Textiles

The universe of vegan fashion news is extremely broad, not only in terms of products and raw fibers, but also with regard to the expectations imposed by vegan consumers on the fashion industry. Besides the characteristic that the products are cruelty-free and ethically produced, points such as sustainability, fair trade and organic content also play an important role in the vegan fashion industry.

As of 2022, veganism is no longer limited to a diet that is free from animal-derived ingredients, but is increasingly developing into a global movement looking to implement ethical principles across all daily consumption patterns. Therefore, vegan fashion news cover a broad range of news connected to ethical standards in fashion.

Following contemporary news reports and consumer opinions, reputation and public image of the fashion industry are suffering, as the industry receives criticism for the lack of ethics through its supply chain, including controversies around exploited workers and animals, humiliated models, greenwashing, overproduction, and pollution.

In this context, vegan fashion news are looking to differentiate from major fashion news channels by placing ethics and sustainability as a top priority in their news.

Mainstream fashion is not as glamouros as it seems

As the fashion industry is a gigantic economic empire with long supply chains that include the production and sourcing of raw fibers from all over the world, as well as low-cost processing, vegan fashion news are adressing issues connected to mainstream fashion production and advertise vegan alterntives as superior option in terms of environment and animal welfare.

In reality, the appearance of luxury and a flawless world can only be maintained on the runway and store windows, while workers and animals have to suffer for the production of stylish clothes, bags, and shoes, in the background.

Image courtesy Vegan Fashion Week

Why vegan fashion matters

Many brands within the vegan fashion space are rooted in activism against the practices of mainstream fashion companies. Therefore, it is not only about vegan fibres, but about the disruption of current practices in supply chain and advertisment of fashion items.

Vegan fashion brands are on a mission to support sustainable practices and provide a positive example for pro-planet business. Within vegan fashion business, most brands are focused on the development of vegan alternatives to materials derived from animals, such as wool, leather and silk.

As more and more consumers care about sustainable business and the impact their consumption choices have on the environment, vegan fashion is able to deliver stylish and cruelty-free alternatives to animal leather, fur, and fashion products with traces of animal derivatives in dyes and glues.

Vegan fashion market and companies

The vegan fashion market is shaped by a diverse range of vegan fashion brands looking to make the world of fashion a better place for humans and animals. Particularly noteworthy are startups and companies that are rethinking fashion and deliver new approches to the value and beauty of vegan fashion.

At the beginning of 2022, Texon Vogue entered the vegan fashion news when it received its certification from the Vegan Society as a fully vegan leather alternative. Following these news, the global manufacturer is able to deliver a functional alternative for the footwear and textile industries.

While most vegan leather manufacturers are just entering the market, London-based Ananas Anam already celebrated the fifth anniversary of the commercialization of Piñatex in 2021. Made from waste pineapple leaf fiber, the brand claims that Piñatex is the most sustainable plant-based alternative to leather commercially available at scale today.

Vegan fashion week

Over the last years, many fashion shows around the world banned animal-derived fashion from its programme, as the Finnish capital Helsinki made vegan fashion news when it banned fur and leather from its show, followed by Amsterdam fashion week banning fur in 2019.

Large parts of the fashion industry are struggeling to accept the vegan course that the fashion world must take to stay relevant in future. It is undeniable that vegan fashion alternatives are on a rise, with chances for any fashion event to attract a larger amount of customers through the presentation of vegan outfit options.

However, the dream of a dedicated vegan fashion week finally came true in 2018, when the vegan lifestyle magazine “Vegan Food and Living” hosted London’s first vegan fashion show called “Bare Show”.

One year later, the first vegan fashion week was hosted in Los Angeles, organized and curated by creative director and animal rights activist Emmanuelle Rienda, founder of Vegan Fashion Week (VFW)

Vegan Fashion Week (VFW) is a global movement and professional business platform focused on the support of ethical and cruelty-free fashion. Founded in 2019, the mission of Vegan Fashion Week is to bridge the gap between sustainability and ethics across the globe.

©Fashion for Animal Kingdom & Environment

Vegan fashion ads and campaigns

Vegan fashion ads and campaigns often highlight the cruelty-free production of its products and advertise responsible fashion choices as part of a sustainable life.

For example, animal welfare organization PETA successfullly ran several fashion ads, including an advertisement featuring Joaquin Phoenix wearing a Brave Gentleman vegan suit.

