Vegan fashion cannot be overlooked: fortunately, it is gaining more popularity every passing day. Consumers are becoming more conscious and are looking for vegan, cruelty-free, eco-friendly, and ethical fashion brands to support.

The fashion world is packed with troubling issues, ranging from cruelty to animals to vicious labour practices and terrible environmental impacts.

Vegan fashion is the concept of manufacturing and consuming fashion without killing or using animals or their by-products. This implies forgoing all animal materials, such as fur, wool, silk, or leather. All of these animal-based materials have ethical, sustainable, and non-animal alternatives.

Taking the right steps towards a more sustainable and conscious lifestyle doesn’t have to be complicated! In this article, you’ll see how easy it is to embrace vegan fashion.

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What is Vegan Fashion?

Vegan fashion refers to clothing and accessories that are produced without using any animal products or by-products, which means no animals are killed or exploited during the manufacturing process.

There is a growing awareness that animals are living beings who have feelings and deserve to be treated with love, compassion, and respect and not simply to be killed for their skin. But the fact that a brand is tagged vegan doesn't necessarily mean that it is sustainable or cruelty-free.

Vegan Copper Cuff Bracelet

 

Where Do Vegan Materials Come From?

Vegan fabrics like cotton and linen are naturally vegan because they come from plants. There is also a whole range of vegan alternatives to leather, from cork to leaves and pineapple. Many brands are also focusing on upcycled fashion and giving a new life to different products, such as car tyres and seatbelts.

 

Is Vegan Fashion More Sustainable?

The positivity of ethical vegan fashion is indisputable. There are vegan materials that are better for the planet than others, without having a destructive impact on animals. Nonetheless, it is crucial to remember that not all vegan fibres are good for the environment.

Vegan fashion does not always mean sustainable fashion. Synthetic vegan alternatives for leather and suede, such as PVC and PU, are largely available but they are not necessarily environmentally friendly.

Plastic-based synthetic fabrics are also vegan. But how sustainable are they for the environment? Washing synthetic clothes can deposit millions of microplastics into our waterways, which can cause significant harm to both animals and humans.

When purchasing clothes, you should always take into account if they are not only vegan but also sustainable and ethically made.

How To Make The Best Choice When Buying Vegan Clothes?

When shopping for vegan clothing, always go for sustainable fabrics such as linen and organic cotton, hemp, Tencel, or linen. As for accessories, choose wood, natural rubber, cork, and natural fibres. Try to forgo any oil-based materials such as PU, polyester, polyamide, nylon, and PVC, which discharges microplastics into the environment.

There have also been exciting technological advancements in the textile industry, such as mushroom leather and micro silk, banana and orange fiber, cactus leather, and other bio-based vegan leather alternatives.

 

 

Some Of Our Favorite Vegan Fashion Brands

will be displayed below, but make sure to visit our brand directory to discover all brands available at Velvety. Most of them 100% vegan.

 

Earth-Fire Jewellery

Silver Blueberry Leaf Pendant By Earth Fire Jewellery

Earth-Fire Jewellery is a handmade, sustainable jewelry brand created by Renae, who makes each piece in her home studio in Melbourne, Australia.

With a focus on sustainability and ethical practices, she creates environmentally-conscious jewelry designs using reclaimed metals. Every piece is thoughtfully handcrafted into a treasured memento – a gift to be cherished.

 

 

Velvet Heartbeat

Sevigny - Cactus Leather Crossbody Vegan Bag

Velvet Heartbeat is New Zealand owned and made, and uses 100% vegan materials to create beautiful bags. Their key materials are plant-based such as cactus leather and pinatas, as well as dead stock, re-purposed or vintage materials. Velvet Heartbeat is PETA Approved Vegan and carries a New Zealand-Made guarantee, which means their goods meet the requirements of the Fair Trading Act for Country of Origin labeling.

 

 

Humankind

Humankind Cross Over Slides Black With Strap

Designed by Debbie in Australia, the founder of Humankind. These sustainable and ethically made vegan sandals are the result of her first vegan shoe collection.

They are made In Portugal under European Union employment, discrimination, and health & safety laws. 10% of the profits go to a non-profit organisation that cares for sick, injured and abused animals in India.

 

 

Keeper Denim

ORGANIC DENIM ELWOOD SKINNY ANKLE INDIGO By Keeper Denim

Keeper Denim is a women-owned, women-run, and women-designed sustainable and ethically-made denim brand. Their jeans are designed to be stylish without causing harm to the environment or the people involved in making them. 

The brand's manufacturing facility in Melbourne, Australia is certified by Ethical Clothing Australia (ECA), and they are also Climate Neutral certified. For each pair of jeans sold, Keeper Denim donates $5 to Water.org, a non-profit organization that provides access to safe water and sanitation to families around the world.