Vegan fashion is essentially clothing and accessories with cruelty-free sources, such as fake leather or synthetic leather. This means that animals don’t get hurt in the creation of vegan leather products. Furthermore, the process of creating synthetic leather doesn’t take a toll on the environment.
The vegan leather trend is growing exponentially in the fashion industry. That’s why nations like the US, UK, Germany and France are investing a lot in the vegan market. As indicated by the London-based retail innovation organisation Edited, before the end of January 2019, there was a 5 per cent expansion in vegan leather items in the US. The US may have fallen behind in demonstrating such massive development with just 11 per cent expansion year-on-year, and as of now, it harbours an altogether more prominent grouping of synthetic leather products compared to other countries.
France demonstrated a 12 per cent development. However, the style capital Paris’ commitment to turn the fashion capital into sustainable fashion by 2024 will undoubtedly build the contribution of synthetic leather items in business sectors. The vegan leather trend is blatantly visible in Denmark as well. According to Edited, the country has seen a 320 per cent expansion in vegan clothing.
Brands Working for a Vegan World:
The demand for vegan fashion has led to retailers putting resources into brutality-free leather and suede choices. The number of shoes portrayed as vegan’ expanded by 27% in the US and 36% in the UK.
Brands like Gucci, Chanel, Burberry and Versace have promised to include more vegan fashion in their collection and keep their catwalks fur-free. This idea sets a model for the luxury fashion industry to follow. The US has witnessed a 36% decrease in the use of ladies’ fur in recent times, which means that more and more people have switched to a vegan lifestyle. Leather and skins are so far unmistakable in the luxury market, and are inseparable from originators, for example, brands like Hermes and Louis Vuitton who have built their legacy on leather products.
Moreover, at present, womenswear luxury items in the US and UK market are portrayed as ‘vegan’, ‘non-leather’ and ‘fake leather’. These options make up just 2.3% of ladies leather merchandise for luxury marks and are driven overwhelmingly by Stella McCartney, who has offered cruel free alternatives from brand initiation.
While pure leather is still a massive part of the business, some contemporary luxury brands, such as Nanushka, are furnishing clients with excellent fake leather choices.
Similarly, the creation of silk is also a form of animal cruelty. While vegan silk isn’t yet as standard as vegan leather, cruelty-free options in contrast to customary silk are beginning to pick up footing. Peace silk is obtained from the cocoon of the hatched moth. At present, there is no alternative to this option. In the US, brands like Stine Goya and Mother of Pearl are making items containing peace silk. On a different territory of advancement, Stella McCartney is among those exploring other avenues regarding plant-based silks, while new businesses, for example, Cocoon Biotech and Spintex Engineering, are working with reused silks.
The Road Ahead
A ton has been said and done. For brands to precisely follow vegan fashion ideals, certain principles must be set up. In response to demand for ethical products, The British Retail Consortium, the exchange body for stores and online venders in the UK, has set down new rules to guarantee that vegan styles are genuinely 100% free of animal products.
It is an essential advancement in giving synthetic leather an identity of its own. Otherwise, it’s generally known to be famous for wiping out well-known materials like leather and fleece from the market. Organisations must look at each material utilised in items including fixings like mixtures, colours and waxes.
Other countries looking to integrate the vegan lifestyle in retail should focus on policies and measures to keep the process transparent and free of uncertainty.