Denim Day Fashion Show, Veni Harlan

Veni Harlan, "Canine Conservationist"

Veni is wearing jeans on Denim Day because she believes that small acts have the power to make big differences. 

 Veni Harlan has enjoyed a long and rewarding career in the creative field as a communication specialist, art director, teacher, writer, designer, photographer, and illustrator. She’s been recognized for her work in design, conservation, cultural documentation, fine art, and known for her love of animals, especially Borzoi.

Veni has contributed time and talent to a number of charitable and civic initiatives such as breast cancer awareness, youth entrepreneurship, responsible pet ownership, and animal rescue, but environmental education is her particular passion. Experiences post Katrina and Mocondo were impactful and inspired Veni to apply the tools of design to increase public awareness about the world we inhabit. She's been involved with multiple branding campaigns for the Louisiana Black Bear Coalition, Gulf seafood industry, Audubon, disaster preparedness for pet owners, and most recently, Marsh Dog, an eco-treat company founded by herself and siblings Hansel Harlan and Gretel Harlan Kelly.

 Marsh Dog makes all-natural, Louisiana certified dog treats using the eco sustainable protein of wild nutria. Nutria, a federally designated invasive species, are credited with the destruction of 100,000 acres of wetlands and remain a serious threat. The company's application of an entrepreneurial solution to an environmental challenge has been recognized by conservation groups such as the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary Program, Louisiana Wildlife Federation, and Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. National media such as USA Today, PBS Marketplace, and Pet Food Industry commend the company as an innovator in the pet food industry. Most importantly, pet owners can support science-based conservation by turning their dogs into “canine conservationists.”