Vegan fashion means clothing, footwear and accessories designed without animal-derived materials or components. It goes beyond simply replacing leather. A genuinely vegan fashion product needs to consider materials such as leather, wool, silk, fur, feathers, and also less obvious defines veganism as seeking to exclude animal exploitation and cruelty, as far as possible and practicable, including for clothing.
What makes Fashion Vegan?
When people hear “Vegan fashion”, they often think only about vegan leather. But a fashion product can contain animal derived components in places that are not immediately visible.
For example, The Vegan society notes that adhesives, dyes, linings, threads, treatments and even some finishes can potentially involve animal derived materials.
This means vegan fashion is about looking at whole product, rather than simply replacing one material.
Is Vegan Fashion the same as Cruelty-Free?
Not necessarily.
Cruelty-free generally refers to avoiding animal testing, while vegan standards also address animal-derived ingredients and materials. A product can therefore be cruelty-free without being completely vegan.
For Consumers looking for greater certainty, third part certification can be useful. The Vegan society’s vegan trademark checks product against standards covering animal derived ingredients and animal testing. Its certification currently covers more than 70,000 products worldwide, including clothing and other fashion categories.
What materials are used in Vegan Fashion?
Vegan fashion can use many different materials, including cotton, linen, Jute, cork, recycled fibres and plant-based leather alternatives.
However, “Vegan” does not automatically mean “Sustainable.”
Some vegan leather products are from synthetic polymers such as PU, while others incorporate plant fibres agricultural residues. Their environmental performance can therefore differ depending on their composition, manufacturing process, durability and end to life options.
Where does Plant-based Leather fit in?
Plant based leather is one route within the broader world of Vegan fashion.
At SriJeevanam, we use plant-based material made with upcycled agricultural residue, along with a bio-based adhesive and other formulation components, to create leather-free everyday accessories.
Alongside plant-based leather alternatives, SriJeevanam also works with jute and other natural fibres, bringing traditional materials, into contemporary accessories.
The bottom line
Vegan fashion is more than “faux leather.” It means considering whether the materials and manufacturing of a fashion product avoid animal derived components and animal testing according to the relevant standard.
And while vegan fashion can provide an alternative to animal derived materials, vegan and sustainable are not interchangeable terms. Understanding what a product is actually made from is the better way to make an informed choice.
