In recent years, we have often heard about vegan and cruelty-free fashion.
But do we know exactly what it is, and why do we need to talk about it?
The fashion world is always abreast of the times: changing at an accelerated pace to adapt to new trends while dictating changes in consumers’ lifestyles. Fashion is reorganizing itself to become more and more sustainable, an almost obligatory choice for companies that aspire to have a competitive advantage in social and economic terms. In fact, consumers are now willing to choose brands that make a positive impact on the planet over others that do not yet.
This is because, despite the fact that until now a less-than-ethical reality has been offered in the fashion sphere, there is now readily available information. In fact, thanks to the daily use of social media and the Internet, there is a greater awareness and need for change.
Cruelty-free literally means” without cruelty.” With this in mind, let’s ask ourselves a simple question: why bring animals to live in extreme conditions, just so that we can wear a fur coat or a pair of leather shoes, when today there are viable vegan and sustainable fashion alternatives?
Some examples of incredible innovation can be considered plant-based materials (such as fruit, wine, grain, cork, or paper scraps) that visually and to the touch offer the same sensations as pure leather while being environmentally friendly.
Which brands are committed to animal welfare?
There has been a decisive shift in the approach to sustainability, starting with high-fashion brands such as Versace and Armani, all the way to retail chains such as Zara and H&M.
The commitment to the realization of more sustainable realities can be seen in the many innovations we are constantly witnessing. Here are some of the most famous examples of brands that are adopting vegan and cruelty-free fashion: H&M with the creation of “Bionic,” a dress made from plastic waste collected from the sea; Stella McCartney and Adidas with completely vegan shoes; Nike with the creation of a new material that reduces the environmental impact by 75% (when compared to their usual products); up to the Fashion Pact, a pact signed by more than sixty leading global fashion and textile companies that commit to reducing their harmful practices towards the environment.
LAV (Anti-Vivisection League), on the other hand, provided us with very interesting data regarding the new buying habits of consumers, who are much more likely today to wear garments created from materials alternative to leather.
Where to buy Cruelty-Free garments?
Today, converting to sustainable fashion is not difficult. Just use a search engine to find stores, both physical and online, that are committed to animal and environmental respect. It is important to check that the garments we buy carry Animal Free Fashion, PETA, and Fur Free certifications.
Made in Italy always stands for excellence. The Quagga brand, for example, has obtained Icea certification, attesting that all their fabrics and padding come from recycled material. Also, worth mentioning is the company Tu&Tu, whose selected use of plant-based materials causes a reduced environmental impact.
The fashion world has always been in a constant state of change. Fortunately, although at a slower pace, sustainable innovations also seem to be showing results.
As consumers, it is our duty to be up-to-date on the changes that companies are adopting to help the planet, and it is important to choose to buy vegan and sustainable fashion. Thanks to the vast amount of information we are constantly exposed to, keeping informed and on track is no longer so difficult.
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Other option of vegan fashion
