Animal materials in fashion have grown controversial and even looked down on since the beginning of the 21st century. In the past, the use of animal materials in clothing has decimated animal populations, bringing many species close to extinction.
Unsurprisingly, this has led many within the industry to look for alternative materials. Many researchers have turned to plant-based alternatives such as organic cotton, linen, bamboo, fruit, mushroom, and cactus leather, as well as hemp. Others have looked towards synthetic materials like faux fur and other recycled materials. While innovative, the current drawbacks still have many consumers skeptical.
Cost is the largest hurdle for consumers interested in vegan clothing. This is mainly due to how high it costs fashion brands to make more sustainable clothing, and the research that goes into finding better alternatives.
Additionally, many synthetic and semi-synthetic materials can also, unfortunately, generate toxic waste from production and leave microplastics. While materials that are completely plant-based are exempt from giving off microplastics, they can often be sprayed with chemicals and pesticides.
Consumers can be relatively safe by purchasing organic materials, but that hardly saves anyone from high costs. This has led to many going back to animal materials, not because they don’t care about harmful practices that have been used before, but because people genuinely believe that it’s better for the animal.
Currently, vegan alternatives have yet to surpass the quality and longevity that animal materials have in clothing. Additionally, the environmental impact of producing vegan materials has, for many, led consumers not to bother.
That said, it doesn’t mean that progress in vegan materials needs to be stopped. Instead, more research needs to be done for vegan materials to be at the level of or even surpass non-vegan materials.
