NYC Fashion Mogul to Debut Vegan Cheese Brand

New vegan cheese brand RIND will launch in select New York City restaurants next year. The company is a collaborative project between Joshua Katcher (founder of vegan fashion brand Brave Gentleman) and Dina DiCenso (owner of vegan shop Gristle Tattoo and former equity analyst), who share a love for cheese made without animal cruelty. “Fashion and cheese have more similarities than you’d think,” Katcher told VegNews. “They’re both luxury items, they can both be indulgent, and people get really obsessed with them. There’s a magical quality to cheese that activates our pleasure centers.” Katcher explained that his experience in fashion will inform the visual elements of RIND, while DiCenso’s work in the finance industry will help the company succeed in that regard. The pair is currently testing several ripened cheese flavors—made with a “primordial” process using ancient microbes to break down fats, proteins, and sugars. DiCenso told VegNews their cheeses are interchangeable with animal-based products in both taste and visual appeal. “Joshua and I have developed a proprietary blend of flavors that anyone who appreciates brie, Camembert, bleu, and other mold-rind cheeses will love,” DiCenso said. RIND is currently seeking investors to help the company launch to a broader customer base. “Our cheese isn’t just an ‘alternative,’” Katcher said. “We think it’s fantastic in its own right.”