Vegan Clothing
What do we mean when we say vegan clothing? Can clothing actually be vegan? Yes it can!
Many animal products are used to make clothing, shoes, and other accessories for human consumption and these, like the parts that are eaten, are not considered vegan.
Vegan clothing also means that there is concern and attention paid to how the clothing has been manufactured. Vegans do not want to purchase products whose manufacturing involves the exploitation of workers, especially children.
And vegans are generally not too happy about wearing pesticides or chemicals either. Polar fleece, for example, is made from petroleum - eeew! - and conventional cotton uses about 24% of all pesticides made in the entire world!
Not to worry though! There is a rapidly growing market in organic vegan clothing and fabric. You'll find those fabrics described below, but first:
What kind of clothing is not vegan?
- Leather and Suede - This one is pretty obvious. Leather is made from the skin of cattle and is used to make shoes, belts, wallets and handbags.
- Wool - But wait, they don't kill the sheep to get the wool, right? Actually, sometimes they do. And during the shearing process the sheep are often severely and agonizlingly mutilated and mistreated. Millions of lambs die each year from exposure after being sheared too early.
- Silk - And why is silk not considered vegan clothing? Silkworms are just bugs right? Well, vegans don't even want to exploit bugs. And to tell the truth, the silk-making process is very cruel, with every worm dying in the process by being gassed or boiled alive.
- Fur - I think this one goes without saying...
- Goose and Duck Down - Duck down is plucked from ducks killed on factory farms, which is bad enough, but geese are often plucked for their down while still alive, a process which is excruciating for them.
So what can I wear?
Fortunately there are some wonderful fabrics to choose from as you shop for vegan clothing. And designers like Calvin Klein and Versace have started working with vegan and organic fabric - the market is only going to get bigger, which means more selection for you!
Organic Fabrics:
- Organic Cotton - Organic cotton is soft, breathable, and most importantly - allergen-free and safe to bring into contact with your skin - the largest organ in your body. In addition, organic cotton manufacturing does not exploit workers or use chemicals in the dyes or processing.
- Hemp - Not only is hemp a superfood, but it makes a wonderful fabric as well. Hemp fibers are strong, and the growing and processing of industrial hemp involves no pesticides or bleaching. This means that it's great for sensitive skin. Hemp clothing becomes softer the more you wear it, is very durable and strong, and holds dye well so that the colors do not fade as quickly over time.
- Bamboo - Bamboo is actually a fairly recent development in the vegan clothing industry, but it's a very exciting one. Not only does it make a great fabric, soft, breathable (even more than cotton) and hypo-allergenic, but as a crop, it grows quickly, improves soil quality, and "breathes out" almost 35% more oxygen than most other trees. So buying clothing made from bamboo is a big, huge plus for the environment!
- Soy - Although soy has been used to make fabric in China for thousands of years, it was, if you will kindly dig this, Henry Ford who first brought soy fabric to the west. He used soy fabric to upholster the seats of his cars, and even had some clothing that was made from soy. Soy fabric is made from the leftovers of tofu production which are heated and spun into fibers. The process is completely closed so there is no pollution involved - a big plus. Soy fabric is soft like cashmere and drapes like silk. It is resistant to bacteria and is biodegradable. Soy fabric is primarily produced in China, which in this case is actually a good thing because it means the soy is not GMO!
- Peace Silk - As I mentioned above, silk is not considered vegan because the silkworms are killed during the process by boiling them alive in their cocoons or gassing them. One silk thread is then extracted from the cocoon for processing. Peace silk, on the other hand, allows the worms to live out their natural lives and emerge from the cocoons before the silk is extracted. As yet there is not much in the way of clothing made from peace silk, but there are a few items available at Aurora Silk.
Where Can I get Vegan Clothing?
- Gaiam
- This company specializes in green, vegan, and fair trade products. Their catalogue is lovely and boasts some very high quality products. Gaiam has a wonderful collection of organic and vegan clothing for women as well as many high quality health and beauty products.
- The Natural Clothing Company - This small company makes eco friendly and vegan clothing for both men and women using hemp, flax, bamboo and organic cotton fabrics. They also have a small children's collection as well as a few organic gifts and accessories. Prices are very reaonable.
- Soul Flower - Who says the 60's are dead? This is a nice, inexpensive collection of eco friendly and vegan clothing with an emphasis on tie-dye! Soul flower sells clothing for women, men, babies and toddlers. They also carry a decent line of vegan accessories and a few vegan bath products.
- Faerie's Dance - This online store has a pretty extensive collection of organic and eco friendly clothing. Slightly pricey, but some lovely selections. Faerie's Dance carrys clothing lines for women and men, and a small assortment of baby clothes.
- Rawganique.com - Specializing in products made from hemp and organic cotton, Rawganique offers an extensive, but slightly pricey line of men's and women's vegan clothing. But that's not all! They also sell other fabric products for the home like sheets, shower curtains, towels and aprons!
- Hempest - All the fabric here is made from hemp. This online catalogue has some beautiful clothing designs for women and men as well as a decent selection of accessories and hemp skin care products. Prices are moderate to expensive.
For information about eco friendly vegan shoes and accessories, Click here.
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