Sustainable fashion may be coming into vogue now, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t brands out there trying to cut corners. Vegan is a title that Doshi and many other sustainable brands bestow upon their productions proudly - and truly.
The best in the vegan fashion industry put their money where their mouth is by investing the time and effort to ensure the items they sell and market to their customers as vegan are truly sustainably produced.
However, there are also many clothes and accessories out there that claim to be “vegan” while still using animal parts and unsustainable manufacturing processes. Luckily there are ways to tell the difference.
By knowing what to look for in materials lists, the sources of various garments, and through the vague language of inspiringly false marketing speak, you can avoid the stores that do not align with a vegan philosophy.
Here we present a guide on how to spot the red flags on vegan-marketed items that are anything but.
Recognize Vague Language
Many brands today like to utilize vague language or list out buzzwords like “all-natural” and “sustainable,” even when it’s not true of their products or processes.
The first red flag you should look for as a shopper of sustainable fashion is vagueness in the descriptions of the product. A clothing item or accessory that is being described as “vegan-friendly” or “eco”, “green”, “pure”, “natural” or otherwise - without any real proof to back it up - is likely to be false advertising.
“Made from recycled materials” or “utilizing processes that save energy” are also claims that may be true, technically, but a question arrives at the degree of those claims. Are companies saving 5% of the prior energy usage? Do recycled materials only make up 5% of the product?
Whether online or in-store, take the time to read the product description carefully, then move on to the brand’s own bio or about page for more info. From there, you should be able to begin to suss out what is really going on with their product line.
If they do not speak in clear language or ever make the statement that their product’s ingredients and manufacturing process are vegan, then you should take that as a bad sign.
Then, you should investigate the underlying materials within their items.
Know Your Garments
Do you know which ingredients are vegan? Trusted vegan source VegNews provides a simple guide on vegan clothing, including a comprehensive list of vegan-friendly fibers to look out for. Cotton, first and foremost, is a vegan’s best friend, as many clothes already use it and it is vegan by nature.
Other vegan fibers include linen, polyester, spandex, lycra, ramie, bamboo, hemp, denim, nylon, rayon, tyvek, PVC (polyvinyl chloride fiber), microfiber, cork, acrylic, viscose, and modal.
Alternatively, some absolutely non-vegan materials that always involve animal products include (real) leather, wool, alpaca, cashmere, silk, suede, maribou, angora, mohair, stingray, alligator, kangaroo, pashmina, and shearling.
Notably, t-shirts are often made fully or mostly of cotton whereas suits are made of wool. For vegan alternatives, look for linen, cotton, or synthetic, vegan-friendly suits. Shoes and belts are often made of leather, so the best option would be to look for vegan leather shoes and belts. Ties and women’s blouses are often made of silk, but popular alternatives are available in nylon, rayon, and polyester.
Whenever you buy any product you think may be vegan, you should check to make sure there is not any fur or leather added into the clothing accents where you might not expect. Check for fur trims on suits, leather labels or pocket details on pants, and fur pom-poms on scarves or hats. Leather pulls on zippers or hat feathers are all frequently overlooked as well.
When you buy a piece of clothing or an accessory from modern mass producers, there are often many different materials utilized for the whole item. Be sure to read to the end of the ingredients list on the tag or website product description. Contact the company directly if you have to.
Watch Out for “Greenwashing”
The eco-lifestyle blog Pretty Green Lily cites a recent study showing that 37% of Americans are willing to spend more money on sustainable products. This number is likely to increase as the younger generation enters the workforce and consumer economy (the study shows the sustainable stat at 45% of people aged 18-34 vs 14% of those aged 55 and up).
As a result of this growing phenomenon in consumer demand, many companies are now allocating more resources to producing their products sustainably. While there are many brands doing it the right way - like Doshi! - there are also many that are taking advantage of the trend with their marketing and not with their actual manufacturing processes.
The U.S. Federal Trades Commission (FTC) provides a Green Guides page to help consumers and producers understand just what makes something sustainable or “green” beyond just wording on a product description.
The author of the blog Pretty Green Lily cites a good list of red flags for this corporate tactic now recognized as “greenwashing”:
- Vague language - We know this one already!
- Mass production - No matter what, mass producers are more likely to cut corners and produce unsustainable waste through their processes.
- A company provides a “sustainable” collection - This means just a portion of their products are sustainable and is an admission that most of their processing is not.
- Their products are not compatible with the concept of sustainability - For example, when a fossil fuel company starts waxing on “sustainability” you can just laugh.
- Nothing backs up their claims - On their products, look for official certifications like the USDA Organic stamp or Certified Vegan Logo. Without it, their words about “organic” or vegan production mean less, and maybe nothing.
- Use images to mislead - Attractive product images alongside pictures of animals or plants can trick our minds into believing claims without evidence.
- Irrelevant claims - Pretty Green Lily cites the example that if a company tells you that they “don’t dump their waste into drinking water” that is a bare minimum standard for humaneness and shouldn’t really mean anything to a consumer.
- Social media campaigning - Pair this one with vague language. If the brand consistently uses social media platforms to express its “transparency” or “commitment to sustainability” while not changing the underlying materials or production processes, you can pass them by.
Vegan Items are Vegan!
At the end of the day, as a consumer, you have to be able to see through the B.S. Vegan products are vegan - meaning no animal materials and sustainable manufacturing are used in their production.
In the modern economy, someone looking for vegan clothing and accessories will need to thoroughly vet brands and their products to ensure they are shopping sustainably. Trends in sustainable marketing mean you will have to parse out the details of what is true around the products you buy. Answering the simple question of “is it vegan?” may not be as easy as it seems.
We at Doshi promise to stay committed to sustainable processes and vegan items. They are the only types of products we ever want to sell within our store!
Doshi FCSA (Fine Clothes, Shoes, and Accessories) offer vegan leather bags, briefcases, backpacks, belts, and other accessories. Through intentionality in our design, materials, and manufacturing, we aim to be a part of the vegan community. Our team studies trends, consults designers, and keeps a constant awareness of the marketplace in order to ensure we produce the best vegan products we can. Our founder himself is vegan and personally oversees that the manufacturing process is satisfactory.
We hope this article helps you on your vegan buying journey. Be on the lookout for these red flags on “vegan” items as you build your wardrobe!
