YOUR GUIDE TO “WEARING IT KIND” BECAUSE TOGETHER WE CAN FIX FASHION AND PREVENT ANIMAL CRUELTY.
Animal cruelty comes in many forms and you might, unknowingly, be contributing to it by supporting certain practices, and industries, and buying certain beauty products or certain clothing items. Last week we looked at the products you use and the testing of those products on animals during the manufacturing process. You can read more about that here and how to make ethical choices when choosing beauty products.
This week we will look at your wardrobe and whether it is cruelty-free. With so many animal-friendly options available, and more on the market every day, it’s never been easier to have a cruelty-free wardrobe. Use the WEAR IT KIND GUIDE from FOUR PAWS to find out how you can show more compassion in fashion.
This article is a reprint from 16 November 2022.
IN 5 SIMPLE STEPS YOU CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE!
(by FOUR PAWS)
- Look for more sustainable plant-based fibers like organic or recycled cotton and hemp – these fabrics are gentle on the planet and can be found in so many fashion items.
- Go for products made from waste! Discarded fishing nets, plastic bottles, recycled polyester, and even used coffee grinds are being made into versatile, durable, and luxurious fabrics turning one of the world’s greatest problems – consumer waste – into one of its best solutions!
- Love pre-loved! Wearing it Kind doesn’t have to break the bank. Try the 80:20 rule – 80% pre-loved and 20% new and kind.
- Be a protector of oceans, rivers, and lakes every time you wash! Use a washing bag in your machine to capture nasty microfibres and put a stop to harmful microplastic pollution.
- Speak up! Already have a favourite brand you wish was doing more? Let them know! Your voice may be just the motivation they need to make their products better for animals, people, and the planet.
LET’S LOOK AT SOME ITEMS IN YOUR WARDROBE
OUTDOOR & ACTIVEWEAR
More people are wearing outdoor and activewear than ever before but, while it may be practical and super comfortable for us, it can have disastrous impacts on animals and the environment. That is unless we Wear it Kind. By choosing recycled plastic, you’ll not only look fabulous, but you’ll also feel fabulous in the knowledge that you’re helping to clean up our oceans and earth!
Look for items made from recycled plastics like Econyl – a warm, adaptable, and innovative product made entirely from the ocean and landfill waste! It’s made by recycling industrial plastic, fabric scraps, and discarded or lost fishing nets. Once abandoned at sea, these ‘ghost nets,’ last indefinitely, trapping and killing animals such as turtles and dolphins.
COATS & KNITWEAR
Recycled polyester, hemp, and organic or recycled cotton are great options here. If you want the look and feel of cashmere, but without the cruelty, go no further than vegetable cashmere, a revolutionary product made from soy pulp, a by-product of tofu production.
For those choosing to continue to wear wool, at minimum ensure it is mulesed wool-free, and don’t forget what’s inside the coat, Primaloft® is a great alternative to down for keeping you warm!
Mulesing is a cruel practice in which lambs have large strips of skin cut away from their buttocks without necessary pain relief. For a long time, this happened because of the (wrong) assumption that a sheep produces more wool if it has more skin folds. Check out the Brands Against Mulesing list to see which brands are taking a stand against mulesing.
SHOES, BELTS & HANDBAGS
The range of animal-friendly leather alternatives on the market is growing all the time, here are just a few of the fantastic plant-based options now available.
- Piñatex is a durable, leather-look product made using pineapple leaves. Developed in Italy, this material is growing in popularity with designers, retailers, and customers alike, and, in 2019, department store H&M released a range of boots and jackets using Pinatex and other sustainable materials.
- Apple leather – another innovative product to hit the market. Made from the leftovers from apple harvesting, apple leather is strong, hypoallergenic, and 100% biodegradable.
- Mushroom, or mycelium, leather is another new kid on the block that could be set to change the future of fashion. While it’s a relatively new technology, prototype mycelium leather bags, belts, and other accessories were released in 2019 and we could soon see a lot more of them.
- For coffee lovers, there could soon be another way to enjoy the bean we love so much! Pioneered by a German company, Nat-2, coffee leather will turn a waste product from the global coffee market into a versatile and sustainable alternative to animal leather.
- Cork is another more sustainable alternative that not only looks great and performs well but is gentle on the earth. It’s no surprise that a growing number of brands are turning to cork for their designs and more of it is appearing on our shelves.
And this is just the beginning of an ever-expanding list! With more humane alternatives reaching the market all the time, keep a look out for leather made from coconuts, cactus, and teak leaves, just to name a few.
BASICS AND WARM WEATHER
- Linen has long been an ethical choice for the fashion-conscious. It has strong sustainability credentials and, unlike many clothes available in stores today, it can be worn time and time again and still look great!
- Lyocell and modal fabrics, generally known by the brand name Tencel, are a newer alternative. Made by processing wood pulp, lyocell, and model fabrics are super soft and resist wrinkling.
- Microsilk is a revolutionary product that captures the unique properties of silk without harm to any animal. By studying the way spiders spin silk fibers, Bolt Threads, the creators of Microsilk, have imitated nature to create stunning fabrics favoured by ethical fashion designers such as Stella McCartney.
- When looking for hats that offer sun protection while looking great with any outfit, look no further than jute, straw, and organic cotton. These three materials are versatile, durable, and kind to the plant.
Find brands that are kind to all living beings via our friends at the brand rating platform Good On You.
The demand for ethical fashion is higher than ever! Animal-friendly fashion helps us to #LiveKinder because we don’t need to harm animals to look good. You can help, by taking the pledge and demonstrating the huge support for animal-friendly and sustainable fashion! Will you WEAR IT KIND? You can sign the pledge here.
Next week we will look at why adoption is the only ethical option and what you need to know when adopting an animal.
WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER, DO BETTER!
