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Bridal Jewelry Customization & Bespoke (CRAKACAG)
Keywords
Where Vaute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Vaute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Vintage & Antique Fine Jewelry Sales: One-of-a-kind vintage engagement rings, wedding bands, and fine jewelry pieces sold at fixed prices ranging from $440 to $2,600
- Bespoke Wedding Jewelry Commissions: Custom-designed engagement and wedding rings starting at $2,000-$5,000, with 50% deposit and 50% balance before casting. Couples ring workshops also available
- Ethical Wedding Gowns: Zero waste, vegan wedding gowns priced from $750 to $3,500, made to order with 3-6 month production times
- Handmade Stained Glass Ring Boxes: Handmade Ukrainian ring boxes priced at $65 each, supporting independent artisans in Lviv
- Vegan Candles (Partner Brand): Hyde Nor Hare vegan candles at $22 each, shipped from Connecticut
- Ethical Shoes (Partner Brands): Veerah and Bhava ethical shoe brands sold through the platform
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Vintage Ring Boxes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Vintage Fine Jewelry |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Bespoke Wedding Rings |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Wedding Gowns |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Vegan Candles |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Vaute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vaute (Humans We Love) is a direct-to-consumer ethical fashion and fine jewelry house selling handpicked vintage and antique engagement rings, bespoke handmade wedding and engagement rings crafted via lost wax casting in the Bay Area, zero-waste vegan wedding gowns handmade in NYC, and handmade stained glass engagement ring boxes produced by artisan partners in Lviv, Ukraine. The assortment is supplemented with a small set of partner-brand resale items including vegan candles, ethical shoes, and additional handmade jewelry. The company operates through a single owned Shopify storefront with global shipping.
Product overview
Humans We Love (Vaute) is a female-founded e-commerce platform and Bay Area jewelry studio offering a curated portfolio of sustainable, ethical fashion and fine jewelry products. The core offering consists of vintage and antique fine jewelry (engagement rings, wedding bands) sourced and verified by gemologists, alongside bespoke handmade jewelry services (wedding rings, memory cast rings, posy rings) crafted by designer Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart using lost wax casting. The platform also features a collection of zero-waste, 100% vegan wedding gowns handmade in NYC using deadstock, vintage, and post-consumer recycled fiber materials, supplemented by handmade stained glass ring boxes produced by artisan brothers in Lviv, Ukraine. A selection of partner-brand ethical products — including handmade candles (Hyde Nor Hare), ethical wedding bands from NYC and London makers, and vintage finds — rounds out the offering. The storefront is Shopify-hosted with ShopPay and Klarna payment plan options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- LM Studio Collection: Handmade jewelry pieces in Sterling Silver, Gold, and Bronze made by Leanne Mai-ly in the Bay Area.
Products and services
- Ethical Wedding Dresses / Gowns Collection Collection of zero-waste, 100% vegan wedding gowns and dresses handmade in NYC, featuring vintage deadstock materials, handcrafted artisan trim, and post-consumer recycled fiber fabrics. Offerings include the Watercolor Garden Gown, T-back Fishtail Lace Gown, Collage Gown (Lovebirds), Floating Gown (Water Rabbit), Courthouse Mini in Floral Universe, and Courthouse Mini in Lace + Satin. Prices range from $750 to $3,500 with a 3–6 month made-to-order production timeline; each gown recycles 20+ plastic bottles.
- Vintage Fine Jewelry / Engagement Rings Handpicked vintage and antique engagement rings and fine jewelry spanning the 1920s to 1980s, including Art Deco and Mid-Century pieces, all verified by gemologists (Gemological Appraisal Laboratory of America and NYC Diamond District). Rings are typically in 10K and 14K solid gold with natural diamonds, sapphires, spinels, aquamarine, and other gemstones. Prices range from $440 to $2,600, with complimentary appraisal certificates, ring resizing, and insured US priority shipping.