Vegan fashion ads have the power to encourage people to join the vegan fashion movement and deliver meaningful messages that help to expand the vegan society. The diversity and creativity of vegan ads help to make vegan fashion news more relevant in creating high traffic and consumer interest.

Vegconomist is reporting on vegan fashion news and has readers in over 160 countries worldwide. If you want to join our vegan business community, you can subscribe to our newsletter here. You can decide yourself how often you want to receive news into your inbox.

Supplied by BioFluff

BioFluff Secures $2.5M in Seed Funding for Plant-Based Fur Alternatives

November 30, 2023

BioFluff, a biomaterials startup describing itself as the first fully plant-based fur alternative, has successfully closed its seed funding round, securing $2.5 million from leading venture capital firms, spearheaded by agrifood tech investor Astanor Ventures. Astanor Ventures has invested in over 45 agrifood companies globally, including plant-based businesses MicroHarvest, Wicked Kitchen, and Umiami. This funding marks a significant milestone for BioFluff, following a pre-seed round of $0.5 million in 2022, led by SOSV, PDS Limited & Joyance Partners. “We were impressed by the passion and determination of the founding team. Biofluff has a unique offering for the luxury industry, fashion, and textiles, which is in full alignment with the Astanor mission of a more regenerative economy,” stated Christina Ulardic, a partner at Astanor Ventures. BioFluff, …

Organisations and brands:

Astanor Ventures

BioFluff

Balenciaga Partners With GOZEN to Use Animal-Free Material Made by Microorganisms

October 6, 2023October 5, 2023

Following substantial controversy in the media since November of last year, French fashion house Balenciaga has joined forces with US biomaterials startup GOZEN to make garments from an animal-free and plastic-free material made by microorganisms. Called LUNAFORM, the material is formed when microorganisms make ultra-crystalline patterns with the aid of nutrients and natural agents. While plant-based leather alternatives are typically made from a mixture of materials, LUNAFORM comes from a single process, meaning it is stronger than most of its competitors — including animal leather. Balenciaga has used the material to design its Maxi Bathrobe Coat, part of the fashion house’s Summer 24 collection. The coat was recently exhibited at Paris Fashion Week and follows two years of collaboration between the companies, with GOZEN working …

Organisations and brands:

Balenciaga

GOZEN

kering

Global Apparal Giant VF Corporation Commits to Cashmere-Free Products

September 21, 2023

VF Corporation, the parent company of popular fashion brands Timberland, The North Face, Vans, and Jansport, has announced its decision to discontinue the use of cashmere in its products, as announced by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The company has confirmed that none of its core products across its brand portfolio currently contain goat hair, and there are no plans to introduce new cashmere-containing items. While there may still be items containing cashmere in stores, no new products will be produced using the material. Phasing out cashmere VF Corporation joins a growing list of fashion industry players, such as Victoria’s Secret, ASOS, Supreme, PINK, Le Château, and others, that have already phased out cashmere from their products. Notably, Victoria’s Secret ceased using …

Organisations and brands:

PETA

VF Corporation

Ex Adidas Designer Unveils Bag Made from Bacteria at London Design Festival

September 21, 2023September 20, 2023

Modern Synthesis, a London-based biotechnology company, has partnered with GANNI, a Danish fashion brand, to reimagine its ‘Bou’ handbag using the company’s bacterial nanocellulose material. Originally crafted from recycled animal leather, the new iteration is part of GANNI’s commitment to eliminate virgin leather from its products by the end of this year, and is being unveiled at the London Design Festival taking place until this Sunday. Founded by ex-Adidas designer Jen Keane and synthetic biologist Dr. Ben Reeve, Modern Synthesis uses a proprietary biotechnology process that transforms sugar derived from agricultural waste into nanocellulose fibers, which the company claims are eight times stronger than steel. The company joins the ranks of other biodegradable textile manufacturers like 3D-printed Simplifyber and banana-based FOReT and Rashki, who are …

Organisations and brands:

GANNI

Modern Synthesis

Modern Meadow and BASF Collaborate to Develop Innovative Animal-Free Biomaterials

