about us

New Orlean's love affair with fantasy, food, and fun is the inspiration for one native entrepreneur’s dream career: making people think. The fact that they are laughing is lagniappe- the French term for a happy added benefit. Since Hurricane Katrina, August 2005, 11, wholesome humor is even more important to Gay Sperling, creator of the Wearable Vegetables clothing line, which is now approaching 20 years of business. Shiitake Happens, Stem Celery Research, How Merlot Can You Go, Olive Lucy, and Sushi in the Sky with Diamonds, are a few of the 2500 plus trademarked word creations, which are imprinted on T-shirts, Babydolls, Exercise Wear, Pajamas, aprons, paper napkins, infant wear, life’s accessories.

Wearable Vegetables is dedicated to maintaining it’s new style of business. Quality and creativity are key in every aspect of the operation, including order fulfillment, customer service, employment policies, and sales. The overwhelming growth of the company exemplifies that creativity is the answer, and the strength of the business.

Sperling worked with companies such as Campbell’s Soup and Amtrak at her successful advertising firm for 20 years before embarking on this venture in 1990. Then, she decided to blend her passion for vegetables with her marketing abilities, and her love of the English language. Today, Sperling’s clever take on popular icons and culture have resulted in profitable business while providing a vehicle for her love of social commentary.

“New Orleans’ neighborhoods have always been filled with vegetable gardens and of course, everyone is obsessed with cooking and eating,” explains Sperling, who believes that New Orleans is the food capital of North America. “People take their food seriously. I use word play to help people lighten up. Since Hurricane Katrina, my work is more important than ever. It’s a proven fact that humor heals. I love giving people a way to make a statement and create levity by simply wearing something.”

Sperling is the author of The Vegetables Lovers Guide to New Orleans and The New Orleans Top 10, books that include the best po-boys and gumbos in the famous river city, New Orleans. After years of experience with customers purchasing preferences, Sperling says that she has developed a new psychology centered on the vegetables people prefer. She calls her new science “Vegology.” She insists that people have strong vegetable preferences much like their preferences for music, and that they can be typed according to these preferences. Her scientific comedic book will be out mid 2008.

Justin Wilson, famed Louisiana chef who is credited with putting Cajun cuisine on the international map, was a personal friend and mentor. His death has made Sperling even more focused on people’s very personal relationship with food.

Although there has been much discussion concerning humor following Hurricane Katrina, Sperling says sales have increased dramatically. She suggests that the reason for an increase in sales lies in the basic need for laughter in order to deal with everyday stress and create a psychology of hope by using something common that the consumer can easily relate to.

The products have been donned by many, from Presidents to movie & TV stars like Emeril Lagasse, who wore I Shot the Shallot, but I did not Shoot the Broccoli on his television show. How Merlot can you go, Shiitake Happens, and Sushi in the Sky with Diamonds also have appeared in the feature film “Analyze That” and the hit TV show, “Queer Eye for The Straight Guy.” Oprah Winfrey featured Silence of the Yams and When Harry Met Salad in "O at Home" Magazine's "O list." They are sold nationwide in stores and catalogs like Target, Zabar’s in New York and Sur La Table as well as natural food stores, wine shops, gift boutiques, restaurants, restaurants, and bookstores. They are also available on the company’s website, mail order catalogue, and at the two Wearable Vegetables utterly unique retail stores in New Orleans.