You must Avoid these Six Non-Vegan Products Used in the Fashion Industry

Most of us are familiar with the vegan diet that has been a rising lifestyle in recent years. This is not only due to the objection toward exploitative uses of animals but also the desire of consuming more vegetables for a healthier lifestyle. Today vegans’ perception also moved to clothing they wear. Many vegans look at how ethically crafted their clothes are. Since animals can be cruelly treated, the source of clothing materials it is equally important. Ethical vegan clothing is more than just a fashion statement now, it’s a way of life.

As veganism is becoming increasingly popular, more producers are creating innovative and stylish animal-free clothing and accessories to meet the growing demand. But a lot of high street options still contain animal products, from obvious ones like a feather to more surprising ones like glue. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of materials we need to look for, and avoid it over a period of time.

Animal Glue

Many consumers would be surprised to learn that some fashion items including bags and shoes are made of animal glue. Animal-derived glue is often made by boiling animal’s connective tissue or bones, so even if you buy leather-free shoes, they may still not be vegan friendly. No animal-derived materials will be used in producing Rising Vegan clothing and accessories. Our products are always cruelty-free and vegans just love to wear them.

Feathers

While some animal products such as fur are apparently cruel, for many consumers, feathers may seem relatively benign. This is not the case: whether it is used as a stuffing in down jackets or as a trim, it is necessary to obtain feathers from animals.

Wrongly-labeled 'faux fur'

In recent years, a long list of fashion designers has pledged to ditch fur from their collections. As more and more people come to terms with the horror of fur farming, many choose fake fur, a much kinder and more stylish alternative. While faux fabrics provide an ethical alternative, when selecting items marked as ‘fake’ it is important to be careful.

Wool

While many consumers choose to avoid wool, many others are confused as to why it is an unethical product.  After all, sheep needs to be sheared. But it is the process of breeding and shearing sheep that an increasing number of consumers object to, with undercover footage showing how brutal it can be. Most sheep shearers are paid in proportion to how fast they work thus speed is the key when it comes to removing the wool from the animals, and they are often brutally handled.

Silk

Often considered a luxury fabric, few know the grim reality behind the production of silk, which is made of a type of silk caterpillar called Bombyx mori known as a silkworm. The complete production takes about three days, during which time between 500-1200 silk threads is produced.

PVC

Although PVC is not technically a non-vegan product, consumers who are interested in ethical and sustainable fashion should refrain from purchasing shoes, bags, or other accessories containing it. This is due to the negative environmental impact of the production and use of this material, which is considered to be the most toxic of all plastics. Moreover, it does not break down naturally, causing major problems for the planet.

Although sustainable alternatives to some of the other animal products, such as wool, fur, may be difficult to find but are out there. The reason that this can be such an issue is that so many alternatives involve polyester – and we don’t want to see more plastic in our wardrobes. Alternatives are out there, however, with seedpod fibers now commonly used as faux-silk.