As a mom, you naturally want to impart the value of compassion to your children. One way to do this is by embracing a cruelty-free wardrobe. By going vegan with your attire, you can educate them about the importance of animal welfare, all while paving the way for a more sustainable future.
Let’s look at what vegan fashion is, plus a few practical tips to help you adopt this conscientious choice.
Why Switch to Cruelty-Free Fashion?
The animal-derived clothing in your closet may seem chic, but the methods used to obtain them are far from glamorous. The grim reality is that the fashion industry is often under fire for cruel practices.
One example is the wool industry. That sweater in your closet might be your go-to, but the animal it came from had to suffer for years. Most sheep are nothing but wool-making machines, forced to live under the worst conditions while enduring daily abuse.
When you switch to vegan fashion, you take part in transforming the fashion industry. It sends a clear message to companies that today’s consumers are actively choosing cruelty-free styles. This can motivate them to change their ways and adopt more humane practices.
Beyond that, cruelty-free fashion also helps you achieve a greener lifestyle. Although vegan fashion still emits greenhouse gases (GHG), its environmental impact is lower than that of conventional options. By opting for animal-friendly materials, you make an ethical choice and lower your carbon footprint.
Flaunt Your Style with Cruelty-Free Materials
Going vegan with your clothing doesn’t mean sacrificing your unique style. Plenty of cruelty-free options are as fabulous as their animal-derived counterparts. When buying clothes, explore fabrics such as:
- Bamboo
- Cotton
- Crepe
- Linen
- Modal
- Hemp
- Ramie
- Rayon
- Soybeans
6 Tips on Embracing a Vegan Wardrobe
Going vegan with your fashion choices can be overwhelming. We’ve put together six practical tips to guide you:
1. Shop Mindfully
Green shopping habits go hand-in-hand with transitioning to a vegan wardrobe. Before you buy a new piece of clothing, ask yourself if you’ll wear it until it’s completely worn out. While many people discard their clothes after a few wears, the more responsible approach is to maximize each item’s use.
Instead of following trends, opt for closet staples such as plain shirts, solid-tone pants, and more. These items can be the foundation of your capsule wardrobe, allowing you to create timeless looks.
2. Be Careful of Vintage Finds
Thrifting is a sustainable practice, but it doesn’t always align with the principles of vegan fashion. Many vintage items are made of animal-derived materials. For example, many polos from the ‘80s feature buttons made of pearls, often extracted unethically.
This isn’t to say that you should avoid vintage shopping. You can still be thrifty to contribute to a circular economy but be mindful of your purchases. Carefully examine each piece of clothing, and give new life only to the ones that align with your cruelty-free lifestyle.
3. Buy from Slow Fashion Brands
While vegan style is mainly concerned with fabrics, it also considers the supply chain as a whole. This means it’s crucial to avoid fast fashion companies, as many have questionable practices involving poor treatment of workers, unsustainable resource use, and more.
If a garment is made of vegan materials but is produced by a fast fashion brand, think twice about getting it. Instead, support slow fashion companies that reflect your own green goals.
4. Examine Each Item’s Details
Sometimes, an item may be labeled as “vegan” when only its main material is free from animal byproducts. For instance, the label on a pair of pants might be leather, while tassels on a bag could be crafted from wool. When shopping, take the time to scrutinize each item’s details, paying attention to parts that customers often overlook, like collars and zippers.
It’s also a good practice to look for the “PETA-Approved Vegan” logo, which guarantees the product is free from animal-derived materials.
5. Continue Wearing Your Non-Vegan Clothes
Choosing vegan fashion doesn’t necessitate purging your closet of non-vegan options. In many cases, disposing of them does more harm than good. Landfills worldwide overflow with textile waste, so try not to add to that problem.
Keep wearing your non-vegan clothes, replacing them with vegan alternatives only when worn out. Or, if you’re committed to going fully vegan, consider donating your clothes to charities.
6. Extend Your Vegan Style to Your Accessories
Your accessories should mirror your commitment to cruelty-free style, from bags to belts. As you finish your outfit, choose items crafted from vegan materials such as synthetic leather, faux fur, and cork. This allows you to build a more sustainable wardrobe while showing others how chic vegan fashion can be. In that way, you can inspire others to follow suit.
Make the Ethical Choice
To impart the value of compassion to your children, consider transitioning to a vegan and cruelty-free wardrobe. In that way, you can set an example for them, demonstrating that fashion doesn’t have to come at the expense of animals. Most importantly, you’ll be able to play a part in building a sustainable future, ensuring a better world for your little ones.