Adopting a cruelty-free fashion agenda is now easier than ever thanks to state-of-the-art technology and advancements in textiles. Vegan fashion no longer means having to sacrifice style, durability, quality and practicality.
"Many of us are familiar with common vegan fabrics such as cotton and polyester. But in the 21st century, business in vegan fashion is booming,” says PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ) - a non-profit animal rights organisation.
“Clothes and accessories made from hemp, bamboo, and other animal-free materials are now commonplace. They can also be made from innovative and sustainable materials such as cork, mushrooms, pineapple leaves, apple peels, other fruit waste, or recycled plastics.”
In celebration of World Vegan Day, we take a look at some of the chicest brands and products to have on your radar this A/W25 and beyond.
Leopard Belted Trench Coat
Stella McCartney
The Details
- Composition: Water-resistant fabric
- Sizes: IT34-IT50
Editor's Note
Listed on PETA’s ‘Eco, Vegan-Friendly Clothing Brands Belong in Your Closet’, Stella McCartney is dedicated to vegan and cruelty-free principles, stating that "each Stella formulation is made with at least 99% natural-origin ingredients.”
Stella needs little to no explanation. One of the most sought-after luxury brands in the world, and one of the only ones wholly committed to sustainability. I’m a major fan of its handbags, jeans and tailoring but this leopard print coat was just too good not to include. As we know, the animal print is majorly trending at the moment which means this statement outerwear piece will place you as one of the most stylish on the street.
Romy Dress in Taupe
Ninety Percent
The Details
- Composition: MicroModal
- Sizes: XXS-XL
Editor's Note
NP states on its website that it is a vegan brand: "From our low-impact, vegan materials to our responsible factories, we ensure that every place, person and creature in our supply chain is treated with dignity and respect."
To be honest, I could have listed everything from NP’s website - the silhouettes are modern and fluid, the styles are ultra elegant and it oozes major ‘quiet luxury’ vibes. This long-sleeve dress crafted from soft and silky Micromodal caught my eye because it is perfect to throw on with a pair of heels or boots.
Womens 365 Midweight Hoodie
Pangaia
The Details
- Composition: Midweight Cotton
- Sizes: XXS-XXL
Editor's Note
Pangaia's animal rating is 'good' on goodforyou, plus its wool is accredited by the Responsible Wool Standard. Not only do they focus on sustainable and vegan materials, but also promise to sparsely use vegan leathers that derive from fossil fuels, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU)
Pangaia has become an influence favourite over the last few years. Known for its excellent quality loungewear, this neutral hoodie is perfect for pairing with anything from leggings to jeans and a blazer.
Calliope Bag
Mashu
The Details
- Composition: Bio Veg
- Sizes: One size
Editor's Note
Mashu is a PETA-approved brand creating fashion-forward accessories that "puts the conservation of natural resources, and protection of people and animals first in their creation process. Since its inception in 2017, the brand has become the go-to for those seeking to style without compromising on sustainability"
Mashu’s bags are as unique as they are elegant. This structured handbag with the brand’s signature ‘wiggle’ handle speaks volumes without having to say much. It features an internal branded pocket and comes with a detachable crossbody strap
Organic T-shirt
Yes Friends
The Details
- Composition: 100% Fairtrade* and organic cotton
- Sizes: XS-3XL
Editor's Note
Ethically made pieces don't come at better price tags than this. Yes Friends' long list of credentials include: good wages for garment workers through our pioneering bonus scheme, a solar assisted factory that is Fair Trade USA & GOTS certified, they use 185gsm organic cotton, plus they do not use any animal products in the creation of their clothes.
This t-shirt comes in 7 colours and is sumptuously soft, perfect to pop underneath a sweater vest or cardigan and team with a pleated mini skirt. Don't sleep on their fleeces or sweatshirts either.
Women's Organic Cotton Bralette in Light Grey
Y.O.U Underwear
The Details
- Composition: 95% GOTS Certified Organic Cotton, 5% Elastane
- Sizes: XS-L
Editor's Note
Rated 'good' by Good on You, Y.O.U Underwear is Fairtrade, PETA-approved vegan and made from 100% GOTS Certified Organic Cotton, so its offerings are super-soft (for your skin, and the planet!) They also donate a pair of underwear for every pair sold through a partnership with Smalls For All, and so far have donated over 50,000 pairs.
The brand's impressive sustainability stance means that every Y.O.U bralette saves 87 litres of water and 37 grams of carbon dioxide. Impressive stuff.
Flex Corset Top
Organic Basics
The Details
- Composition: 91% Organic Cotton, 9% Elastane
- Sizes: XXS-XXL
Editor's Note
Organic Basics is a Cruelty-Free-rated PETA brand. It explains on its website ” We use recycled, recyclable, plant-based, and organic materials, ethical means of production, and only collaborate with people, factories, and companies that are as passionate as we are about making good basics without harming the planet in the process.”
Basics including underwear, vest tops, and t-shirts are a necessity. Organic Basics has an impressive range of must-have products, including the ‘Corset Top’ which is super comfortable and versatile to boot. Pair with barrel leg jeans and loafers for the ultimate French-girl look.
Heavyweight Racer Dress
KOHR
The Details
- Composition: 100% Organic Cotton
- Sizes: S-XL
Editor's Note
KOHR is rated 'great' by Goodonyou, thanks to its high proportion of eco-friendly materials (including organic linen) and its efforts to minimise textile waste and its carbon footprint.
The brand's pieces are easy to wear, this dress is soft yet sculpting. We'll be teaming ours with trainers to run errands during the day, and with boots come nightfall.
Small Nylon Sling
BAGGU
The Details
- Composition: Heavyweight Nylon (59% recycled)
- Sizes: One Size
Editor's Note
The heavyweight nylon BAGGU uses are made with recycled nylon filament yarn, produced from pre-consumer waste. This saves scrap material from ending up landfill and reduces greenhouse has emissions.
This slouchy yet structured bag is made to last. One of the brand's philosophies is to design for longevity using as few materials as possible.
How we chose:
Vegan-friendly status: It's important to note that some of these brands are vegan-friendly rather than vegan, meaning that although they have vegan collections, they may still use fabrics like recycled wool in other products (which, although reduces waste and lessens environmental impact, still originates from a sheep and therefore wouldn't be considered vegan). Though not every brand expresses its vegan/vegan-friendly status on its website, we’ve looked for brands that are either: on PETA’s approved list of vegan brands; brands rated good or great on Goodonyou's brands rating system; are committed to cruelty-free fashion, or all of the above.
Style: While staying committed to finding cruelty-free brands, we’ve still found ones that are modern and stylish and are either on trend for right now or are timeless.
Product: We’ve tried to find brands that stock a variety of cruelty-free products, from jeans to bags to jumpers.
Why you should trust me:
Lauren is Hello! Fashion’s resident digital writer, covering all things fashion and lifestyle - from the latest celebrity trends to bridal fashion, influencer street style to the best pieces to shop this season. You’ll also find her trying out the latest fashion trends every month, interviewing industry moguls for our Fashion Insider series, and finding the chicest things to do in London.
