Guest post by Krystal Camilleri

What comes in your mind when someone tells you they’re vegan? You assume that it means they avoid consuming animal meat. Well, veganism is not just an eating habit—it is an entire lifestyle. A vegan lifestyle is the path towards sustainable living. The key to a vegan lifestyle is living a cruelty-free life that includes protecting the environment and completely eliminating meat from your diet and from your wardrobe.

Innovations in the textile industry have made it convenient to ditch animal-derived fabrics such as wool and choose more sustainable and environment-friendlier options. This has significantly helped in embracing the vegan lifestyle. Unfortunately, there are some vegan fashion brands that endorse themselves as vegan and cruelty-free, but in reality, they aren’t. However, we’ve compiled a list of fabrics to help you build your sustainable vegan wardrobe:

Organic Cotton

Conventional cotton is harmful to the environment as well as the farmers due to the harmful chemicals that also lead to significant health issues. Many children are also forced into labor to contribute to the global conventional cotton supply. An alternative to conventional cotton clothing is organic vegan cotton clothing. Not only is organic cotton cruelty-free, but it is also grown without the use of harmful chemicals. Many fashion brands are manufacturing vegan shirts using organic cotton. Not using chemicals protects the ecosystem of the area where this crop is grown. Organic cotton also helps improve the quality of the soil and uses less water. This fabric, unlike other vegan materials, is easily washable, fast-drying and soft to touch. You should definitely add more organic cotton clothing to your wardrobe.

Soy-Silk and Peace Silk

If you’re vegan, you’re most definitely familiar with soy and tofu. Soy-silk is a fabric that is silk-like, produced from the soy residue that remains after the production of tofu. It is a great alternative to silk. It drapes like silk,is durable like cotton, and it is as soft as cashmere – making it all the more suitable sweaters and knitwear. Soy-silk is also called ‘vegetable cashmere.’ Most importantly, it does not involve the abuse of any animals.

Another alternative to silk is called Peace Silk. This silk is manufactured from the cocoon of the silkworm once it has been completely abandoned. No insects such as moths or worms are harmed in the process. This fabric is also free from chemicals and is biodegradable.

Linen

You are probably familiar with ‘flaxseeds.’ Linen is a fabric that is generated from the reed of a flax plant. It is a sustainable option that has been manufactured in Europe for thousands of years. Linen is a durable material that becomes stronger and softer after being used. Unlike wool, linen dries sooner and is also non-allergenic. It also uses considerably lesser pesticides and fertilizers compared to other crops. The best thing about this fabric is that it is recyclable as well as biodegradable. It is also great because it doesn’t require chemicals and is resistant, durable and super soft.

Hemp

Hemp is a plant-based fiber that can be easily grown on a marginal piece of land. It is beautifully soft and has great environmental benefits. Hemp is grown without the use of pesticides or fertilizers; hence, it is completely organic. Since the roots of the plants are 3 or more feet into the ground, they prevent soil run off. This material is also durable and biodegradable, which is why it is perfect to add to your sustainable vegan wardrobe.

Recycled Nylon and Polyester

Let’s face it, conventional synthetic fabrics are not environment friendly. However, you can find more recycled options that include using fabric waste or old garments to recycle them into new pieces. For garments such as swimwear, opting for recycled materials is considered somewhat feasible as organic materials degrade way too quickly underwater. Recycled polyester is made from polyester fiber that is gained from recycled plastic bottles.

Sustainable Vegan Leathers

Leather is a gorgeous material but due to the significant harm that it causes to animals, we need alternatives. Some vegan alternatives are pineapple leather, kombucha leather and cork leather. Pineapple leather is produced from the leftover leaves after fruit-farming. Cork leather is very similar to normal leather, but it is produced from cork bark and is a good vegan option for footwear and bags.

Lyocell

Lyocell is made from wood pulp. It is produced using the same chemicals. This fabric is sustainable, biodegradable and recyclable. It is a great alternative to silk and is naturally wrinkle-free. It can also be woven to mimic the qualities of suede,wool and leather.

Modal

This fiber is manufactured from wood pulp. In this case, the wood pulp needs to come from a sustainable source. Modal is a type of Rayon that is made from the fiber of beech trees that is renewable. It is also referred to as a natural synthetic. The fabric created from modal has a smooth texture and even after repeated washing, it successfully retains its original shape, size and condition.

Nullarbor

Also referred to as Nanolloose, this fabric is produced using bacteria that ferment liquid coconut waste into cellulose. Coconut fiber is used to create a material similar to rayon that is made from trees. The production of this material requires very limited water, land and energy usage. The fabric tends to be very soft and warm. It is a great option for manufacturing vegan shirts.

Opting for a cruelty-free wardrobe protects animals, humans and the environment. Adapting the vegan lifestyle has become much easier as more and more people are leaning towards it. Organizations have started opening vegan food outlets and manufacturing vegan fabrics. Since we’re already leaning towards sustainability, incorporating these fabrics, instead of conventional ones into our wardrobes, can help the environment greatly.

 

Author Bio:

Like most vegans, Vegan Scout founder Krystal Camilleri has an intense desire to empower humans to embrace a vegan lifestyle and create a cruelty-free, sustainable future. While living in North Queensland, Australia (aka Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest territory), and operating a boutique marketing agency, Krystal set out to develop a brand with a purpose. Vegan Scout have a wide range of vegan women’s clothing as well as men clothing. It is a brand that was kind to the planet that supported her values and had the potential to accelerate one of the most important social justice and environmental movements of our time – veganism. From the food we eat, to the clothes we wear, to the products we buy and the businesses we support, every choice we make is a statement.