July 4, 2023

Biotechnology company Modern Meadow has entered into a strategic partnership with chemical company BASF to launch a collaboration to revolutionize the materials industry. This strategic collaboration will combine Modern Meadow’s cutting-edge biofabrication expertise with BASF’s renowned Ultramid® Ccycled® material, paving the way for the creation of a modern, sustainable, and animal-free material of the future. Bio-VERA™, an innovative substrate from Modern Meadow, integrates BASF’s Ultramid® Ccycled® solution and is based on Modern Meadow’s Bio-Alloy™ technology. By combining post-consumer waste and bio-renewable alternatives, this innovative technology is said to deliver a highly sustainable and luxurious material with exceptional performance capabilities. Bio-VERA™ is a sustainable biomaterial that reduces dependence on traditional animal sources while minimizing the environmental impact of production using plant-based and recycled raw materials. Modern …

Organisations and brands:

BASF

Modern Meadow

Cavia Presents New Brewed Protein Materials in Cooperation with Spiber

June 26, 2023

Spiber‘s Brewed Protein fiber was selected by Kering’s Material Innovation Lab (MIL) and Fondazione Pitti Discovery for the 7th edition of “S|Style sustainable style”. A collection was exhibited at Pitti Immagine Uomo from 13 to 16 June. The exhibition project “S|Style sustainable style” presented by Fondazione Pitti Discovery attracted top international buyers and media representatives and provided a platform for ten international and diverse fashion brands selected from around the world by journalist and curator of L’Officiel Italia, Giorgia Cantarini. According to the organizers, the ten emerging brands from the fashion industry embody “a harmonious blend of social awareness and environmental responsibility while maintaining creativity and design”. “The brewed-protein materials developed by Spiber are a powerful example of how technology can reduce the fashion industry’s …

Organisations and brands:

Cavia

Spiber

PANGAIA Expands Activewear Range Made With Plant-Based Nylon & Spandex

June 5, 2023

Materials science company PANGAIA has expanded its popular Motion activewear range, adding a new capsule collection for men and more colors for women. The men’s collection includes a mesh t-shirt, zipped long-sleeved top, and tights, available in volcanic grey and black. For women, existing products — the sports bra, ribbed tank top, t-shirt, shorts, and leggings — are now available in taupe and cobalt blue, adding to the black, foliage green, and cerulean blue colors previously available. The Motion range was first launched last autumn, with the garments in the collection made from EVO nylon (99.9% plant-based) and Hyosung’s creora® spandex (30% plant-based). Pangaia was the first brand ever to use creora, which has a 20% lower carbon footprint than conventional spandex. The Motion products …

Organisations and brands:

Pangaia

This Week in Vegan Shoes: Adidas “Plant and Grow” Sandals & Recycled Aluminum Foil Sneakers

May 19, 2023

This week sees two new interesting vegan shoe launches, both from German companies: sportswear producer Adidas and high-end sneaker brand nat-2. Adidas “Plant and Grow” sandals Adidas has launched its new EQT 93 “Plant and Grow” sandals, made from fully vegan materials including rubber and textile. Said to be inspired by “guerrilla gardening” (cultivating plants in public places that are not being cared for), the sandals have speckled soles that mimic soil. The Plant and Grow shoes are based on Adidas’ classic EQT 93 silhouette, but feature earthy colors such as Green Oxide, Brown, and Easy Yellow. They are said to “put comfort in every step”. Adidas has previously launched shoes made with mushroom leather, along with vegan football boots co-designed by Stella McCartney. In …

Organisations and brands:

Adidas

nat-2

ProjectEx Opens $1M Pre-Seed Round to Revolutionize Luxury Market With Cultivated Exotic Leather

April 19, 2023

ProjectEx, a Singapore-based cultivated leather startup, has announced a $1 million pre-seed fundraising round to revolutionize the luxury market with sustainable and cruelty-free exotic cultivated leather. ProjectEx was launched by two industry experts, biomedical engineer Dr. Viknish Krishnan-Kutty, CEO of Cellivate Technologies, and Adrian Fürstenburg, an award-winning South African Designer. Founded in 2019 as a spin-off from the National University of Singapore, Cellivate Technologies is a deep-tech startup with a proprietary platform technology developing FBS-free media for cultivated meat companies. ProjectEx will combine its biotechnology and synthetic biology expertise to grow its alternative skin. An urgent need “As a designer who works with leather, I know firsthand the impact that the industry has on the environment and animal welfare,” said Adrian Fürstenburg. “Sustainability is not …

Organisations and brands:

ProjectEX

@ GOLDWIN INC.

