10 Tips to an Animal-Friendly Wardrobe

You like fashion, and you like critters. Think the two are exclusive of each other? No way! Now more than ever, supporting sustainable and green practice through what we wear is growing in availability. All it takes is a little creativity. Here are some tips in dressing up in affordable and fashionable clothing that is also animal-friendly:

1.
Check clothing labels. Avoid anything made from animal-based materials, such as wool, silk, leather and fur. Basically anything that once involved a living creature. Many times, the alternatives are cheaper than the actual animal-based clothes themselves, because manufacturing them doesn’t involve all the labor involved in slaughtering an animal.

2.
Research designers and their clothing lines. What you wear is a statement. Make a commitment to support designers who share the same values as you.

3.
Shop at discount, vintage or thrift stores. Chances are your “brand-new” shirt was already worn in a dressing room or even returned. Why support over-production when you can help fuel recycled consumption?

4.
Shop local and shop small. Support nearby businesses that value animals over mass production.

5.
Buy clothes online from vegan and animal-friendly companies.

6.
Try making your own clothes. It’s a sure-fire way to ensure the material is animal-friendly, and nothing compares to the satisfaction you’ll feel when you’re done.

7.
Swap some of your most-worn staples for lesser-used items that spend a lot of time in the back of your closet.

8.
If you have a pile of clothes you know you’ll never wear again, organize a clothing swap with some friends. You never know what they may bring and what cast-offs your friends may want. Look into joining a local freecycle community. They’re like clothing swaps, only bigger, because they involve entire neighborhoods and communities.

9.
Buy at least one organic cotton garment a season. We fuel change in the clothing industry by forcing them to adapt to our consumption practices. If everyone bought at least four organic plant-based garments a year, think about how much more animal-friendly the fashion industry would be to make itself more sellable to our demand.

10.
Remember Yves San Laurent: “Fashion fades, style is eternal.” The best way to protect animals is to buy friendly clothing that is stylish and lasts. Trends come and go, and all they do is encourage needless consumption. Build a wardrobe that transcends that and looks great no matter what new “it” look reigns that day.

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*November is National Vegan Month. This post is part of Safa’s month-long series on veganism and pop culture.

Read more: animal welfare, clothing, fashion, tips, vegan, wardrobe

Photo courtesy of Pizzodisevo via Flickr

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

wixian l.

10:59AM PST on Dec 16, 2010

thanks....

send a green star

jane r.

6:25PM PST on Nov 14, 2010

Thanks for the tips

Martha M.

7:51PM PST on Nov 13, 2010

There are certain designers who use some fur in their more expensive clothing *cough*Lopez* Ditty* cough, cough* just to name a couple. Therefore ANYTHING they sell I will refuse to purchase, even if it is in the price range I am willing to pay for a given item. I refuse to give them another penny for their practice. If I buy, I look for faux leather and/or manmade goods. I like to look in thrift stores and on ebay for vintage leathers and I have NEVER in my life worn any kind of fur, faux or real. If I see a store selling fur, I leave and will not purchase any thing else from them and often will send an email to the company stating such. I believe in saving any animal I can through my power as a consumer. Animals are not clothing. I no longer live in a cave and need their skins or hides, I have flannel or cotton or fleecy non-fur stuff to keep me warm, they don't and they need it worse than I do.

Gita S.

5:20AM PST on Nov 12, 2010

Very good article, thanks.

suheyla c.

10:37AM PST on Nov 11, 2010

thanks for the post

10:36AM PST on Nov 11, 2010

Thanks for sharing

Barbara E.

1:28AM PST on Nov 9, 2010

Thanks for the tips.

Luann D.

10:04AM PST on Nov 8, 2010

Jeanette K is heading down the right road. Be very wary that faux furs can actually be coming from the skins of dogs and cats.

Tracie P.

10:00AM PST on Nov 8, 2010

Laura Mitchell, the cow is not already dead for those leather shoes. That is a huge misconception!!! There are two different industries... beef AND leather. Two different lives... one cow for the beef and one cow for the leather. Doesn't make much sense... I know.... but us humans are wasteful and greedy. So when you eat that steak and wear those new shoes... 2 lives.... not one. I am sure you could find leather at a thrift store if you wanted the leather instead of buy new.

Jennifer M.

9:47AM PST on Nov 8, 2010

I've started buying all my clothing at thrift stores. And NEVER animal stuff! Thanks for the post.