5 easy swaps for ethical fashion seekers
Shop cruelty-free this Veganuary
Veganuary is upon us and for those wanting to take that stylish leap into the cruelty-free fashion world, look no further, as I am here to give you a helping hand.
Hemp Horizon
Hemp T-Shirt 2 Tone £48.50, hemphorizon.co.uk
This super stylish hemp T-shirt is much more sustainable than cotton alternatives. Hemp is a naturally hardy plant, so resists pests well, requiring far fewer pesticides and herbicides. To produce 1kg of hemp, between 300 and 800 litres of water are needed. For comparison, 1kg of cotton takes a whopping 20,000 litres of water!
Komodo
Skinilla Modal Turtle Neck Long Sleeve Top in Acid
£47.50, immaculatevegan.com
An essential for your winter wardrobe is Komodo’s Skinilla top made from lightweight LENZING™ Modal material. It’s great for layering and keeps you comfy while staying stylish and sustainable. LENZING™ Modal fibres exhibit high flexibility, resulting in a naturally soft quality to the textile. It has the same fabric properties as bamboo but with a more sustainable manufacturing method.
Stella McCartney
Melina Koba FFF Coat £2,375, stellamccartney.com
Pioneering the world’s first faux fur made using plant-based ingredients, Stella has created a bio-based fur by KOBA®, which pushes the boundaries of sustainability and her own signature Fur Free Fur. The new fabric consumes up to 30 per cent less energy and produces up to 63 per cent less greenhouse gases than conventional synthetics.
Beyond Skin
Indie Black Lace-Up High Heel Vegan Boots
Usually £290 on sale now £160, beyond-skin.com
Check out these military-style hiking boots, adorned with gold hiking eyelets. Hand crafted in Spain from luxurious soft, black vegan leather, the shoe is set on a thick high block heel with a chunky tread sole. Featuring a black faux shearling cuff and black laces, these also have an inside zip for full ease. Wear with everything from cropped tailored trousers to silky midi dresses. You’ll look fantastic and be proud for what they stand for.
Will’s Vegan store
Vegan Leather Skirt
£80, wills-vegan-store.co.uk
How stunning is this wrap sarong-cut skirt made from soft and buttery Italian vegan pleather? Beautifully stylish and versatile, it can be dressed up or down taking you from day to night. It’s ethically produced in small batches in a small family-owned factory in Tuscany Italy.
Contrary to what the majority think, leather certainly isn’t a by-product from the meat industry. Every year, the global leather industry slaughters more than a billion animals. Most leather is chrome tanned — all wastes containing chromium are considered hazardous. Studies have shown that even finished leather products contain high levels of toxic hexavalent chromium, considered to be a strong allergen that can lead to skin reactions like eczema.