Member-only story
Vegan fashion has come a long way in the last few years.
It used to only be about canvas sandals, itchy hemp shirts and baggy cotton pants. Now, some of the most contemporary, stylish and avant-garde designers are ditching the fur, switching the leather and pitching the wool in favor of plant-based alternatives.
Organic cotton, recycled plastics, even mushroom and cactus leathers are making their way from the Paris catwalks to mainstream clothing chains.
Let me say that being plant-based doesn’t mean you have to follow a vegan lifestyle beyond the plate and into your wardrobe. Plant basing is a dietary choice. But I have found that what started as a menu change for my health soon opened the door to discovering the impacts of all animal products across all areas. I am now far more conscious about my greater impact on the world and, while still not calling myself vegan, that consciousness is rapidly expanding into all areas of my life.
Here are five of my favorite vegan fashion brands that not only switch up their fabrics to protect animals, they also have a global awareness of the fashion industry’s environmental impact:
VeganWear
Started out of necessity, Washington-based startup VeganWear addresses the need for high-quality, high-class accessories for the urban gentleman. Beginning with a classically-stylish briefcase perfect for the plant-based business commuter, VeganWear’s bigger-picture plan is to expand into…
