Guest post by Krystal Camilleri, animal rights campaigner and owner of the vegan boutique Vegan Scout

Vegans believe that humans, as a species, do not have a right to exploit and kill animals for their own means. Vegans support this cause in a practical sense by consuming a plant-based diet to avoid the brutal killing and exploitation of animals for meat, eggs and dairy. They also avoid animal cruelty by wearing clothes made from organic fabrics that don’t involve the use of animal skin or products. 

So practicing veganism doesn’t only involve a temporary change in your diet. Instead, veganism is about adapting a lifestyle choice that is as morally ethical as is practically possible. 

So, what clothes find space inside the vegan closet?   

What do Vegans Wear?

How many times have you seen a person wear a vegan slogan t shirt and wondered what it’s made from? There are high chances that the vegan slogan t-shirt you saw was made from an environmentally friendly and cruelty free organic fabric. 

In general, vegan clothing includes garments which do not contain any animal products at all. Below is a list of the natural fabrics which are highly popular among vegans for good reason. 

Linen

Linen is a well-liked fabric. The best part about it is that it gets softer and stronger with more usage, so it is a long-lasting fabric. Linen can also absorb moisture levels up to 20% of its weight before it starts to feel damp. This makes linen a perfect choice for vegans who live in high humidity areas. 

Moreover, unlike fabrics like wool (which involve animal cruelty), linen dries much more quickly. If you wear clothes made from linen, they easily release moisture into the air and keep you dry and cool. This is why linen is a very popular fabric in countries with hotter weather conditions. Linen is also known to be a non-allergenic fabric so it’s ideal for people with sensitive skin. 

Another impressive fact about linen is that it is environmentally friendly to grow. Linen crops actually require fewer fertilizers and pesticides to grow. The fabric is also biodegradable and recyclable. All these qualities make linen a perfect vegan fabric.

Organic Cotton

The next type of fabric that finds its way inside the closet of a vegan is organic cotton. Organic cotton is cotton which is grown without the use of harmful chemicals. As a result, it does not have any damaging effects on the environment. 

Moreover, growing organic cotton is actually beneficial for the environment because it improves the soil quality and uses less water. Organic cotton is also known for being easier to clean than other fabrics. It dries faster and also feels lighter and softer against your skin. Many vegans prefer to invest in clothing made from organic cotton as this fabric is well worth the price. 

Lyocell

Lyocell is a type of material which is made from wood pulp. It is produced through an environmentally friendly manufacturing process which re-uses production chemicals. This fabric is also easily recyclable and biodegradable which add to the reason of its appeal to vegans. Its incredible wicking abilities also keep the skin dry.

The best part about the fabric lyocell is that it is naturally wrinkle-free. Lyocell is a great alternative to silk because it feels very soft and also drapes well. Furthermore, lyocell can be easily washed or dyed. Lyocell is a fabric that can be made available in any colour you like, plus can be woven to mimic the qualities of various fabrics like wool, leather, and suede. 

SeaCell

The next popular vegan fabric worth mentioning is SeaCell. SeaCell is manufactured by grounding dried seaweed and introducing it into cellulose fiber. This material has a very porous structure which makes it a great breathable fabric. It is also a perfect choice of fabric for keeping yourself cool in the summer and warm in the winter. 

The brown algae that is a component of this material is very good for the skin. It has many important benefits like activating cell regeneration, re-mineralizing skin, reducing inflammation and soothing itchiness. These skin benefits are the reason why vegans like to make this innovative fabric a part of their wardrobe. 

Modal Made from Beech Tree Fibre

Modal is a type of rayon fabric which is made from renewable fibre of beech trees. As the base material in this fabric is obtained from a natural source, this fabric is considered to be a ‘natural synthetic’.

Another notable quality of this fabric is that it does not need to be ironed. Modal is a wrinkle-free fabric and it is often referred to as “artificial silk.” It is a very silky and smooth fabric and generally drapes and dyes well.

Unlike fabrics like wool, the structure of modal fabric does not get weakened by exposure to water. This means clothes made from modal fabric will retain their shape and strength long into the future. 

Last Few Words

Choosing environmentally friendly fabrics in clothing is not as easy as it seems. 

Certain well-known fabrics that contain animal products, like leather, fur and wool, are easy to avoid. However, other fabrics may contain animal components that are not very simple to identify. It’s important for clothing brands to responsibly include detailed labels on their garments. Labels detailing the fabric’s components will help consumers make wiser decisions that are aligned with their vegan ethics. 

We hope this article has helped to introduce you to some new and impressive vegan fabrics. The next time you head out to buy a team vegan shirt, remember to double check that the fabric it’s made from is also vegan. This way, you can proudly wear your vegan shirt knowing you played your part in a kinder world and a cleaner environment. 

Author Bio:

Like most vegans, Vegan Scout founder Krystal Camilleri has an intense desire to empower humans to embrace a vegan lifestyle and create a cruelty-free, sustainable future. While living in North Queensland, Australia (aka Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest territory), and operating a boutique marketing agency, Krystal set out to develop a brand with a purpose. Vegan Scout have a wide range of vegan women’s clothing as well as men clothing. It is a brand that is kind to the planet that supported her values and had the potential to accelerate one of the most important social justice and environmental movements of our time – veganism. From the food we eat, to the clothes we wear, to the products we buy and the businesses we support, every choice we make is a statement.