January 2020

Fashion is awesome in so many ways, and it is as diverse as its wearers—it’s a wonderful way to express your personality, create art, play around with aesthetics, or emphasize beauty. The flip side is that fashion hardly considers animal welfare and well-being.
However, there are options to ensure your passion for fashion does not harm animals - here is what to watch out for.

animal-considerate fibres

As a rule of thumb, when shopping, go for animal-considerate fibres.
Usually, natural alternatives and unique faux materials that imitate animal products can be found.
Avoid fashion items that contain animal products, such as Angora →, Down →, Fur →, Leather → or Wool →.
Browse thevegansociety.com’s list of cruelty-free labels and options.

declaration of animal-considerate fashion

Since 2011, it has been mandatory in Europe to identify (on the item’s label) any non-textile part of a product that is of animal origin. The product label is required to display the wording: "Contains non-textile parts of animal origin".

where to shop FOR animal-considerate fashion?

Some organisations and activists provide listings with fashion labels that avoid materials derived from animal origin. For a first overview, check, for example, peta.org’s list of companies that refuse to sell Angora or fashion blogger Justins’s list justinekeptcalmandwentvegan.com.

ANGORA ALTERNATIVES

Angora has a fluffy feel; it absorbs sweat and keeps us warm. Angora can be used in fashion items such as hats, socks, scarves, tights, and pullovers.

WHAT IS ANGORA?

Angora hair comes from the coat of downy domestic angora rabbits.
Angora fibre is distinct from mohair, which comes from the angora goat.

ANGORA ALTERNATIVES

The market provides a vast range of alternative materials. Just check the individual item's label.

Tencel, for example, is breathable, long-lasting, and biodegradable.
Lyocell from cellulose is similar to angora in that it is soft and moisture-repellent.
Other alternatives include polyester fleece, synthetic shearling, sisal, hemp wool, bamboo wool, linen wool, flax wool, modal, cotton flannel, viscose, and nonwoven, acrylic, or soy silks.
And check our list of Eco-Friendly Fibres → and Innovative Fibres →

DOWN ALTERNATIVES

Down is considered a primary material for many major brands worldwide, and is a feather that is commonly used in fashion and textiles, especially by brands who specialise in winter or outdoor apparel.

WHAT IS DOWN?

Down is the soft layer of feathers closest to a bird’s skin. It is a minor miracle of nature. Lightweight, with high "bulk", offers outstanding thermal insulation and so "is promoted as a fluffy insulation used in trendy outdoor wear, such as puffer vests, to luxury homewares like duvets and pillows". (Four Paws)

CERTIFIED DOWN

If you want to buy items with down filling, check them for one of the following certifications:

The Responsible Down Standard (RDS) was launched by the outdoor brand The North Face, and is now widely used in textile industry.

The industry developed the Global Traceable Down Standard (TDS) with animal welfare organisations.
The regulations are based on outdoor company Patagonia's Down Standard.

FEATHER SUBSTITUTES

Instead of down fill, buy down-free alternatives and look for terms like "synthetic down”, “down alternative”,
or “polyester fill”.

HIGH-TECH FABRICS

Check items for fills that use high-tech fabrics, like MicroMax, TCS Down Free, Primaloft, or Thinsulate. For instance, German outdoor clothing maker PYUA manufactures its clothing from recycled or recyclable polyester materials and runs its own item-return system. Also, brands like Bleed, Vaude, or Patagonia sell jackets and coats with recycled polyester fill.

NATURAL FIBRES

Other alternatives are natural down-free fillings, like cotton, hemp, kapok, (wild) silk, or tencel.
Learn more about other Plant Fiber → options.

FUR ALTERNATIVES

Fur or fur trim is magnificent, soft, and warm – blissful to the eyes and skin alike.

WHAT IS FUR?

Fur is the fine, soft, hairy covering or coat of mammals.

FUR DECLARATION

Because it is often hard to distinguish real fur from good quality faux fur, any non-textile part of animal origin included in a product must be identified (on the item’s label). So, if a fashion item contains fur, this must be declared. Since 2011, European product labels have been required to display the wording: "Contains non-textile parts of animal origin".

ETHICAL FUR: ROADKILL

Check out petitemortfur.com for fur accessories made from the casualties of our roadways. Items from the one-of-a-kind business legitimise the term "ethical fur", as luxurious pelt pieces are fashioned from recycled American roadkill. The company works with animal control and the Boston Highway Department to be notified whenever an animal is run down. She skins the animals and leaves everything but the fur in the woods for other animals to eat. (...) Each of the furry fashion items has a silver badge indicating what type of animal was used and on which road it was found.

FAUX FUR

As a rule of thumb, avoid fur and opt for faux or fake fur. Faux fur is made to imitate real fur.

HOW CAN WE DETECT FAUX FUR?

"The best way to tell is by parting the fur. Real animal fur will have skin at the base where the hair is attached, whereas fake fur will have a fabric mesh. Another clue is the ends of the hair strands, which will be blunt (like they have been cut) if they are fake. Real hair usually tapers to a point". (Claire Bass – HSI UK)

Or, check the Faux Fur Guide at the hsi.org (Human Society International UK - HSI UK) website.

