Fashion - Plant Based News https://plantbasednews.org Disrupting The Conventional Narrative Tue, 24 May 2022 18:16:33 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.3 https://i0.wp.com/plantbasednews.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/cropped-pbnlogo.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Fashion - Plant Based News https://plantbasednews.org 32 32 183434871 Billie Eilish’s Latest Collaboration With Nike Features Vegan Air Force 1s https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/billie-eilish-collaboration-nike-vegan-air-force-1s/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/billie-eilish-collaboration-nike-vegan-air-force-1s/#respond Tue, 24 May 2022 11:24:05 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=268447 The new range features vegan sneakers, hoodies, t-shirts, and sweatpants

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Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and longtime vegan, Billie Eilish, has once again teamed up with American sportswear brand Nike to launch an entirely plant-based sneaker and apparel collection. 

Nike x Eilish

Eilish first joined Nike’s artist roster last year. She kicked off the collaboration with a range of leather-free vegan Air Jordans, featuring her signature slime green color.  

In their latest collaboration, Eilish puts her own unique spin on the iconic Nike Air Force 1s.  

The new sneakers – featuring a neutral mushroom color palette – are made from a synthetic nubuck leather material, derived from 80 percent recycled materials, including 100 percent recycled polyester. 

Similar to past releases, the sneakers channel Eilish’s own oversized aesthetic, featuring chunky mid-foot straps. The collection showcases a total of four chunky straps covering the sneaker’s laces, a look that is inspired by two other Nike staples, the Alpha Force Low and Air Trainer 3.

The sneaker also features a fifth strap that goes around the ankle in the high-top version of the vegan-friendly AF1s.

Eilish’s stick-figure Blohsh logo is displayed on the lace deubrés and the Nike Air logos appear as usual over the tongue and heel. The insoles are made with cork and embossed with lyrics from her song Billie Bossa Nova: “It’s hard to stop it once it starts.”

“The challenge and opportunity with this collection was to respect the originals, but make them my own. It was also important for me to mix in environmentally preferred materials where we could and present them in a way that felt fresh,” Eilish shared in a press release.

New apparel collection

The Nike x Billie collaboration also features a new range of matching mushroom-colored apparel in her signature oversized style.

The clothing range includes a fleece hoodie, t-shirt, and sweatpants, embellished with subtle silicone Billie Ellish graphics and the iconic Nike logo turned on its side, pointing straight upwards.

Cruelty is never in style

Beyond Eilish’s music career, she’s an avid activist working to promote sustainability and veganism. She uses her platform to influence the fashion industry as a whole to recognize that cruelty is never in style. 

PETA has also recognized Eilish’s work, naming her its “Person Of The Year” in 2021. President of PETA, Ingrid Newkirk, previously shared: “PETA is happier than ever to celebrate her for seizing every opportunity to point out that vegan fashion and foods are kinder to the animals and the planet we share with them.”

The new Nike x Billie collection is now available on Nike’s website.

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Burberry Just Confirmed An Exotic Skin Ban https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/burberry-exotic-skin-ban/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/burberry-exotic-skin-ban/#respond Thu, 19 May 2022 12:41:06 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=268232 Burberry joins several luxury brands, including Chanel and Victoria Beckham, that have already banned exotic leather

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Burberry has confirmed that it will no longer use exotic skins in its collections.

Exotic skins include any skins that do not come from cattle. Snakes, crocodiles, alligators, and ostrich skin are a few examples. But due to animal welfare concerns and rising pressure from activists, a number of companies have banned their use in recent years.

Burberry joins brands including Karl Lagerfield, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Victoria Beckham, Chanel, and Moda Operandi with its new ban, which it confirmed in its FY22 earnings call this week.

Animal rights organization PETA welcomed the news.

“During Burberry’s annual meeting last year, PETA UK asked when it would make good on its commitment to be ‘a force for good in the world’ by banning exotic skins,” said PETA UK’s vice president Mimi Bekhechi in a statement yesterday.

“We’re delighted that after years of pressure from PETA entities around the world, that day is today.”

Is luxury fashion getting more ethical?

The news comes four years after Burberry announced a ban on fur and angora. At the time, the brand’s chief executive Marco Gobbetti said: “Modern luxury means being socially and environmentally responsible. This belief is core to us at Burberry and key to our long-term success.”

“We are committed to applying the same creativity to all parts of Burberry as we do to our products.”

Several brands have banned fur in the last few years, including Gucci, Prada, Armani, Michael Kors, and Versace. In 2018, Donatella Versace, Versace’s artistic director, told The Economist’s 1843 magazine: “Fur? I am out of that. I don’t want to kill animals to make fashion. It doesn’t feel right.”

