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.

Brewed Protein silk© spiber.jp

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

Image credit: Mofield_John © Simplifyber

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 …

Vegan Car Interiors of the Future: Ultrafabrics Unveils New Tata Motors Concept

July 21, 2022

Ultrafabrics has unveiled a new partnership with India’s Tata Motors showcasing a futuristic vegan interior concept car. The partnership with Tata Passenger Electric Mobility (TPEM), the electric vehicle subsidiary of global automobile manufacturing company Tata Motors is the latest collection from the animal-free, high-performance fabric specialist. Inspired by the colors and crafts of Tata Motors’ Indian heritage, Ultrafabrics states the end result is a warm and inviting interior for TPEM’s new electric vehicle, the AVINYA Concept. It features Ultrafabrics’ Fusion Shimmer and Volar Bio vegan materials crafted in its Japanese mill using the proprietary production process. Spanning many industries, the brand’s client list includes Jaguar Land Rover, Herman Miller, Winnebago, Fitbit, Virgin Galactic, and Movado. TPEM and Tata Motors are under the Tata Group umbrella, …

©Gomorrah

Gomorrah Introduces “World’s First” Compostable, Plant-Based Luxury Menswear Shirts

July 21, 2022July 21, 2022

In an industry still dominated by fast fashion and disposable culture, Gomorrah is one menswear brand on a mission to create compostable, plant-based luxury clothing. In the US alone, 22 billion pounds of clothing are thrown away in landfills every year, often polluting the environment with toxic dyes and plastic-derived fibers that can take centuries to break down. In response to this ongoing crisis, Gomorrah has embraced sustainability by creating the Compostable Collection, the world’s first 100% compostable and vegan-friendly shirts in luxury menswear. Elegance meets eco-friendly The soon-to-be-launched collection features premium button-down shirts made with fully organic cotton, non-toxic dyes, and zero-waste buttons. Most importantly, the brand states, the shirts are designed with the garment’s entire life cycle in mind, and made only with …

Organisations and brands:

Gomorrah

©AlgiKnit

AlgiKnit Raises $13 Million to Scale Sustainable Kelp Yarn Production

June 30, 2022

Sustainable kelp yarn producer AlgiKnit has raised $13 million in its Series A funding round, led by The Collaborative Fund with participation from H&M CO:LAB, SOSV, and more. Following a previous round last year, AlgiKnit has now secured a total of $17.9 million. The latest raise comes as the company opens its new facility in North Carolina’s Research Triangle area, which will allow it to scale production of the eco-friendly yarn. AlgiKnit’s yarns are made by extracting a substance called alginate from seaweed and combining it with renewable biopolymers. The resulting fibres can then be knitted into textiles and coloured with natural pigments. These textiles could potentially be used across a range of industries, including fashion, furnishings, and automotive. Disrupting the textile industry Founded in …

Organisations and brands:

Algiknit

Montgomery Wagner, Lucas Fuhrmann and Julian Mushövel. Image: LOVR / Revoltech

Revoltech Closes Seed Round for LOVR Alt Leather Made of Upcycled Hemp Waste Materials

May 25, 2022

German startup Revoltech announces it has closed a seven-figure seed round for leather substitute LOVR, made of hemp fibres from the leftover residues of CBD products. The funds will bring the 100% biodegradable, plastic-free and climate-neutral material to market. LOVR stands for “leather-like-without plastic-vegan-residue-based” and was developed with the goal of transforming the leather industry by introducing a truly sustainable material made from agricultural waste. Its production is based on the principles of the circular economy and does not involve the use of chemicals. Revoltech, founded in 2021 by Lucas Fuhrmann, Julian Mushövel and Montgomery Wagner, has signed a joint investment agreement with b.value AG, BMH Beteiligungs-Managementgesellschaft Hessen mbH and HEAG. The seven-figure seed investment will be used to develop operations and expand production of …

©Target

Tabitha Brown and Target Announce New “Tabitha Brown for Target” Clothing Line

May 19, 2022

Tabitha Brown, a pop culture superstar known for her cheerful take on vegan cooking, is partnering with retail chain Target to launch Tabitha Brown for Target – a new clothing and accessories line spanning apparel, swimwear, food, entertaining and more. The line will debut June 11 online and in most Target stores. Tabitha Brown for Target features four limited-time collections set to launch over the next year. Offered at affordable, “only-at-Target” values, the first collection will include 75 brightly designed clothing and accessories offered in a size range of XXS-4X, with most pieces priced under $30. Growing the relationship According to the chain, it decided to expand its partnership with Brown after working with her on social media content over the past two years. “Tabitha …

Organisations and brands:

