In the world of stereotype vegan fashion that contains hemp trousers, shapeless beige-looking tops, and boring monotone outfits – if you believe this, change that mindset, you are mistaken. Vegan fashion is one of the fastest growing industries right now, and is more predominant than it was a decade ago.
You may now be able to find stylish, quality, and contemporary – Vegan Fashion – in mainstream stores. No more are you restricted to only niche brands that are only relatively popular in the industry.
What Does Vegan Fashion Actually Entail
For a form of fashion/ ‘style’ to be vegan, it must not contain any leather, suede, wool, or silk. It must not contain anything that is derived from an animal. Keeping that in mind, it does eliminate a decent amount of contemporary fabric in the fashion world today.
But it does allow and open the door for a wide variety of innovative alternative materials that have not been commonly utilized in the past. These include plant-based leathers, real synthetic materials that work, and modern day innovative materials that are designed to work better than most present day contemporary materials.
When it comes to the quality of the vegan fashion, the quality can vary from brand to brand. Vegan fashion is constantly innovating and changing for the better, and in this world, you have to know what you are looking for.
Other Vegan Leather Options
Improved vegan leather is new and more presentable than older styled vegan leather which was essentially plastic. It looked and felt like plastic, and the quality of the brand was overall very sub-par.
So, Keep the brand and quality of the new era of vegan leather in mind when second glancing the brand to know what you are looking for.
Vegan leather has recently improved. It’s made with materials like Piñatex (a leather-like material made with pineapple leaves), leather cork, and leather made with apples. They are designed like the real thing. They feel real, and with wear, they feel like real material without looking fake.
Of materials made to feel like leather, mushroom leather, made with mycelium, is the most fascinating. It’s pricey, but durability and mushroom leather goes the distance.
That said, inexpensive vegan leather is PU with a marketing change. It’s improved, but is still vegan leather.
Where to Really Shop
Highstreet Options
Retailers like H&M, Zara and ASOS have vegan ranges, but the quality is inconsistent and sometimes mostly fake.
Specialist Brands
Veja, Matt and Nat, and Stella McCartney are expensive but reputable in vegan fashion.
Smaller brands also exploring. There’s a whole realm of independent designers creating vegan fashion that does not seem to try too hard to be ethical.
Second-Hand:
Vintage and second-hand shopping is a good match for vegan fashion as well. The cheap synthetic textiles produced in the last few decades are of worse quality than synthetics produced in earlier decades. Old polyester dresses, jumpers made from acrylic from the 70s, and nylon jackets; they’ve all lasted a long time for a reason.
Shoes Are No Longer a Problem
Vegan shoes used to be terrible, uncomfortable and ugly (or both).
Now there is proper choice. Major brands, such as Adidas and Nike, have vegan trainers, and there are also vegan boots that don’t look like they are meant for hiking, and even wearable vegan heels.
Dr. Martens makes vegan versions of their classic boots, and they’re not cheap, but they last. Vegan Doc Martens look like the real leather versions, and for a good reason, they have a cult following.
The main problem with vegan shoes is breathability. Leather breathes. Synthetic materials do not, which means your feet will sweat. It is worth investing in better quality vegan shoes with some sort of moisture-wicking lining.
Bags and Accessories
One area where vegan style and design innovation really shine is in vegan bags. You can find vegan bags in pretty much every style: crossbody, clutches, backpacks, and totes.
It’s hard to believe, but cork bags can be really class. They’re Light and durable and, like some leathers, develop a nice patina over time.
Canvas bags are the obvious choice, but they’re not always the best. They stain and lose shape too easily.
Look for vegan bags with structured designs that aren’t too flexible. If there’s a design that is too stiff and requires leather to give it support, the vegan version will almost definitely flop.
Coats and outerwear
For a while, winter coats without wool or down meant you’d freeze. Not anymore, thankfully.
Synthetic insulation has improved a lot and you can find vegan coats that are just as warm as down-filled. Brands like Wuxly and Save the Duck are specialized in this.
