We need to explore depth because it is an integral part of the minimalist vegan lifestyle. Nevertheless, we are sure that it will be found for you. That’s why we partner with Summer Edwards, an author and development model consultant who is going to give us some useful tips on what kind of vegan textiles to look for when buying.

The desire for a vegan lifestyle eliminates a number of fabrics in your wardrobe. Fortunately, there are many viable alternatives for creating your wardrobe. These are not ordinary cotton and synthetic fabrics, but harmful substances for the environment and the people who produce them. Unfortunately, many brands position themselves as these and are absolutely safe.

This is a huge amount of vegan text that is truly ethical. Here are my recommendations for textiles.

1. Organic cotton

Ordinary cotton is the dirtiest crop in the world, which means that farmers and the environment are exposed to harmful chemicals in huge quantities, which have serious consequences for their health. To avoid harmful effects, make sure that your cotton clothing is organic.

2. Lyocell and Modal

Lyocell and modal are fibers made from wood pulp. They use chemicals in production, but do not contain harmful solvents, and production processes are closed. However, it is important that this mass comes from an ethical source. To verify this, we are looking for a modal. Chinese and Indonesian modals contribute to the destruction of tropical forests in Indonesia. Tensel is a certified form of lyocell that is guaranteed to be made from ethical wood pulp. Bamboo is also a great sustainable culture. Viscose is another way to convert wood pulp into textile, but into unused harmful solvents, and chemicals that are not used and are not reused. Viscose (bamboo or viscose) is not environmentally friendly and should be avoided.

3. Flax

You are probably very familiar with flax seeds. Flax is a textile that is made from flaxseed. It is traditionally European and Japanese. However, Chinese linen uses the usual convenience and has an increased negative impact on the environment, so it chooses good quality European or Japanese bedding. This is very important when creating your wardrobe.

4. Hemp

Hemp is another great plant fiber with significant environmental benefits. It can be grown on marginal lands. Hemp is beautiful and soft and is gaining ever-increasing popularity.

5. Soy silk and peace silk

Soy silk is a silk-like fabric made from soy residues left over from tofu production. However, formaldehyde, which is a known carcinogen, is used in its preparation. If you are specifically looking for a silk alternative to traditional fabrics, then this is a smart option. Search for him. Some vegans are also comfortable wearing Peace Silk. This silk is made from a silkworm cocoon. Peace Silk is mined in the wild, not on farms.

6. “Skin” from pineapple and other vegan “skin”

Normal “vegan skin” is a toxic textile that produces harmful chemicals during degradation. Thus, many vegan brands present it in this way. Fortunately, you do not need to buy PVC. The “skin” of pineapple is made from leaves left after growing fruits, and is completely biodegradable. It was pretty accepted.

Choosing vegan products

Now, more than ever, people prefer to wear clothes free from animal exploitation. It is never too late to get rid of clothing of animal origin. Here’s a very quick and easy guide to help you identify materials that don’t fit in your closet.

Leather

Leather is skin of animals such as cows, goats, pigs, kangaroos, ostriches, cats and dogs. Often, leather items are not marked accurately, so you won’t know exactly where they come from or from whom they are made. Alligators, crocodiles, snakes, and other reptiles are considered “exotic” in the fashion industry – they are killed, and their skins are turned into bags, shoes and other things.

What’s wrong with it?

Most of the skin is made from cows slaughtered for beef and milk, this is a related product of the meat and dairy industries. Buying leather goods you share the responsibility for the destruction of the environment caused by the meat industry, and pollute the land with toxins used in the tanning process. Whether it’s cows, cats or snakes, animals should not die so people can wear their skin.

What to use instead?

Most major brands now offer faux leather, ranging from those available. Look for the vegan leather markings on clothing, shoes, and accessories. High-quality artificial leather is made from many different materials, including microfiber, recycled nylon, polyurethane (PU) and even plants, including mushrooms and fruits. Bio-leather grown in laboratories will soon fill store shelves.

Wool, cashmere and angora wool

Wool is the wool of a lamb or sheep. Angora is the wool of an Angora rabbit, and cashmere is the wool of a cashmere goat.

What’s wrong with it?

Sheep grow enough wool to protect themselves from temperature changes, and they don’t need a haircut. Sheep in the wool industry has ears pierced and tails chopped off, and males are neutered — all without pain relief. Wool also damages the environment by polluting water and contributing to climate change.

What to use instead?

Today, on the shelves of many stores you can find sweaters not made of wool. 

Fur

Fur is the coat of an animal still attached to its skin. For the sake of fur, they kill bears, beavers, cats, chinchillas, dogs, foxes, minks, rabbits, raccoons, seals and other animals.

What’s wrong with it?

Each fur coat is the result of the suffering and death of a particular animal. It doesn’t matter if they killed him on a farm or in the wild. Animals on fur-farms spend their entire lives in cramped, dirty wire cages before being strangled, poisoned, electrocuted or gassed. Regardless of whether they are chinchillas, dogs, foxes or raccoons – these animals can feel pain, fear and loneliness, and they do not deserve to be tortured and killed for a jacket trimmed with fur.

What to use instead?

Many brands recently stopped using fur.This archaic and brutally mined material begins to remain in the past.

Silk and fluff

Silk is fiber that silkworms weave to make their cocoons. Silk is used to make shirts and dresses. Down is a soft layer of feathers on bird skin. Down geese and ducks are stuffed with down jackets and pillows.

What’s wrong with it?

To get silk, manufacturers brew worms alive inside their cocoons. It is obvious that worms are sensitive – they produce endorphins and have a physical response to pain. In the fashion industry, silk is considered the second worst material from an environmental point of view, after the skin. Fluff is often obtained by painfully plucking live birds, as well as a by-product of the meat industry. No matter how silk or feathers were obtained, they belong to the animals that made them.

What to use instead?

Nylon, milkweed fibers, cotton, Ceiba fibers, polyester and rayon are not associated with animal abuse, are easy to find and are generally cheaper than silk. If you need a down jacket, choose a product from bio-down or other modern materials.