Target

CORKonLINEN tote bag ©Bag Affair

Introducing CORKonLINEN: a Unique and Compostable Leather Alternative

May 17, 2022

The patented French material CORKonLINEN was produced after more than a year and a half of research and development by RTFACT BRANDS, composed of only three elements: Portuguese cork, French linen and a water-based glue. “We started in 2019 with the idea of replacing the cotton used in our bags and fabrics with linen. As you may know, we always need a textile under the cork to produce a fabric from it,” states the French team. “The idea was to use linen instead of cotton. Why? Because in France there is no cotton but France is the biggest producer of linen. In addition, cotton (even organic) uses a lot of water, pesticides and fertilizers.” According to RTFACT BRANDS, “CORKonLINEN is currently THE ONLY material with …

Image: Pranesh Sridharan on LinkedIn

Indian Fashion Designer JJ Valaya Unveils TENCEL Luxe Vegan Silk Collection

March 4, 2023April 11, 2022

Indian fashion designer and couturier JJ Valaya has launched a new brand called JJV, with all garments made from TENCEL Luxe vegan silk. The collection was showcased for the first time at the FDCI x Lakmé Fashion Week in Mumbai. TENCEL Luxe lyocell filament yarn is derived from renewable wood sources using a closed-loop process. The yarn is said to produce fabrics that are extremely smooth to the touch and naturally comfortable, with a very similar feel to silk. JJV is described as a “bridge to luxury” collection, marking the first time Valaya has ventured into this category. The occasionwear brand features patterns such as chevron stripes and graphic prints, without the heavy embroidering typical of Valaya’s collections. TENCEL™ TENCEL yarn is now used by …

Recycled cotton T-shirts ©EVGENY POPOV

Evrnu Reveals Breakthrough NuCycl Cotton That Could Replace Up to 90% of Textiles

April 6, 2022

Textile innovation company Evrnu has launched NuCycl r-lyocell, the world’s first high-performance, fully recyclable material made entirely from cotton waste. In what the company calls a “huge breakthrough” for the industry, Evrnu is sourcing discarded cotton to create better fibers that can replace up to 90% of common textile materials. Through this technology, Evrnu says it is forging a pathway for tens of millions of tons of textile waste to re-enter the value chain each year. Evrnu asserts NuCycl meets or exceeds the performance quality of virgin cellulosic and plastic-based textiles, including nylon and polyester. In addition to its strength and comfort properties, NuCycl can also be recycled up to 10 times. Changing manufacturing Evrnu says it has modified traditional lyocell manufacturing methods to process …

t-shirts made with post-consumer textile waste

PANGAIA Launches T-Shirts Made With 100% Post-Consumer Textile Waste

April 5, 2022

Material science company PANGAIA has unveiled the limited edition Infinite Tee, a t-shirt made with 100% post-consumer textile waste. Available only from the company’s website, the new shirts feature a graphic with the phrase “Infinite Tee” printed on both sides. The launch marks the first time a shirt made with Infinna™ fibres has been available to purchase. Infinna has the look and feel of cotton, but is made entirely from recycled textiles. Fabric made with Infinna can be recycled multiple times, helping to keep clothing out of landfill. The fibre is made by circular fashion and technology group Infinited Fiber Company, which has just formed a multi-year agreement with PANGAIA. The aim of the partnership is to scale access to innovations in circularity. This is …

Organisations and brands:

Pangaia

©BLUEVIEW

BLUEVIEW Launches Pacific Biodegradable Sneakers Made From Plant-Based Plastic

March 29, 2022

BLUEVIEW, a new sustainable footwear brand, today launched what it says is the world’s first-to-market fully biodegradable shoe. The brand’s first release, the BLUEVIEW Pacific sneaker, is constructed with innovative Soleic® and PlantKnitTM plant-based materials, and is available for pre-order on BLUEVIEW’s website at a price of $135. Committed to transitioning the world to bio-based materials, BLUEVIEW says the brand is revolutionizing the footwear industry by replacing petroleum plastics with plastics made sustainably from plants. Its shoes utilize only eco-conscious, vegan materials that provide exceptional comfort and durability. Two cutting-edge materials BLUEVIEW’s proprietary Soleic and PlantKnit materials required six years of research and development. Soleic is the world’s first high-quality, renewable and biodegradable polyurethane foam, and provides the shoes’ sole and cushioned arch support. PlantKnit, …

Bucha Bio Relocates From NY to Houston to Open Next-Gen Materials Headquarters

September 27, 2022February 18, 2022

Bucha Bio relocates from New York City to Houston, is accepted into Greentown Labs Incubator US biomaterials company Bucha Bio, which makes textiles and composite materials from bacterial nanocellulose, has announced a move from New York City to the world’s energy capital, Houston. Bucha will open its new headquarters at the city’s East End Maker Hub. The company chose Houston from over 20 locations due to its access to venture capital, existing polymer and chemical manufacturers, hiring potential, and top-tier local universities. Bucha says it has already signed on senior scientists with experience in the oil and plastic industries, claiming these skills are “perfectly suited to biomaterials”. Infinitely renewable materials Bucha Bio’s materials, which include animal-free leather, are biodegradable and infinitely renewable — countering claims …

