Fabric is a large factor in deciding what clothes to buy. It’s increasingly a factor if you’re a vegan or want to avoid animal cruelty.
Below is a list from Toad&Co of vegan and non-vegan products, either not made with animals or involving no cruelty. Remember, too, that not all vegan products are necessarily environmentally friendly.
- Organic Cotton
- Hemp
- TENCEL™ Lyocell
- Polyester
- Recycled Cotton
- Micromodal Polyester
- Elastane
- Nylon
- Non-mulesed wool *
NOT VEGAN
- Silk
- Leather
- Suede
- Furs
- Angora
- Feathers
- Down
- Wool*
Non-mulesed wool comes from sheep that have not undergone mulesing—a controversial surgical procedure where strips of skin are removed from a lamb’s buttocks to prevent fly infestation. Instead of this painful process, farmers use ethical alternatives like selective breeding to produce “plain-bodied,” or smooth-skinned, sheep.
The movement towards this ethical standard has gained significant traction globally.
The practice is entirely banned in the European Union and is generally not practiced in South Africa or South American countries like Argentina.
To ensure ethical sourcing, look for the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), the ZQ certification, or labels explicitly stating “100% Non-Mulesed Merino.”