The world of luxury fashion is consistently innovating. Coperni recently teamed up with Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams to launch apple leather bags. Danish brand Ganni went one step further, pledging to ditch leather completely and replace it with plant-based alternatives.

Nicolaj Reffstrup, Ganni’s founder, said:  “Selling leather products, although highly profitable, will soon be as outdated as smoking on TV.”

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New Documentary ‘SLAY’ Exposes Fashion’s Cruel Animal Skin Trade https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/new-documentary-slay-fashions-cruel-animal-skin-trade/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/new-documentary-slay-fashions-cruel-animal-skin-trade/#respond Fri, 06 May 2022 16:35:04 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=267484 The upcoming film is crowdfunding now, with hopes of shedding light on the fashion trade's use of animals

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A new documentary is exposing the fashion industry for its greenwashing and treatment of animals.

Produced by Keegan Kuhn (known for his work on 2017’s What the Health and Cowspiracy), SLAY follows filmmaker Rebecca Cappelli’s journey around the world, investigating the animal skin trade.

Cappelli⁠—who also worked on the 2018 food-focused documentary Let us be Heroes⁠—traveled to Australia, China, India, Europe, the US, and Brazil to film at leather tanneries, fur farms, wool farms, and skin processors. 

“I have spent the last three years investigating animal skins in fashion,” Cappelli says in the film’s trailer. “They have a damaging impact on the planet, on people, and, of course, on the animals.”

“If someone would have told me even half of what I discovered doing this film, I wouldn’t have believed them.”

Cruelty in fashion

More brands are banning animal skins (fur bans, in particular, have become popular among luxury brands, as public opinion turns on the trade), but fashion is still far from cruelty-free. 

According to the documentary, around 2.5 billion animals are killed for fashion every year. Around 1.4 billion of those in the leather industry. (Leather isn’t limited to cows; pigs, kangaroos, buffalo, alligators, and snakes are also killed for their skins.)

But Cappelli hopes that her film will drive change.

SLAY’s Indiegogo page, which hopes to raise almost £50,000 to promote the film, reads: “Through our collective efforts, films like Cowspiracy and What the Health have had a huge global impact – and we can do this again.”

“We want this film to reach a mainstream audience to accelerate change thanks to existing solutions.”

Innovation in fashion is improving, and the plant-based leather industry, in particular, is becoming more mainstream.

For example, in 2021, Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams teamed up with Coperni to design a range of bags made from apple leather. Also last year, Ganni pledged to ditch leather completely, and instead use grape-based leather to make its shoes.

At the time, the brand’s founder Nicolaj Reffstrup said: “Selling leather products, although highly profitable, will soon be as outdated as smoking on TV.”

SLAY wants to make that prediction come true as soon as possible. Click here to find out more about the project, and donate to its fundraiser.

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Stella McCartney’s New Collection Is A Celebration Of Mushrooms https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/stella-mccartneys-sustainable-collection-mushrooms/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/stella-mccartneys-sustainable-collection-mushrooms/#comments Thu, 28 Apr 2022 10:41:53 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=266784 Mushrooms are increasingly cropping up in the fashion world, partly due to their positive impact on the planet

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Mushrooms are the new black. At least, that’s what Stella McCartney wants us to think this summer.

With psychedelic prints and “biophilic” cut-out designs, the brand’s new Summer 2022 range is inspired by the wonders of mushrooms. (The 2019 documentary Fantastic Fungi was a key source of inspiration for the collection.)

Standout items include the viscose-based Cut-Out Knit Bodysuit (available in Cerulean Blue and Coral Red), a vibrant Chilli Red Twill Jacket, a multicolored Hallucinogenic Cut-Out Top, and a flowing, sculptured Fringed Sleeveless Top. 

Choosing mushrooms

The brand’s website reads: “Mushrooms do not get the attention they deserve, largely because many do not understand them or are afraid of them. Our Summer 2022 collection chooses to optimistically celebrate fungi.”

Fungi have significant climate-healing potential; they increase soil biodiversity, helping to boost the health of the earth and improve carbon sequestration. They can also degrade pollutants, including oil and even plastic.

On top of all of this, mushrooms are increasingly appearing in the fashion world—and not just as inspiration. Material solutions company Bolt Threads, for example, makes high-quality leather from mycelium (the root structure of mushrooms), called Mylo.

Stella McCartney has already used Mylo in a few limited edition pieces. And later this year, the brand will release the Frayme Mylo, “the world’s first-ever commercial luxury bag” made from the material.

A mostly vegan collection

The new summer collection mostly features vegan materials. It’s totally free of leather, feathers, and fur, but some garments do feature silk.

