As more people learn how easy it is to be kind to animals by choosing clothes and accessories made from vegan leather, faux fur, “mock croc” and other cruelty-free materials, more and more top designers and high-street retailers are meeting the demand for top-quality vegan fashion. These are exciting times as compassionate consumers change the face of fashion. In recognition, PETA is celebrating the very best animal-free clothing and accessories with the third annual PETA UK Vegan Fashion Awards.
Animal-free fashion is the future, and forward-thinking designers are experimenting with innovative, high-tech materials that are vegan and eco-friendly and offer ethical consumers a vast array of cruelty-free choices – from high-street to high-end. This year’s winners show just how easy it is to get the look of leather, fur, wool, silk, down and exotic skins without harming a hair on an animal’s head!
Women’s
Most Stylish Flats
Most Stylish Heels
Most Stylish Boots
Most Stylish Sneakers
Most Stylish Handbag
Most Stylish Evening Bag
Most Stylish Backpack
Most Stylish Purse
Most Stylish Coat
Most Stylish Jacket
Most Stylish Faux Sheepskin Item
Most Stylish Down-Free Item
Most Stylish Faux Leather Item
Most Stylish Knitwear Item
Most Stylish Gloves
Most Stylish Poncho
Most Stylish Hat
Men’s
Most Stylish Smart Shoes
Most Stylish Casual Shoes
Most Stylish Boots
Most Stylish Sneakers
Most Stylish Suit
Most Stylish Casual Bag
Most Stylish Briefcase
Most Stylish Wallet
Most Stylish Coat
Most Stylish Jacket
Most Stylish Faux Shearling Item
Most Stylish Down-Free Item
Most Stylish Faux Leather Item
Most Stylish Knitwear Item
Most Stylish Gloves
Most Stylish Scarf
Most Stylish Hat
Other
Most Stylish Tech Accessory
Innovation Award
Ananas Anam is the company behind Piñatex, an innovative new faux leather made from pineapple leaves that’s wowing top designers.
The vegan leather is super-sustainable and doesn’t involve the use of any additional water, pesticides or fertilizer beyond what’s needed to cultivate the pineapples for consumption. It’s breathable, soft, light, flexible, mouldable and easily dyed, so it can be used as a leather alternative in the fashion, accessory and upholstery markets.
Influencer Award
A freelance fashion stylist, Shelly Vella recently left her 14-year position at Cosmopolitan, during which time she spearheaded several anti-fur campaigns and implemented bans on pelts and exotic skins in photo shoots for the magazine.
The vegetarian frequently speaks out for animals and uses her connections in the fashion, media and celebrity worlds to advocate on their behalf.
Traditionally, the clothing industry has cared little about the animals exploited for fashion:
- On fur farms, animals such as foxes, minks and chinchillas spend their entire lives confined to tiny, filthy wire cages and are killed by gassing, neck-breaking or beating, and rabbits used for angora endure the agony of having their fur yanked out by the fistful.
- In the global leather industry, more than 1 billion cows are slaughtered each year, often in extremely crude and painful conditions.
- In wool production, Australian sheep farmers mutilate lambs in a cruel procedure known as “mulesing”, and shearing often leaves sheep battered and bleeding.
- In the exotic-skins industry, the lives of millions of snakes, alligators, seals, zebras, lizards, ostriches and other beautiful animals are taken each year.
- In down production, live geese and ducks are often pinned down and their feathers are ripped out by the handful.
But thankfully, as these award recipients prove, retailers and designers are finally beginning to recognise the demand for animal-friendly clothes. Compassionate consumers are beginning to change the face of fashion and help spare animals a life of suffering.
