The fashion industry isn’t vegan friendly

As consumers, vegans are often the more intentional and careful shopper because they have to be on a higher alert. 

Veganism is more than a diet, it’s a lifestyle. But what does this actually look like? It means being cautious about all products consumed, not just foods. From makeup to fabrics, there can be animal products hidden in the smallest details.

Leather is one material with obvious connections to its animal origin. Cows and pigs are the main source, but other animals like crocodiles and snakes have been used too. These animals are raised for the purpose of using their skin, not caring for their well being. The leather making process is also damaging to the environment, seeing as it requires a lot of land and water to produce. The material isn’t biodegradable because of all the chemicals used, which could also contribute to habitat pollution. Luckily, there are vegan alternatives, some even made from food waste. 

Boots, bags, coats, and other garments can be made from Suede, a softer leather product. It’s made from lambs, calves, and other small animal skins. There are microfiber and faux suede alternatives. But something else to look out for is shoe production using animal derived glue.  Unless labeled otherwise, it’s safe to assume shoes are not vegan friendly.

Many people are unaware that silk is a fabric that vegans shy away from. This textile in particular is made from domesticated silkworms, in the caterpillar stage of the silk moth lifecycle. They extrude silk in liquid form out of their heads, some will be killed in order to obtain the liquid, others will grow into pupae and spin their cocoon. To retrieve the silk thread, the worms are placed in boiling water, which kills them and unravels their cocoons. With some “peace silk” methods, the worms aren’t killed for thread extraction. However, they are still domesticated, bred, and exploited. Vegans believe that all living things deserve humane treatment, meaning leaving these little caterpillars alone. 

Another common textile is wool, made from the hair of sheep, alpacas, or goats. Working quickly rather than kindly, shearers can be violent with the animals, kicking and cutting them throughout the process. Many countries that produce these materials have poor animal protection laws, so practices like mulesing — a procedure that removes some of the skin along with the wool– are perfectly acceptable. Cotton, polyester, and other synthetics are much better alternatives. 

Down is a material that I’ve heard since childhood that I never put together until I did some research. Comforters, coats, and jackets can have the plucked feathers of geese or ducks. This isn’t as harmless and tweezing eyebrows, live plucking is a painful experience for the animals. Alternatives for down are typically much more affordable, and above all else, ethical.

The jewelry industry is also not the most vegan friendly when it comes to obscure materials. The pearl for example is a popular stone for necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and other accessories. It’s produced by mollusks, clams, mussels, and oysters that form a crystalline coating, nacre, in self defense for irritants or parasites. The pearls are harvested during “culturing” where an irritant is injected into the mouth so that they produce more nacre. This process either kills the animal or puts it under intense unnecessary stress. Alternative synthetic beads are available in most craft stores and have the same look, and are half the price.  

A lot of accessories are made from elephant leather or hair. Some of the hair naturally falls off, others will kill the animal to take more at a time. Ivory is also popular in certain jewelry items, and the animals have to be poached to retrieve their tusks. These smart creatures are typically symbols of good fortune, and are cherished for many vegans.

These industries aren’t as vegan friendly as most people would assume. Now more than ever, there are alternative options to animal derived products on the market. Everyone, not solely vegans, can rethink their purchases and who it might have harmed.

For more information you can visit the HeaLabel for an extensive list on vegan friendly materials.