- Handmade Stained Glass Engagement Ring Boxes Handmade stained glass engagement ring boxes designed and produced by brothers Ostap and Danylo in Lviv, Ukraine, supporting their family's stained glass business. Available in multiple colors including rainbow, deep red, pink, sky blue, cobalt blue, mint green, and tri-color pastel. Priced at $65 per box, with a 4–5 week shipping time from Ukraine and rush shipping available for $27.
- Handmade Wedding Rings / Bespoke Jewelry One-of-a-kind bespoke wedding rings and engagement rings handmade entirely in the Bay Area by designer Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart using ancient lost wax casting techniques. Offerings include Couple Ring Workshops, Memory Cast Rings (casting from natural objects such as twigs and flower stems), and Modern Posy Rings (hand-engraved). Bespoke wedding rings start at $2,000 and engagement rings start at $5,000, with a 50% deposit and 50% balance due before casting.
- Hyde Nor Hare Handmade Candles Partner-brand vegan candles from Hyde Nor Hare, made with 100% soy wax, cotton/paper wicks, and phthalate-free fragrance oils in recyclable glass jars. Founded by Jenny in Connecticut; 5% of profits are donated to JP Farm Animal Sanctuary. Available in seasonal scents including Speakeasy, Summer Salt, Holiday Home, Fall Fig, Toasted Pumpkin, Woodsmoke, and Spiced Plum. Priced at $22 per candle; US shipping only.
- Ethical Wedding Bands Ethically produced wedding bands and commitment rings made from vintage, antique, estate, or recycled materials, including solid gold and platinum options with traceable ethically sourced or lab-grown gemstones and diamonds. Featured makers include Tamsin Rasor (NYC, 4–6 week production) and Ciara Bowles (London, 3–4 week production, using exclusively vintage gemstones).
Quantifiable outcome
- Each gown recycles 20+ plastic bottles
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Vaute
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Vaute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Vaute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ostap & Danylo (Ukrainian Brothers)coreTwo brothers in Lviv, Ukraine who design and create handmade stained glass engagement ring boxes from their family stained glass business. Partnership supports their family's livelihood. Box born in 2014 from family business.
- Mika Inatome (Japanese Couturier)coreJapanese couture bridal gown maker based in NYC's garment district. Collaborates on zero waste wedding gown designs. Brought in after initial couturier didn't feel right; known for problem-solving, kindness, and decades of expertise.
- Jen (Oklahoma City Craftsperson)minorHandmade crochet flower creator in Oklahoma City. Her flower sales support her weekend service creating care packages for homeless individuals and shut-in senior citizens.
- Cheryl (Vermont Artist)minorHandpainted lace flowers artist in Vermont. She started painting lace flowers to add dimension to quilting, inspired by how color moves along thread lines.
- Julia Yevzhenko (Ukrainian Artist)minorHand embroidered animals artist based in Kiev, Ukraine. Her embroidered designs support her family.
- Award-Winning Asian Female Founded Textile HousecoreTextile company in Australia and Asia producing silk-free satin, organza, and chiffon from 100% post-consumer recycled fibers. Factories certified to OEKO-TEX, GRS, and GOTS. Each gown recycles 20+ plastic bottles.
- Tom's Sons (Pleating House)minorThree-generation family business in NYC garment district since 1931. Provides custom pleating services for gown chiffon. Recently published first book on pleating.
- Jenny (Hyde Nor Hare Founder)minorVegan candle maker who donates 5% of profits to JP Farm Animal Sanctuary. Her candles feature 100% soy wax, cotton/paper wicks, phthalate-free fragrances, in glass jars.
- Veerah ShoesminorVegan shoes brand sold through the Humans We Love platform. Offers 14-day return/exchange policy.
- Bhava Studio ShoesminorEthical shoe brand sold through the Humans We Love platform. Offers 30-day return/exchange policy.
- Tamsin Rasor JewelryminorHandmade jewelry brand made to order in NYC by Tamsin Rasor. Production time 4-6 weeks.
