ethical
sustainable
vegan fashion
SHOP KINDLY
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VEJA WHITE VEGAN LEATHER SNEAKERS
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TRETORN NYLITEPLUS SNEAKER
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HOKA BONDI CUSHIONED VEGAN RUNNERS
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WILL'S BIODEGRADABLE WHITE SNEAKERS
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DA VINCI APPLE SKIN CLOGS
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SQUARE-TOE MARY JANE FLATS
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ROUND DIPPED-TOE CHUNKY HEEL
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POINTED-TOE SLINGBACK HEELS
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SHOULDER BAG IN PEAR GREEN BY CO-LAB
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HANDMADE FRENCH GIRL WICKER BAG
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THE MINERVA BAG IN BLUE BY LIS BONNE
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RAFFIA BAG IN BROWN BY MANEBI
Materials to
embrace
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This material is made largely of cacti grown in Mexico, where its makers support natural biodiversity. No trees have been cut down for the plantation, which relies on rain rather than irrigation.
The material is made up of dried cactus powder, backed on woven material, including recycled material options, and coated with polyurethane to make a more sustainable leather alternative.
Source: Collective Fashion Justice -
The most common alternative to cow skin leather today is polyurethane (PU) leather. While conventional PU leather has a far reduced impact compared to animal-derived materials, it is not the solution for truly sustainable fashion, as it is requires fossil fuel extraction
However, this material can be made from recycled sources, which assists with reducing waste and making use of already available resources.
Source: Collective Fashion Justice -
Becoming more and more commonplace today, apple-based leather is made from the seeds, skins and cores of apples that are otherwise discarded by apple juice producers.
This discarded organic matter is dried and crushed into a fine powder, which is then blended with polyurethane to create a 50% apple material.
Source: Collective Fashion Justice -
There are plenty of ways cotton can be sourced sustainably. There’s recycled cotton, rain-fed cotton, organic cotton, and cotton grown in a more regenerative way.
Cotton is a plant. It is biodegradable and easy to recycle. It is soft, and can be used to create beautiful knitwear, felted jackets, suiting and so on. It comes in both light and heavy weights.
Cotton farming has developed massively in past years.
Source: Collective Fashion Justice -
Hemp is another plant-based fibre that can be used not only to create knitwear, but also tweed.
Hemp is breathable, sturdy, and doesn’t require the use of pesticides in its growth. It is also land-use efficient, as all plant fibres are when compared to animal-derived materials.
Hemp can be blended with cotton for extra softness.
Source: Collective Fashion Justice -
Tencel is a form of lyocell fabric, meaning it is produced from wood pulp transformed into a cellulose. Unlike other cellulose materials, Tencel is certified to be from sustainably sourced, fast-growing eucalyptus trees - not old growth forest, or other unknown sources.
Tencel is produced in a closed-loop system, so 99% of the water and chemicals used to produce the material are reused. The material is silky smooth and thermo-regulating.
Source: Collective Fashion Justice
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This material is completely plastic-free, made from natural inputs. It is certified as 100% bio-content through the USDA bio-preferred program.
While different Mirum materials vary based on the application and use they are designed for, black Mirum used for handbags, for example, is made of a blend of FSC certified natural rubber, natural colourants like charcoal, natural fillers like clays, plant-based oils and waxes.
Source: Collective Fashion Justice -
Cork trees are harvested of their bark without the tree being cut down. This helps the trees sequester more carbon.
Thinly cut slices of cork are placed together on a fabric backing, such as cotton, and heat is applied to set the sheets together. This is a totally biodegradable material.
The cork can be embossed to mimic reptilian patterns.
Source: Collective Fashion Justice -
Pineapple fruit farms generally discard the leaves of the fruit plant, but this material makes use of their fibres, offering additional income to farming communities.
The pineapple leaf fibres are coated with a water-based PU resin that is REACH compliant. The material is called Piñatex, and is partly biodegradable in controlled conditions.
Source: Collective Fashion Justice -
Mimicking the ingenuity of spiders, this new silky material begins as a protein produced through fermentation using yeast, sugar, and water.
The protein is isolated, spun into fibre and made into a material that has the potential to biodegrade.
Source: Collective Fashion Justice -
Orange fibre silk is a new and upcoming material made from citrus juice byproducts. Because it is a cellulose material made entirely of citrus, it is completely biodegradable.
The fabric is soft, silky and lightweight. It can be blended with other materials, and be opaque or shiny.
Source: Collective Fashion Justice
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Bamboo is fast-growing and can be harvested without the plant being pulled out of the ground, requiring replantation. Can be used as a compassionate alternative to silk!
Source: Collective Fashion Justice
Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals Media