According to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), in order to loosen and unravel their cocoons, silkworms are often boiled alive.

But in the future, Stella McCartney hopes to rely on Bolt Threads’ Microsilk instead. The vegan material, inspired by spiders and the way they weave their webs, has already featured in a few garments, including a biodegradable tennis dress created by Adidas and Stella McCartney.

The current Summer 2022 collection is available to shop now.

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Fashion Retailer Moda Operandi To Stop Selling Fur And Exotic Animal Skins https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/fashion-moda-operandi-fur-exotic-animal-skins/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/fashion-moda-operandi-fur-exotic-animal-skins/#respond Tue, 26 Apr 2022 14:19:31 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=266858 A rising number of names in fashion are taking animal products out of their wardrobes

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Luxury fashion retailer Moda Operandi is the latest to swear off animal fur and exotic skins. Animal rights organization PETA announced the news yesterday, applauding the online brand for making the industry “a kinder place.”

Founded in 2010, Moda Operandi allows customers to pre-order outfits from designers immediately after their runway shows. The curation platform gives shoppers access to runway pieces months in advance, as well as items that won’t make it to physical stores.

Those perusing Moda Operandi will find products from Chanel, Christian Dior, Hermès, and Louis Vuitton, along with a string of other high-profile names.

Animal-free fashion

But the fashion retailer is now even more selective about the products it offers. PETA revealed it sent Moda Operandi information about the skin and fur trades, including multiple exposés that document animal cruelty within the fashion sector.

According to PETA, aside from the “excruciating” manner in which animals’ skin or hair is obtained, many individuals suffer tremendously during captivity.

Undercover footage depicts animals kept in filthy, cramped enclosures, deprived of basic necessities such as food, appropriate shelter, and veterinary assistance.

Moda Operandi has since told PETA it has stopped sourcing exotic animal skins and fur.

“The champagne corks are popping at PETA as we celebrate that Moda Operandi is making the fashion world a kinder place for foxes, alligators, and other animals,” PETA executive vice president Tracy Reiman said in a statement.

Reiman added that “exotic skins and fur belong on the animals born with them, not on collars or clutches.”

Moda Operandi certainly isn’t alone in its decision. A multitude of the brand’s peers have made the same commitment, including Calvin Klein, Chanel, Diane von Furstenberg, HUGO BOSS, Jil Sander, Karl Lagerfeld, Nordstrom, and Tommy Hilfiger, which have all banned both fur and exotic skins.

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This Earth Day, Boycott Fast Fashion And Try These Sustainable Brands Instead https://plantbasednews.org/news/boycott-fast-fashion-sustainable-brands/ https://plantbasednews.org/news/boycott-fast-fashion-sustainable-brands/#respond Fri, 22 Apr 2022 13:01:02 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=266630 Is your wardrobe sustainable? Here's why what we wear matters more than ever

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Earlier this month, ultra fast-fashion retailer Shein was valued at $100 billion. It might sound initially impressive, considering it only launched about a decade ago, but Shein’s business model is hurting the planet.

To turn a profit, Shein relies on producing inexpensive clothing, often with plastic-based materials, at an extremely fast rate. It then sells garments to consumers for cheap prices and heavily encourages a shopping mentality that sees consumers constantly buy, buy, buy. 

While Shein might be among the most successful, it’s not alone. Brands like H&M, Zara, Boohoo, PrettyLittleThing, and Cider all rely on this approach. Around the world, 60 billion pieces of clothing and accessories are bought every year. But, according to a 2015 study, they’ll be worn an average of just seven times before they are thrown away.

Most of these items will end up either burned or in the landfill. But materials like polyester⁠—a favorite of fast fashion brands—are made with plastic. This means they don’t biodegrade easily, and when they do, they contaminate the earth, harming both the environment and animals. 

Microplastic pollution from polyester

Polyester is a nightmare for ecosystems. In 2020, one study found that microplastic pollution had decreased the population of tiny creatures, like mites and larvae, that live below the surface of the soil. Plastics have also been found seeping into surrounding waterways, posing a severe risk to the animals that rely on those resources to survive.

But polyester’s hazardous reach extends further than landfill soil. Before clothes are thrown out, they often get a few spins in the washing machine first. And last year, a study found that around 75 percent of microplastic pollution in the arctic is polyester, and much of it probably found itself there via the laundry. 

Shop sustainable fashion brands

Fast fashion is hurting ecosystems and the planet in many ways. Aside from waste and plastic pollution, it also contributes to deforestation (see: the leather industry) and greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, when it comes to the latter, the global fashion industry is responsible for up to 10 percent of annual emissions. And it’s getting worse.