FAUX FUR SHOPPING GUIDE

Listed below are some examples of faux fur producers.
There are likely many more companies on the market that are selling fluffy faux fur – browse the web

Charly Calder faux fur aims to give wearers the feeling of luxurious fur without harming any animals. (International)
Fabulous Furs: “The World's Finest Faux Fur” (International)
Helen Moore: Faux fur hats, faux fur scarves, faux fur throws, faux fur cushions, faux fur hot water bottles, faux fur accessories – everything handmade in the UK. (International)
Shrimps is a faux fur fashion label. (International)
Stella McCartney: Anything you can imagine in the way of fashion, including faux fur coats – cruelty-free. (International)
Sweet Herb: Faux-fur capes, boas, stoles, vests, hats, and bridal accessories. (International)

WHERE TO SHOP ANIMAL-FRIENDLY FUR

"The international furfreeretailer.com identifies retailers that have committed themselves in writing to withdrawing from the sale of fur. The program is an initiative of furfreealliance.com, an international coalition of more than 40 leading animal and environmental protection organizations worldwide, representing millions of supporters worldwide". (Four Paws)

LEATHER ALTERNATIVES

Leather is durable, versatile, tough-as-nails, fray-proof, has an inviting texture, a luxurious feel,
and high-quality leather is said to improve with age.

WHAT IS LEATHER MADE OF?

Leather is traditionally made of cowhide, pig hide, or goat, sheep, dog and cat skin; but the skin of exotic animals, such as elephants, zebras, alligators, ostriches or kangaroos, is also used. "The most ‘luxurious’ (i.e. soft and thin) material, however, is supplied by newborn veal calves and sometimes even unborn calves taken prematurely from their mother’s wombs". (Caroline Lennon – One Green Planet)

LEATHER ALTERNATIVES

However, you do not necessarily have to do without the leather look when choosing a leather-free alternative.
Many materials replace leather, some even in appearance, feel, and properties. These materials are marked as fake, faux, pleather, and synthetic leather, although leatherette is the most common name in the furniture industry.
To help inspire you, we’ve listed some further examples of a “leather-like look” below:

CORK LEATHER

Cork leather is made from the cork oak's phellem layer of bark tissue. Cork leather is waterproof, renewable (since the trees grow back within a few years) and completely recyclable. Many shops use cork for bags, shoes, wallets, and belts.
The blogger ethicalelephant.com provides some examples of brands that use cork material.
Just browse the web for “cork products”, and you will find a variety of brands listed.

Lab-grown leather production - Andras Forgacs, founder at Modern Meadow at Ted Talks

FRUIT LEATHER

fruitleather.nl is developing an eco-friendly process that converts leftover fruit into a durable, leather-like material.

LAB-GROWN LEATHER

modernmeadow.com grows leather directly from living skin cells.

MUSHROOM LEATHER

Companies like mycoworks.com grow leather from mycelium, the dense root structure of mushrooms. "It is the skin of the mushroom". (Phil Ross)

PINEAPPLE LEAF FIBRE

Made from pineapple leaf fibre,
Piñatex (ananas-anam.com) is a branded natural and sustainable material that can be used as an alternative to existing textiles and leathers.

FURTHER LEATHER ALTERNATIVES

To help inspire you, we’ve listed some further ideas below:

Cactus Leather
eluxemagazine.com, for example, lists a variety of leather alternatives.
Check items made of recycled plastic, like those from mattandnat.com.
Check out recycled plastic items like those from mattandnat.com.
Try bags, wallets, and shoes made of Plant Fibres →, such as cotton or bast.
For further inspiration, check our lists of Eco-Friendly Fibres → and other Innovative Fibres →

WOOL ALTERNATIVES

Woolly clothes keep us warm in winter and provide coolness in summer.
Wool is of natural origin and is a renewable fibre.

WHAT IS WOOL?

Wool is obtained by shearing sheep, goats, or other animals.

SUSTAINABLE WOOL

When buying woollen garments, look for certificates proving that the wool has been obtained through species-appropriate farming methods.
Check the label for the following seals and visit the brand's website for further information.

KBT (CONTROLLED BIOLOGICAL ANIMAL HUSBANDRY)

The kbT label stands (German for “kontrolliert biologische Tierhaltung”) and indicates conformance with European Regulations on Organic Farming.
This German certificate validates that the animals are held in species-appropriate husbandry conditions. It assures that sheep are kept on grazing lands and allowed to reproduce naturally. Interventional procedures such as tail docking or mulesing are prohibited.

The transportation of the animals is also regulated, and feeding them genetically modified plants or using fattening aids is prohibited. In addition, pesticides and insecticides are consistently avoided—this applies to the animals and the soil on the grazing lands.

GOTS (GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARDS)

To be eligible for the global-standard.org GOTS seal, manufacturers must source 70% of their wool from kbT-certified farms. Products that contain 95% kbT-wool are labelled organic.

RWS (RESPONSIBLE WOOL STANDARD)

responsiblewool.org certificate is primarily focused on cruelty-free wool production and does not address such aspects as using chemicals. However, products with this certificate are made with mulesing-free wool.
The Responsible Wool Standard is an independent, voluntary standard. Farms with this certification have ensured that their sheep are treated in a manner that respects their five freedoms and has also ensured best practices in the management and protection of the land. Certification ensures that wool from certified farms is correctly identified and tracked during processing.

NATURTEXTIL iVN CERTIFIED BEST

naturtextil.de, developed in 2000 by the International Association of Natural Textile Industry, is currently the strictest certificate on the market in the ecological textile production supply chain. The requirements for this standard are more stringent than the current legal mandates within the European Union.
The IVN Certified BEST certification aims to implement a standard within the textile industry that includes oversight of the entire textile chain in terms of ecological accountability and social accountability.