The textile industry is one of the most harmful industries in the world, and it's time for us to start paying attention. By incorporating vegan principles into our fashion choices, we can make a real difference for animals, the environment, and our health.
What is vegan fashion and why should we care?
Vegan fashion is clothing made without any animal products. This includes materials like leather, wool, silk, and even down. Some people might be surprised to learn that a lot of fashion items, such as purses and shoes, are made with animal-derived materials. By choosing vegan fashion, you can avoid supporting the industry that relies on animal cruelty.
In addition to being ethical, vegan fashion is also environmentally friendly. The production of animal-derived materials like leather and wool requires a lot of resources and produces a lot of pollution. Vegan fashion eliminates all of that waste.
Sustainable fashion is another reason to choose vegan clothing. Many vegan materials like organic cotton and hemp are biodegradable and can be recycled. Animal-based materials like wool and silk are not sustainable because they come from animals who are killed for their skin or fur.
Most vegan brands would use either recycled materials (such as recycled plastic bottles) or vegan alternatives. You can also have a look at their certifications, such as Fair Trade, to make sure they are in line with what they say.
Vegan fashion first appeared in the 1940s, but it wasn't until the 2010s that it started to gain popularity. The increased awareness of animal rights and environmental issues has led to a rise in vegan fashion brands.
There are now many vegan clothing brands and labels to choose from. You can find everything from casual wear to high-end vegan shoes made without any animal products.
The environmental impact of the clothing industry
The clothing industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world. It's responsible for producing 1,300 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year , and that's just from the clothing manufacturing process. The dyeing and finishing of fabrics also release harmful chemicals into the air, which can have a serious impact on our environment.Not only is the fashion industry bad for the environment, but it's also very bad for the animals. The vast majority of clothing is made from animal-based materials such as wool, silk and leather. These materials are often obtained through cruel practices, such as mulesing (removal of wool-bearing skin from around a sheep's anus) and slaughtering animals for their skins.
The fashion industry is responsible for 1,300 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. Photo from Unsplash.
Animal welfare and the fashion industry
The fashion industry is one of the cruellest and most unregulated industries in the world. Many animals are routinely tortured and killed in the name of fashion. The use of fur, leather, wool and exotic skins in clothing and accessories is incredibly cruel and unnecessary.
Animals used for fashion include foxes, minks, rabbits, goats, sheep, cows, camels, alligators, lizards, snakes and even dogs and cats. They are often kept in appalling conditions on fur farms, where they are confined to small cages and skinned alive. Rabbits have their fur ripped from their bodies while they are still alive, and baby chicks have their feathers pulled out while they are conscious.
Leather comes from cows and other animals who are killed for their skin. The leather industry is responsible for the deaths of millions of animals every year. Cows are killed by either having a hot iron shoved into their eyes or being suffocated with a plastic bag. Not only leather encourages animal cruelty, but it also contributes to the rise of greenhouse gas emissions produced by cows.
Lambs are often mutilated without anaesthetic so that their wool can be harvested.
Wool comes from sheep who are subjected to extensive cruelty. Shearing is often done by hand which can cause cuts and other injuries. Rams are often subjected to mutilation without anaesthetic so that their horns can be removed