Organisations and brands:

bucha bio

Portugal Bans ‘Vegan Leather’, Industry Insiders Speak Out

June 8, 2022February 14, 2022

A ban on the term ‘vegan leather’ and other plant-based prefixes has been announced in Portugal. Alt leather companies now using prefixes such as ‘vegan’, ‘plant-based’, or ‘pineapple’ or even “synthetic” along with the word “leather” in their product marketing may face fines and criminal proceedings. Portugal has a thriving fashion and textiles industry, with companies like B_Boheme producing sustainable shoes from vegan leather in the country. Founder Alicia Lai told vegconomist; “We have all heard the terms ‘vegan sausage’, ‘vegan chocolate’ and ‘vegan leather’. These terms are not aiming to mislead consumers but to show that there are no animal ingredients in the product, and these terms are very much accepted”. The new laws claim that terms such as ‘vegan leather’ are technically incorrect …

Study Shows Modern Meadow’s Bioleather1 Produces 80% Fewer Emissions Than Bovine Leather

March 2, 2022February 14, 2022

A peer-reviewed life cycle assessment of Modern Meadow’s Bioleather1 material family has compared its environmental impact to that of conventional leather. The paper found that Bioleather1 produces 80% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than bovine leather and 20% fewer than PU-based synthetic leather alternatives. Additionally, the bio-based leather reduces blue water use, land use, and eutrophication by 95% compared to conventional leather. However, Bioleather1 has a slightly greater ecosystem impact than PU-based alternatives as its production requires agricultural resources. Bioleather1 Bioleather1 is made using Modern Meadow’s Bio-Alloy™ technology, which is a blend of plant-based protein and bio-based polymer. This blend is functional enough to be used in applications such as footwear and accessories, though Bioleather1 is currently still in the prototype stage. Bio-based vegan leather While …

niLuu Launches PETA-Approved Vegan Silk Robes in Time for Valentine’s Day

March 2, 2022February 8, 2022

Miami-based luxury fashion brand niLuu has launched a new range of vegan silk robes in collaboration with PETA. The kimono-style robes are made from cupro, a sustainable, animal-free silk alternative produced using cotton waste. On sale now in time for Valentine’s Day, the vegan silk robes are available for both men and women, featuring a wrap at the waist and relaxed sleeves. They come in nine different colours, packaged in a box with both niLuu and PETA branding. 20% of proceeds will be donated to PETA. Cupro While many sustainable vegan silk alternatives rely on complex production methods such as fermentation and bioengineering, cupro is innovative in its simplicity. To produce the fabric, cellulose is made soluble by combining it with copper and ammonia. It …

Organisations and brands:

niLuu

PETA

Mycelium Materials Company Ecovative Launches Forager to Develop Mushroom Leather Products and Soft Goods

March 2, 2022January 27, 2022

The new division specializes in fungi-based foams and hides for the fashion and automotive markets GREEN ISLAND, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ecovative, leaders in the fast–growing mycelium materials space, today launched Forager, a division focused on designing, marketing, and manufacturing vegan, plastic-free leather-like materials and foams for the fashion and automotive industries. Rather than animals or petroleum, Forager™ Hides and Forager™ Foams are made from mycelium, the filamentous ‘root structure’ of fungi. Grown on agricultural byproducts (like corn husks), these pure mycelium materials are fully biodegradable and home-compostable, without any plastic or fiber additives. Forager will utilize Ecovative’s AirMycelium™ technology to produce large sheets of pure mycelium material at commercial scale, with the ability to fine-tune density, shape, tensile strength, texture, and other qualities that meet or exceed …

©Toray

Toray to Bring 100% Plant-Based Nylon Fiber to Market

February 25, 2022January 25, 2022

Japanese textile giant Toray has unveiled a nylon fiber made from plant-based polymers which could revolutionize the textile world. Headquartered in Tokyo but with global operations, Toray plans to launch the new Ecodear N510 – its first 100% plant-based nylon fiber – for Autumn/Winter 2023. The biobased Ecodear N510 is made by polymerizing and spinning sebacic acid and pentamethylenediamine, derivatives of the castor bean plant and corn plant respectively. Toray claims that the new material displays the same physical characteristics as conventional nylon, including strength and heat resistance, and excellent stability against humidity. Toray already offers partially plant-based polyester, nylon, and other polymers and is continuing research into plant-based materials as it looks to become a carbon-neutral company. The end of conventional nylon? As a …

The vegconomist-newsletterinformation for decision-makers

The vegconomist-newsletter
information for decision-makers