The downside is that they are often more bulky and it is less space efficient than down that compresses to be very small. If storage space is a factor, that is something to keep in mind.
When trying to find lighter outerwear like waxed cotton or padded jackets there are many choices that do not need any animal products like leather, and they are all fine.
Evening and Formalwear
This one’s more difficult, as silk drapes and shines in ways that are difficult to mimic. There are vegan silks, but it is not the same.
That all said, it is true that there are vegan options for formalwear. There are satin polyester mixes, chiffon, taffeta, and many more. There are nothing short of elegant vegan fabrics.
The options extend beyond casual clothing. Smart trousers, cocktail dresses, and dresses for weddings are all available to you.
What of sweaters that aren’t made of animal products?
For lighter sweaters, cotton knits are fine. If you are looking to keep warm, you are looking for bamboo, acrylic, or cotton blends.
Acrylic gets a bad name but it is actually quite nice in higher qualities. It retains the shape well, stays clean easier, and does not pill at a rate that cheap wool does.
Bamboo is lovely for loungewear as it is softer but it is less durable and less practical for everyday.
The truth is wool is quite effective in its purpose. Vegan alternatives are getting better, but still aren’t the same. If you’re in need of maximum warmth, you may have to add more layers.
Animal Product-Free Jewellery
Many tend to forget the amount of animal products that get incorporated within the construction of some jewellery. While pearls may be the more notrable example, there are also bone, horn, and silk thread beads.
Finding animal-clothing-free jewellery means you have to check materials for horn and bone. Most metal, glass, wood, and resin options are good. However, leather cords, silk tassels, and pearl details need to be changed.
The good news is that a lot of jewellery is sometimes just naturally vegan. You just have to be more careful with your purchases.
The Price of Vegan Fashion
The answer is sometimes yes and sometimes no. Well-made, high-quality vegan fashion is sometimes the same price as, or more than, traditional styles. The materials are not as common, production is often smaller, and the brands charge appropriately.
On the other hand, fast fashion, vegan garments are often of poor quality. And quite cheap. Perhaps too cheap to be made ethically.
Like any other fashion, you get what you pay for. If you buy cheap vegan garments, expect them to fall apart as quickly as other cheap, conventional, animal-exploiting garments. Quality vegan garments will be worth the investment.
Vegan Fashion Care
Each type of material calls for a different care approach. Vegan leather does not require conditioning, while real leather does, but it can dry out and crack.
Most vegan fabrics can be machine washed, which is quite a convenience. Careful handling is usually necessary for wool and silk.
The biggest concern is some synthetic fabrics tend to hold on to odors more than natural fibers. Therefore, that vegan leather jacket might require more airing out than a real leather one.
Is it More Sustainable Actually?
That depends on what you are comparing it to. Vegan doesn’t automatically mean sustainable.
Vegan leather is plastic. It’s made from fossil fuels and when it wears out, it isn’t biodegradable. Not great for the planet.
On the more positive side, plant-based alternatives like Piñatex and cork are biodegradable and made from waste which is environmentally friendly.
The case made for sustainability on vegan fashion does not heavily relate to the environment, but more to the welfare of animals. Those are two separate issues.
What to Avoid
If it does not explain what the vegan leather is made from, it is most likely cheap PU, and not worth it.
Very cheap vegan shoes will fall apart quickly and hurt your feet. Either spend a little more money or stick to fabric canvas trainers.
Clothes thinking they’re the best in eco fashion. Cover me in silly eco fads. They are usually cheap material, so they expect you to wear and throw away in a month.
The Vegan Clothes Reality
Vegan Fashion has come a long way, but it’s not perfect. More materials are still not as good as their animal substitutes, and that’s just the way it is.
But it’s getting better. Every year better fabrics and more designs are released.
5 years ago, options available today such as styling a full outfit that looks good and is animal product free, were trending. Vegan fashion has come a long way
Getting Started
No need to throw away everything you have and start over. Wasteful and silly even.
When you want to replace a piece, just get the vegan version. The choice is growing, clothing, shoes, bags, everything is getting easier to find.
