Thursday, April 4, 2013

Veganize Your Life: Clothing Materials

Veganize Your Life: Clothing Materials
As you continue to “veganize your life,” make sure you check your clothing labels carefully. Obvious fabrics to avoid include wool, silk, furs, feathers, leathers, and down variations – all of these materials likely (or definitely do) require the exploitation of animals to obtain. While the aforementioned materials are an apparent “no” for the vegan
Photo by Marin/Freedigitalphotos.net

Photo by Marin/Freedigitalphotos.net

As you continue to “veganize your life,” make sure you check your clothing labels carefully. Obvious fabrics to avoid include wool, silk, furs, feathers, leathers, and down variations – all of these materials likely (or definitely do) require the exploitation of animals to obtain.

While the aforementioned materials are an apparent “no” for the vegan wardrobe,  have you also considered the impact of conventional cotton and polyester? While conventional cotton does not usually require the direct harm of an animal, it does, in most cases, require the use of heavy pesticides that can subsequently poison nearby plant life and animals, either through groundwater or airborne transmission. Polyester, another seemingly innocent vegan clothing choice, is often derived from petroleum — a substance that is harmful to ecosystems and animals in its drilling, transport, and use.

While some vegans opt for recycled/secondhand versions of clothing made from these materials, if you wish to avoid the cycle altogether, it might be best to invest in some goods made from purely ethically-sourced materials. Fabrics to try out include organic cotton, hemp, and bamboo variations. In most cases, these materials will be sourced fairly and without harm to the environment or to animals in surrounding ecosystems. To start this process, you needn’t spend your life savings right now, however – purchase a few items at a time – you don’t need to break the bank, so long as you make small changes every day to veganize your wardrobe. Whether you decide to avoid all materials that may directly or indirectly harm animal life or just opt for those on the “obvious” list, you’re still  taking action for veganism that matter to all of us.


Source: feedproxy.google.com

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