1. What is Vegan fur?
Vegan fashion (also know as cruelty-free fashion or animal-friendly fashion) coming from veganism. As a lifestyle and philosophy, it becomes more and more popular in recent years. We believe after the pandemic of covid-19, it will be growing faster.
According to the definition of PETA, the world largest animal rights organization, vegans don’t wear leather, fur, silk, or wool.[1]In this way, we can say faux fur not equal to vegan fur.
In US and Europen markets, the mainstream faux fur products include acrylic/modacrylic, polyester, wool, viscose/rayon etc. Therefore, wool faux fur fabric which is produced by wool fibre is not a vegan item. The rest, acrylic/modacrylic faux fur, polyester faux fur, viscose/rayon faux fur all belong to vegan fur.
2. What is sustainable fashion?
PETA is limited to animal rights, but their vaganism theory is in the lake of environment perspective. For example, they accept conventional chemical fibres as vegan, regardless of their impact on the environment. While sustainable fashion is readily been accepted by more people.
Sustainable fashion (also known as eco-fashion and ReFashion) concerns more than just addressing fashion textiles or products. It addresses the whole system of how clothing is produced, who produced it how long the life span of a product is before it reaches the landfill. This means dealing with interdependent social, cultural, ecological, and financial systems.[2]
3. Sustainable faux fur includes animal fibre products - wool faux fur.
As a very important step, choosing sustainable fabric is the beginning. Sustainable textiles are materials derived from eco-friendly resources which are natural & organic, recycled, biodegradable, or from bio-based fibres. Following 4 running items can be classified as sustainable faux fur:
3-1. Wool faux fur: wool is biodegradable and renewable.
3-2. Rayon (viscose) faux fur: Cellulose is the world’s most important bio-based polymer by far, it is biodegradable as well.
3-3. Recycled polyester faux fur: rPET stands for recycled polyester, it’s a member of the polyester family and made from both post-industrial and post-consumer waste. rPET fibre is strong and achieves almost the same quality as virgin polyester. Our mill has certificated by GRS - Global Recycle Standard.
3-4. Bio-based faux fur: Sorona® is the DuPont brand name for renewably sourced PTT (polytrimethylene terephthalate). 37% of the polymer is made using annually renewable plant-based ingredients. Compared to Nylon 6 it uses 30% less energy and releases 63% fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Sorona® for faux fur is made with 70% to 100% bio-based Sorona® polymer fibres.
Figure 1. 100% recycled polyester faux fur fabric by Easetex.
4. Vegan sustainable textiles is the future
Vegan and sustainable fashion is a very important part of ethical fashion, they are sustainable textiles that eliminate all animal-based products.UK-based fashion brand Stella McCartney is the leader of vegan sustainable trends.
It follows from above that rayon (viscose) faux fur, recycled polyester faux fur and bio-based faux fur are eligible vegan sustainable faux fur fabrics.
Please share this article if you find it helpful.
References:
[1]https://www.peta.org/about-peta/faq/what-is-a-vegan/
[2]Fletcher, Kate (2008).Sustainable fashion and textiles: design journeys (2nd ed.). London; Washington, DC: Earthscan.ISBN9780415644556.
As an expert in sustainable fashion and vegan textiles, I am deeply immersed in the intricate details of cruelty-free and eco-friendly alternatives within the fashion industry. My wealth of knowledge extends beyond the surface, incorporating a profound understanding of the principles driving these movements.
The concept of vegan fur, as outlined in your article, is a critical facet of the ethical fashion landscape. Notably, the distinction between faux fur and vegan fur is elucidated by PETA, the globally renowned animal rights organization. According to PETA, true vegan fur excludes materials such as leather, fur, silk, or wool. It is imperative to recognize that faux fur is not universally synonymous with vegan fur. In the US and European markets, mainstream faux fur products encompass various materials, with only acrylic/modacrylic, polyester, and viscose/rayon qualifying as vegan fur. Notably, wool faux fur, derived from wool fibers, does not align with vegan principles.
Moving on to the concept of sustainable fashion, the multifaceted approach encapsulates considerations beyond animal rights, incorporating a holistic view encompassing environmental, social, cultural, and financial dimensions. While PETA's veganism theory may overlook environmental implications, sustainable fashion addresses the entire life cycle of clothing, promoting eco-friendly resources and production processes.
Your article highlights sustainable faux fur options, emphasizing the importance of choosing fabrics with minimal environmental impact. Sustainable textiles fall into categories such as natural and organic, recycled, biodegradable, or bio-based fibers. Noteworthy examples of sustainable faux fur include wool faux fur (biodegradable and renewable), rayon (viscose) faux fur (derived from cellulose, a biodegradable material), recycled polyester faux fur (made from post-industrial and post-consumer waste), and bio-based faux fur (such as Sorona®, a renewable polymer with plant-based ingredients).
Undoubtedly, vegan and sustainable fashion is a pivotal aspect of ethical fashion. The article cites Stella McCartney, a UK-based fashion brand, as a leader in vegan sustainable trends. The conclusive message is clear: rayon (viscose) faux fur, recycled polyester faux fur, and bio-based faux fur stand as eligible options within the realm of vegan sustainable faux fur fabrics.
In conclusion, the information provided in your article forms a comprehensive guide for individuals seeking to align their fashion choices with ethical and sustainable principles. It is crucial to disseminate this knowledge to promote awareness and foster a shift towards more conscious and responsible consumer behavior.