- Ciara Bowles JewelryminorHandmade jewelry brand made to order in London by Ciara Bowles. Production time 3-4 weeks. Uses exclusively vintage gemstones.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Vaute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mejuri: Direct-to-consumer fine jewelry brand offering everyday and engagement jewelry with an ethical/sustainable positioning, DTC-first via Shopify; the closest scale competitor to Vaute/Humans We Love in the ethical jewelry space.
- Catbird: Independent Brooklyn-based jewelry brand focused on delicate, often one-of-a-kind and vintage-style pieces with an indie/artisan ethos; closely overlaps with Vaute's handmade, ethical, NYC/Brooklyn-rooted positioning.
- Brilliant Earth: DTC ethical engagement-ring and fine-jewelry retailer specializing in conflict-free, lab-grown and recycled diamonds; comparable on ethical bridal jewelry retail with bespoke and vintage-adjacent options.
- Vrai: Direct-to-consumer lab-grown diamond and engagement jewelry brand with sustainability-led branding; overlaps with Vaute's ethical bridal jewelry value proposition and target couples.
- Erstwhile Jewelry: NYC-based vintage and antique engagement ring specialist carrying handpicked, gemologist-verified pieces; near-identical model to Vaute's vintage fine jewelry arm.
- Trumpet & Horn: Online retailer focused on vintage-inspired engagement rings and wedding jewelry for brides; comparable curation, branding, and bridal-channel focus.
Broad incumbents
- Alexis Bittar: Established designer jewelry brand blending handmade craftsmanship with broader retail distribution; comparable on designer-led jewelry and luxury positioning but operates at materially greater scale and assortment breadth.
- Reformation Bridal: Sustainable fashion house extending its ethical/slow-fashion ethos into bridal gowns; comparable on ethical wedding apparel and brand identity overlap, though at much larger scale.
- BHLDN (Anthropologie Weddings): Multi-channel bridal retailer offering gowns, jewelry, and accessories under an Anthropologie-owned umbrella; comparable product breadth around the bride, though at a much larger scale and broader (less ethical-focused) assortment.
Emerging players
- Wwake: Independent designer jewelry brand built around delicate, ethically produced fine jewelry; shares indie DTC, sustainable, and minimalist ethos with Vaute's LM Studio Collection positioning.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Vaute social profiles
Digital presenceVaute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vaute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Vaute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vaute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vaute
What does Vaute do?
Vaute (Humans We Love) is a direct-to-consumer ethical fashion and fine jewelry house selling handpicked vintage and antique engagement rings, bespoke handmade wedding and engagement rings crafted via lost wax casting in the Bay Area, zero-waste vegan wedding gowns handmade in NYC, and handmade stained glass engagement ring boxes produced by artisan partners in Lviv, Ukraine. The assortment is supplemented with a small set of partner-brand resale items including vegan candles, ethical shoes, and additional handmade jewelry. The company operates through a single owned Shopify storefront with global shipping.
Is Vaute a public or private company?
Vaute is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Vaute founded?
Vaute was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Vaute based?
Vaute is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Vaute make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Vintage & Antique Fine Jewelry Sales are the primary driver. The others are bespoke Wedding Jewelry Commissions, ethical Wedding Gowns, handmade Stained Glass Ring Boxes, vegan Candles (Partner Brand) and ethical Shoes (Partner Brands).
Who are Vaute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mejuri, Catbird, Brilliant Earth, Vrai, Erstwhile Jewelry and Trumpet & Horn. Broad incumbents are Alexis Bittar, Reformation Bridal and BHLDN (Anthropologie Weddings). Wwake is listed as an emerging player.
Does Vaute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vaute.
What industry is Vaute in?
Vaute's product category is Ethical Bridal Jewelry and Vegan Wedding Attire. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAKAGAJ, Custom/Bespoke Jewelry Retail Studios, with a secondary code of CRAKACAG, Bridal Jewelry Customization & Bespoke. Its NAICS code is 458310 and its SIC code is 5944.