Elisa Tonda, the head of the United Nations’ Consumption and Production Unit, said in 2019: “If we carry on with a business-as-usual approach, the greenhouse gas emissions from the industry are expected to rise by almost 50 percent by 2030.”

But as consumers, we don’t have to engage with business as usual. Firstly, we can buy fewer clothes and wear them over and over again to reduce waste. We can also thrift, borrow, and peruse sites like eBay and Depop for second-hand items. But when we do decide to buy new, we can choose sustainable options. And luckily, there are more brands than ever offering vegan, low-waste, ethical fashion choices. Here are some of our top picks. 

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1. OhSevenDays

After a stroll through Istanbul’s textile district led her to an untapped supply of deadstock (this is unused or rejected fabric from the fashion industry), Megan Mummery founded OhSevenDays to help you make your wardrobe staples sustainable.

The Turkey-based brand’s designs are chic, summery, and versatile. Take its Reese Reversible Blouse, for example. Made with leftover roll from fabric mills, it can be dressed up or down, depending on whether you choose to pair it with a fitted skirt and heels, or maybe a pair of jeans and your favorite vegan sneakers. 

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2. Boyish

Based in California, Boyish is all about offering sustainably produced denim garments at an “attainable price point.” The brand focuses on longevity, ensuring that the quality and fit is of a high standard and can live on in your wardrobe for years to come.

The brand’s Monty Shorts are the perfect addition to your summer wardrobe. They’re made with a variety of low-waste, sustainable materials, including recycled cotton, Refibra (made with recycled scraps), and Tencel (derived from eucalyptus trees). For that chilled, headed-to-the-beach look, just pair with a simple tee and sandals.

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3. Lucy & Yak

Known for its quirky dungarees, Lucy & Yak is just as passionate about ethics and sustainability as it is about fun, colorful prints. All of its suppliers pay fair wages. This is in stark contrast to fast fashion brands, many of which have come under fire for exploiting the factory workers who make their clothes. (Just last year, an investigation found Shein’s suppliers making staff work 75-hour weeks for very little pay.) 

Lucy & Yak uses materials like organic twill and organic cotton, as well as low-impact dyes, to make its vibrant designs, like this sunflower-printed Asahi Nagata & Yak Limited Edition Dungaree.

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4. Nu-In

If you love fast fashion but don’t love its impact on people and the planet, Nu-In is for you. The brand offers a range of on-trend styles (like this Organic Tie Back Ribbed Knitted Mini Dress and this Recycled Rushed Frill Mini Skirt) for a slightly lower price point than other sustainable brands.

But while it may have a fast fashion-esque aesthetic and the occasional sale, that’s where the comparison stops. Nu-In is passionately against the fast fashion business model, and instead, encourages its customers to buy less and wear more. It states on its website: “We do not condone flash sales that encourage impulse buying of items that may not be needed or wanted and therefore discarded.”

It adds that people should “take the time to consider whether they really want to buy the item rather than buying it just because it’s on sale.”

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5. Christy Dawn

In the market for a vintage-style, elegant, and sustainable dress to add to your wardrobe (wedding season is nearly upon us, after all)? Christy Dawn is a good place to start. All of the Los Angeles-based brand’s designs (like this pretty daisy-printed Laura Dress, for example) are created with respect for nature in mind, using deadstock fabric or organic cotton.

Plus, with its Farm-to-Closet initiative, the brand supports a network of local craftspeople and farmers in Erode India, who help to regenerate the land and heal the soil from depletion. 

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6. Tala

For gym-goers, Tala is a comfortable, high-performance, sustainable, and ethical choice. Founded by Grace Beverley, a fitness entrepreneur and influencer, all of Tala’s activewear (from sports bras like this Ixia Seamless Zip option to flared yoga pants like these) is created in a transparent supply chain, where suppliers and factories are carefully vetted to check staff are being treated and paid fairly.

Fabrics include Q-Nova (which is made with regenerated waste materials), Lyocell (made from wood pulp), and bamboo. Plus, as a little sustainable extra, all of its tags are filled with seeds for herbs, flowers, or spices.

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7. People Tree

People Tree is one of the OGs when it comes to sustainable fashion brands. Founded in 1991 by James and Safia Minney, the brand’s products are made with affordability and style in mind. But ethics or quality are never compromised.

Take these Sasha trousers, for example. The comfy, joggers look cute with a white tee and sneakers for those days when you’re just running errands. They’re also soft, functional (hello deep pockets!), and made with certified organic cotton.

