Page 106 - Vegan Food & Living (February 2020)

Balance your blood sugar

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T e myths be h i n d

v g a n f a s h i o n , decoded
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refused to work with fur and leather since the chemicals, which harms the environment,
Sascha Camilli start of her prolific career. By creating the first threatens workers and can even be harmful

delves behind vegan ‘It Bag’ – the Falabella – she proved to the health of those who wear it. The 2017
that vegan fashion can be desirable for its Pulse of Fashion Industry Report found cow
the stereotypes of style factor alone. One of the most-Googled ‘It leather to be the most polluting fabric in the
animal-free Bags’ ever, the Falabella has been seen on the industry, closely followed by silk, with wool
arms of Charlize Theron, Jennifer Garner and

in fourth place. We know of the awful effects
fashion: what’s true Kate Hudson, to name a few. of plastic on the planet – and the report
More animal-free brands have did feature acrylic, nylon and
and what’s false? followed Stella’s stylish lead: polyester, but cow leather
London-based faux-fur and other animal-derived

egan living is finding its way into the brand Shrimps has become fabrics place much higher
mainstream, and more people than a London Fashion Week due to the environmental
Vever are aware of what it means to be favourite using their cost of raising animals
vegan... When it comes to food. Other aspects colourful, high-quality for human use.
of veganism are less prominent, even if the faux furs to catapult vegan
trends for vegan beauty, travel and fashion fashion onto the radar MYTH 3:
mean that more people are considering of the style set. Russian
leaving animal ingredients out of their lifestyle designer Vika Gazinskaya, VEGAN FASHION

altogether. New vegans often find themselves known for her playful, feminine IS SYNTHETIC AND
battling myths and stereotypes about living a aesthetic, and edgy UK label Felder MADE FROM PLASTIC
life free from animal exploitation – and when Felder are other examples of brands Truth: We used to have to face the
it comes to fashion, there are a number of championing a fur-free and leather-free unpleasant choice of either wearing the skins
myths and misconceptions to clear up. From approach on international catwalks. of dead animals, or having to drape ourselves
material matters (far from all vegan fashion is in planet-destroying plastic. This is no longer
is great, but dressing vegan is more versatile MYTH 2: the case: today’s vegan leathers are made from
made of plastic or synthetics) to design (boho
natural, sustainable and sometimes renewable
than that), there are matters to be set straight VEGAN FASHION IS BAD FOR and biodegradable materials such as apples,
when it comes to dressing without cruelty. THE ENVIRONMENT pineapples, mushrooms and cork. You might
Truth: Certain fashion industry insiders often have heard people claim that leather is a
MYTH 1: like to point out that meat by-product, which is often false because
like to point out that
animal-derived materials
skins can account for up to 50% of an animal’s
animal-derived materials
are more
VEGAN are more ‘natural’ than economic value, so leather is a lucrative
vegan fabrics. This is a
FASHION vegan fabrics. This is a industry on its own. But Piñatex, a leather-like

double error: fi

rstly, vegan
ISN’T double error: firstly, vegan material made from pineapple leaf fibres, is
isn’t synonymous with
STYLISH isn’t synonymous with an actual by-product, as pineapple leaves are
Truth: The first synthetic (see right), a waste product in the pineapple industry.
synthetic (see

and perhaps and secondly, animal Brands like Hugo Boss, Trussardi and H&M
most common skins are far from have used Piñatex in their ranges, making it
misconception being natural. They are the vegan leather replacement that is leading
is that those who only natural while still the way towards the mainstream.
buy vegan fashion worn by their original Another fabric making waves is apple
do so because it’s owner, and as soon as leather, which is made from apple pulp,
vegan, not because the animal is killed, a seeds, cores and other waste products from
it looks good. The very unnatural process the apple juicing industry. It’s used by brands
best example to prove begins: in order to keep leather like ByBlanch and Alexandra K to create
this wrong is one set by the queen of ethical and fur from biodegrading in the wearer’s accessories. And leather isn’t the only area of
fashion – Stella McCartney, who has wardrobe, the industry treats pelts with harsh progress – Italian brand Orange Fiber have
106 VEGAN FOOD & LIVING OCTOBER