GOLDWIN and Spiber Present Fashion Collection Made of Brewed Protein Fiber

March 29, 2023March 28, 2023

GOLDWIN INC. announces the launch of its Fall/Winter 2023 collection, featuring five brands simultaneously using the innovative structural protein material Brewed Protein fiber, developed in partnership with Spiber Corporation since 2015. “Through this joint development, we will rethink the relationship between nature and man and consider a completely new way of using materials” After many years of joint development, five brands — The North Face, Goldwin, nanamica, The North Face Purple Label, and Woolrich — have now launched products with Brewed Protein™ fiber, a new next-generation material from Japan, and will be available worldwide in the fall. With the start of mass production of Brewed Protein polymer at Spiber’s Thai plant in early 2022 – eight years after Goldwin and Spiber began their joint development …

Organisations and brands:

GOLDWIN

Spiber

Image courtesy of Stella McCartney.

Stella McCartney Debuts “First Ever” Garment Made With Plant-Based Sequins

March 20, 2023

Stella McCartney has developed what is claimed to be the first ever garment made from plastic-free, plant-based sequins. The sleeveless Biosequin® jumpsuit has made its debut on the cover of American Vogue, modelled by Cara Delevigne. It is not yet commercially available, but is said to showcase the potential benefits of the material. Developed by a company called Radiant Matter, which specialises in “colour and material solutions for the circular economy”, Biosequins are made from plant-derived cellulose. They are fully biodegradable and contain no plastic, metals, minerals, or synthetic pigments. According to Stella McCartney, conventional sequins are made from synthetic materials such as PVC or polyester film, which are harmful to the environment and contain chemicals that could have a negative impact on human health. …

Organisations and brands:

Radiant Matter

©Ford

Top 25 Vegan-Friendly Car Manufacturers in 2023

January 18, 2023

Car dealership Dick Lovett recently compiled an updated review, correct of January 2023, demonstrating which global car manufacturers currently offer the highest number of vegan-friendly cars, analysing data from PETA and car manufacturers worldwide. Aside from the manufacturers mentioned in this particular study, vegconomist has also recently reported on notable developments coming from Liux for its electric vehicle; Ultrafabrics’ new partnership with India’s Tata Motors; and last September’s news that all BMW and MINI cars will have fully vegan interiors from 2023. Additionally, it was reported last May by The Vegan Society that 75% of UK consumers want to see the removal of animal products from vehicles and that 70% are actively looking at purchasing an animal-free vehicle. The Dick Lovett study is based on …

Stony Creek Colors Raises $4.8M for Plant-Based Indigo Denim Dye

December 5, 2022

Stony Creek Colors, a US company claiming to be the only industrial-scale manufacturer of 100% bio-based indigo globally, has raised $4.8 million in funding. The Series B2 round was led by Lewis & Clark AgriFood and Levi Strauss & Co, longstanding partners of Stony Creek. The dye manufacturer plans to use the funding to further develop its farming infrastructure and dye extraction process, following the company’s $9 million Series B raise last year. Certified by the USDA BioPreferred Program, Stony Creek has a vertically integrated model allowing for full traceability. The company’s proprietary indigo varieties are grown across 500 acres of land in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Florida, in a process that fixes nitrogen and absorbs carbon. The indigo can also be used as part of …

Overstock Bans Cashmere Products, Receiving PETA Compassionate Business Award

November 9, 2022

Overstock.com, a US based retailer of furniture and home furnishings retailer, has been awarded PETA‘s Compassionate Business Award following its recent ban on products made from cashmere. The company previously banned products with exotic skins and other furs, including badger hair, mohair, angora, and alpaca. Working together with PETA, Overstock has already identified and removed from its website several products made of cashmere and says it is committed to putting measures in place to ensure such products are no longer offered on its e-commerce site by the end of this year. “Thanks to Overstock’s kind decision, fewer cashmere goats will be harmed for throw blankets,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is recognizing this conscientious company for being a leader in animal-free commerce …

Organisations and brands:

PETA

Rising Trend Towards Vegan Friendly Cars

October 11, 2022

“There is not a completely vegan car on the market,” the Vegan Society says in its Vegan Vehicles: The Future of Cars Report 2022. However, car manufacturers have been offering non-leather interiors for a while, with many pledging to use alternative materials in their new and existing models in coming years. Animal leather has traditionally been the standard option for premium car seats and interiors, but current luxury trends do not involve the slaughter of animals. Demand for alternative materials is making the automobile industry incorporate more vegan options for its models, adding to the rise in the global synthetic leather market which is on track to reach $67.2 billion by 2030, according to Straits Research. Growing trend towards animal-free interiors In 2020, PETA published its …

