PETA Fashion Awards 2019

 

As consumer demand for ethical fashion keeps rising, fashion brands increasingly offer clothing for which animals weren’t beaten, slaughtered, or skinned – as well as items made with materials that are less harmful to the environment. The PETA Fashion Awards celebrate the labels, style icons, and forward-thinking designers that have made big statements for animals in 2019.

  • Best International Fashion Moment

    PHOTO © 2018 TEAM PETER STIGTER FILENAME IS DESIGNER NAME SPRING/SUMMER 2019

    Amsterdam Fashion Week Goes Fur-Free

    Setting a fantastic example for other events to follow, Amsterdam Fashion Week announced that starting this year, its catwalks would be fur-free. As the fashion industry continues to relegate fur to the history books, this move proves that creativity without cruelty is the way forward.

  • Collaboration
    Award

    Natalia Vodianova

    ECOPEL/Stella McCartney KOBA Faux Fur

    The world’s first partially bio-based faux fur – created by ECOPEL and used in a beautiful coat by Stella McCartney – is made from DuPont’s Sorona fibre, combining plant-based materials and recycled polyester. The production of this recyclable material requires 30% less energy and causes 63% fewer greenhouse-gas emissions than that of traditional faux fur.

  • Best High-Street Fashion Moment

    H&M, Warehouse, Oasis, and Scotch & Soda Ban Cashmere

    With mohair and angora virtually banished from the high street, the next cruelly obtained material to come under fire was cashmere. Many notable brands cut the environmentally unsustainable fibre out of their collections in 2019 – a win for cashmere goats and the planet.

  • Progress
    Award

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    H&M Conscious Exclusive Range Using Piñatex and Orange Silk

    This year’s Conscious Exclusive range from H&M featured vegan innovation – including a jacket and pair of boots made from Piñatex pineapple leather as well as skirts and dresses that incorporated Orange Fiber, a “silk” made from orange peel. This collection is a sign that sustainable vegan materials are truly going mainstream.

  • Best Luxury Fashion Moment

    Chanel, Selfridges, and Victoria Beckham Ban Exotic Skins

    In a strong fashion statement, some of the biggest brands and retailers took a stand against the violent slaughter of crocodiles, alligators, lizards, and other exotic animals in the name of fashion by vowing never to use their skins again. Exotic-skin accessories are rapidly going extinct in the fashion industry.

  • Innovation
    Award

    VIN + OMI

    This year, an unusual new fabric arrived on London Fashion Week catwalks: VIN + OMI’s sustainable vegan material made from … nettles! The innovative designers showcased dresses made from nettles that grew in the gardens at Prince Charles’ Highgrove estate, and they’re now branching out into a fabric made from cow parsley.

  • Designer to Watch

    Leticia Credidio

    Specialising in sleepwear but also creating beautiful loungewear, Leticia Credidio is harnessing the properties of seaweed to make animal-friendly materials. Her fully vegan collections also contain organic cotton and other biodegradable fabrics, making them a kind choice for both animals and the planet.

  • Most Wanted Award

    Nanushka Hide Vegan Leather Puffer Jacket

    This jacket was a street-style favourite in 2019 – numerous stylish attendees at New York Fashion Week were photographed wearing this down- and leather-free design from Budapest-based label Nanushka, which offers a range of sophisticated vegan leather items.

  • Villain of the Year

    Canada Goose

    Brands all over the world are committing to fur bans and experimenting with down-free fillers – but Canada Goose is still clinging on to caveperson ways by refusing to stop using cruelly obtained materials. Its outdated practices mean the retailer is being left behind as designers and consumers move towards a more conscious fashion industry.

  • Vegan Style Icon Award

    Miley Cyrus

    From wearing vegan shoes at this year’s Met Gala to seizing a red-carpet moment to proclaim that “there doesn’t have to be torture in fabulous fashion”, Miley Cyrus is as compassionate as she is stylish. A fan of vegan-friendly designers such as Stella McCartney, the singer strives to inspire the next generation of kind fashionistas.

  • Best Vegan Outerwear

    The Hunter Vegan Edit

    Hunter is best known for its iconic wellington boots, but this British brand also sells bags, jackets, and more – and this year, it launched a vegan edit to highlight its animal-free offering. The label has featured raincoats, backpacks, and T-shirts, alongside its famous wellies, to celebrate vegan style.

  • Best Down-Free Design

    Napapijri Skidoo Infinity

    Italian outerwear label Napapijri has long been a down-free brand, and its commitment to sustainability and durable vegan designs is evident its new Skidoo Infinity jacket, which is 100% recyclable and incorporates Econyl, a high-performance nylon yarn made from discarded fishing nets.

  • Best Vegan
    Bags

    Ashoka

    Accessory brand Ashoka is the epitome of French chic – with a vegan twist. Its elegant handbags are made of eco- and animal-friendly materials such as apple leather, which is derived from apple peel.

     

  • Best Wool-Free Collection

    Hemp Tailor

    In addition to its vegan outerwear, Hemp Tailor is now offering a new range of wool-free knitwear, which incorporates recycled hemp and organic cotton. These pieces are the ideal choice for winter – warm and stylish without the cruelty of wool.

  • Best Vegan
    Shoes

    Topshop Vegan Shoe Range

    This year, it got even easier to shop for vegan shoes, as Topshop launched its vegan collection. The summer range featuring sandals and mules in attractive, muted colours provided the perfect footwear wardrobe for the season. The collection also included exotic-skin prints that didn’t involve the killing of any animals.

  • Essential Reading Award

    Vegan Style by Sascha Camilli

    An informative and inspiring read, this beautiful book is filled with useful information – from the best places to shop for vegan fashion online to what luggage to take on the road. The animal-friendly fashion bible is a must-read for any compassionate fashionista.

Animals are not ours to wear, and when used for their skin, hair, wool, or feathers, they’re treated like nothing more than a collection of body parts instead of the sensitive, intelligent individuals they are. But thanks to brands such as our compassionate award winners, the fashion industry is changing and we’re moving towards a kinder and more sustainable future.

If you want to shop for animal-free clothing, check out some of the “PETA-Approved Vegan” fashion brands:

'PETA Approved Vegan' Fashion