Clothing

Usually, veganism is associated with a dietary choice to not eat animal products. However, vegans seek to avoid the use of animal products in all aspects of their lives as far as is practical, and this includes clothing. In recent times, in line with the growing popularity and demand for vegan clothing, there are plenty of fashionable and high-quality vegan brands providing clothing that is animal-friendly and delivers on style. 

Not only are there entirely vegan brands, but due to the growing market, some of the more established brands such as Nike, Louis Vuitton, and Doc Martens have all begun to roll out vegan versions of their iconic pieces and new vegan styles and designs.

What Makes Clothing Vegan?

There are many non-vegan materials that are commonly used in clothing. These include leather (including suede and other varieties), wool, fur, and down. However, there a now more vegan options than ever that can replicate the look and the functionality of animal-derived materials.

There have been vegan alternatives for leather for many years now. The most commonly used materials are polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), as well as other plastic-based alternatives. These plastic-based leathers are sometimes associated with lower quality. However, as time has gone on, vegan brands have begun to perfect the use of these materials and their quality has increased as a result. 

This is especially true since the development of vegan leathers that use biomass such as vegetable and fruit waste to manufacture vegan leather. Some of these plant-based leathers now rival animal leather in terms of quality, with some being able to faze out the use of plastic completely.

Wool is another material that is not vegan-friendly. However, there are also numerous alternatives to wool, such as natural materials like cotton and linen, or manufactured alternatives like the semi-synthetic Tencel.

Other Things To Look For

Sometimes, usually with larger brands that are not entirely vegan, the glues they use for items such as shoes and bags can be from an animal source. Unlike the materials used in manufacturing, this is not usually listed on a product’s label. You may have to contact the brand or manufacturer for clarification on this. Certain inks in textile dyes may also contain animal byproducts.

Where We Can Help

Approaching clothing can sometimes be a bit daunting, especially if you are shopping on the high street or with established brands that are not entirely vegan. We are here to show you some of the best vegan clothing available today, ranging from 100% vegan brands that have over 2 decades of history, to fantastic vegan items produced by more known brands that you may have not been aware of.