Organisations and brands:

The Vegan Society

This Winter Streetwear Collection Features Vegan Puffa Coats With Faux Down

October 11, 2022

German streetwear label Alife & Kickin announces its autumn/winter collection featuring vegan puffa coats with fake down and recycled materials, with a focus on “100% vegan fashion – from the label to the zipper.” According to the brand, the vegan replacement for animal down is imitated from polyester and is officially called Pearl Padding. Animal-derived materials such as wool, leather, fur and silk are also replaced by sustainable, certified raw materials such as organic cotton, Lyocell and recycled nylon and polyester. Speaking to vegconomist today, Head of Sales Vito Catalano, explains: “Sustainability is what makes the small but huge difference. Because in a world where commerce and price are above all else, we must not forget sustainability. We consistently implement this credo in …

ADM and Spiber Sign New Agreement to Support Regenerative Farming of Brewed Protein in Iowa

September 17, 2022September 17, 2022

Agribusiness leader ADM and biotech company Spiber announce a new joint agreement to support the adoption of regenerative farming practices for Spiber’s Brewed Protein™. Through the agreement, the companies will work with corn farmers in Iowa to implement sustainable farming practices for the production of Spiber’s biomaterials. Made from corn-based dextrose, Brewed Protein is a next-generation polymer that replaces petroleum-derived materials in a variety of applications, ranging from clothing to car seats. ADM and Spiber first partnered in 2020 to build a manufacturing facility in Clinton, IA to convert corn dextrose into Brewed Protein using ADM’s massive microbial fermentation capabilities. Now, both companies are working to expand the environmental impact of Brewed Protein by encouraging Iowa farmers to adopt regenerative farming practices such as the …

Organisations and brands:

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)

Spiber

Simplifyber: “We are Fundamentally Changing the Entire Process of Making Shoes and Clothes”

September 14, 2022September 14, 2022

Simplifyber does not create normal apparel. The clothes and shoes made by this New York brand are not only 3d printed and “created in a lab, not in a factory”, but are also 100% biodegradable. It’s a fascinating area of innovation, bearing in mind that the fashion industry is the third most polluting industry, responsible for more CO2 emissions than the shipping and the aviation industry combined, and one which brought Simplifibyer an initial swell of interest from investors to the tune of multiple millions this summer. We were excited for the opportunity to speak with CEO Maria Intscher-Owrang, whose 20+ year career as a fashion designer and director includes periods at leading fashion houses, including Vera Wang, Calvin Klein, and Alexander McQueen. What is …

New York’s Gomorrah Launches Fully Compostable Menswear Line

August 23, 2022

Gomorrah, a New York-based menswear brand creating luxury plant-based and compostable clothes, recently announced a 100% compostable menswear line, to help combat the myriad problems caused by fast fashion and the microplastics caused by unsustainable fabrics. Founded in 2020, Gomorrah is a self-funded brand, a member of 1% for the Planet and partner of One Tree Planted, sending a percentage of every unit sold to US reforestation efforts. The brand encourages the customer to compost garments after several years of wear, saying that the “idea is to live in your clothes, repair them, and grow in them, not toss them aside for the next trend.” The collection debuts with two products – the fully compostable T-shirt which is already available for purchase on the website, …

Organisations and brands:

Gomorrah

Former Hyundai Spin-off Mycel Raises $10M For Mycelium Biomaterials

August 16, 2022

South Korean fungi biomaterials startup Mycel, originally a spin-off of the Hyundai Motor Group, recently announced the completion of its $10 million pre-Series A funding round to commercialise its mycelium-based leather alternative in 2023. Mycel is utilising mycelium to create leather alternatives that may be used in automobile seats, high-end cosmetics, and fashion items like shoes, garments, and bags. The company’s website states its “mission is to stimulate the diverse imaginations of our customers through our technology, and together with our customers, make a huge move towards the transition to a sustainable renewable system,” and says it is “developing and testing new aesthetic designs/plans to diversify our portfolio of commercializable materials and products”. Hyundai Motor Group Since 2000, HMG has operated an internal venture system …

The vegconomist-newsletterinformation for decision-makers

The vegconomist-newsletter
information for decision-makers