Fabric. So easily taken for granted. Who would have thought there could be so much cruelty involved in making clothing? And so unnecessary! Most vegs know leather and fur are off limits. I wanted to cry when I was looking up links for those. I just can’t handle it. But what about wool? I mean, the sheep could use haircuts anyway, right? It’s not like it hurts them! I used to think that- or hope that was the case. Well, it’s not as “clean-cut” as that. Check out this link and this one from Peta for more info. Very sad. And goose down filled items? Yeah that’s cruel as well (look here). And here’s a link that talks about down and silk (silk: another unfriendly fabric). Supposedly Hungarian Goose Down is more humane, but still “uncomfortable” for the geese. So if you have to have real down… go with the more humane route. But just remember how much it hurts when you pull your hair out. I can’t see plucking feathers being much nicer. Owning fabric that supports animal cruelty really is no better than eating the meat. Either way the animals are being tortured unnecessarily.

And besides, there are some great fabrics out there that require no animal cruelty. Faux furs, faux leathers, synthetic fabrics… Here are some fabrics to look for when you shop:

FRIENDLY FABRICS

• polyester
• polyester fleece
• linen
• rayon
• polyurathane
• hemp
• acrylic
• tencel
• Polartec Wind Pro
• cotton
• cotton flannel
• synthetic shearling
• faux or synthetic down or primaloft
• faux furs and leathers
• microfiber

NOT SO FRIENDLY FABRICS

• wool
• alpaca
• mohair
• pashmina
• shahtoosh
• cashmere
• shearling
• angora
• camel hair
• down-filled fabrics
• fur
• leather
• suede
• silk

And remember- it’s not just in your clothes. Check all your fabrics- in your rugs, furniture, bags…. you may be surprised how much of the fabric you possess comes from animals. Luckily, companies are working on creating new and exciting cruelty-free fabrics all the time. “They are working with all different types of materials like bamboo, hemp, soy, coconut, shells, pineapple and the like,” said Laurie Doxer, brand manager for Earth’s clothing segment. “Using cruelty-free materials in apparel is important in regard to not only sustaining the planet, but also contributing to reduced pollution and erosion of the environment and in promoting the awareness that harming or killing animals is no longer a necessity to wear luxurious, stylish clothing.”