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Why Billie Eilish’s Sustainable Red Carpet Fashion Is So Important https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/billie-eilish-sustainable-red-carpet-fashion-important/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/billie-eilish-sustainable-red-carpet-fashion-important/#respond Fri, 15 Apr 2022 12:51:07 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=265995 Each glitzy celebrity event involves a red carpet, big names, and of course, lots and lots of outfits. But what impact does this have on the planet?

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In May 2021, Billie Eilish stepped onto the Met Gala’s red carpet oozing the glamour of old Hollywood in a Grace Kelly-inspired ball gown.

She was poised and pretty in peach, but she was also full of purpose. Because for the musician, the Oscar de la Renta look came with a price: the brand must pull fur from the shelves for good. And so it did. 

“I am beyond thrilled that the entire team heard me on this issue,” Eilish said at the time. “They have now made a change that makes an impact for the greater good, not only for animals but also for our planet and environment too.”

But she didn’t stop at the Met. Alongside her mother Maggie Baird, the founder of food insecurity-focused plant-based nonprofit Support and Feed, Eilish continued to make bold and ethical fashion statements during the 2022 awards season.

For her appearance at the Oscars—where she won Best Original Song alongside her brother Finneas for No Time to Die—Eilish donned a black, ruffled Gucci gown made with deadstock (which consists of previously rejected or unused fabric).

And at the Grammys, where the singer was nominated in seven categories, Baird accompanied her daughter in a vibrant red Mohammad Benchellal dress featuring upcycled materials.

Here’s why their red carpet outfit choices matter for the animals and the planet. 

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The problem with red carpet fashion

The film and music awards season usually runs for several months, starting around November and finishing in the spring of the following year. Each glitzy event involves a red carpet, big names, and of course, lots and lots of outfits.

According to Vogue, for just one celebrity at one event, around 60 outfit options can be pulled (which gives you an idea of the scale of garments required across the whole season). But all of that clothing has an impact on the planet. For starters, there’s all the waste it creates. 

Fashion has a huge problem with clothing waste. It’s estimated that every second, a garbage truck full of textile waste is dumped at the landfill or incinerated. But when brands choose upcycled materials or deadstock for garments, like those worn by Eilish and Baird, they can go some way towards mitigating this impact. 

Problems with leather

Samata Pattinson is the CEO of Red Carpet Green Dress Global (RCGD Global), an organization that champions sustainable red carpet design initiatives. It supported Baird and Eilish to make their outfit choices.

Pattinson said that, while “red carpets create an opportunity for a powerful moment and conversation,” the environmental destruction they leave in their wake is a serious problem. “There is clearly an opportunity for a more streamlined, efficient, and sustainable approach to design,” she told Plant Based News.

Leather, for example, is a favorite of many designers and celebrities. But the material is detrimental to the environment. Just last year, a report by Stand.earth and Slow Factory linked a number of fashion brands, including luxury names like Fendi, Prada, and Louis Vuitton, with deforestation in the Amazon caused by leather manufacturers and tanneries.

Leather production is also cruel. Every year, more than one billion animals are slaughtered for their skins. And it’s not just cows. Kangaroos, sheep, goats, horses, alligators, crocodiles, and horses are just a few examples of animals that the leather industry exploits.

And just because the item is luxury, doesn’t mean it’s been humanely produced. Last year, Hermès submitted plans to expand its saltwater crocodile farms in Australia. If they go ahead, 50,000 crocodiles will suffer in cramped conditions before they are slaughtered for their skins. 

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Why ethical red carpet choices matter

But change is happening in fashion. Like Oscar de la Renta, a number of luxury brands now have fur bans. These include Versace, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Burberry, Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana.

Plus, vegan materials are becoming more commonplace. Valentino, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci have all launched vegan leather sneakers in recent months. In April of last year, Karl Lagerfield debuted vegan bags made with cactus leather and organic cotton. In October, Danish label Ganni pledged to drop leather completely and replace it with a more sustainable and cruelty-free plant-based alternative.

Celebrities can help to drive up demand for more sustainable and ethical clothing choices. During red carpet events, in particular, they have a big influence. Not only do millions tune in to watch awards ceremonies live, but in the aftermath, the images of who wore what continue to circulate on social media. They garner hundreds of thousands of likes and views.

“Red carpet culture has evolved because there is a bigger focus on a story, a desire to offer depth and connect beyond the red carpet,” said Pattinson.

She added: “Red carpet moments are exciting and glamorous. But they are also a highly visible way to inspire education and change. Red carpets provide an opportunity to show your values.”

‘It’s really important to me that what I wear reflects all that I believe’

So when Baird and Eilish chose ethical gowns for the Grammys and the Oscars, they used their platforms for good. “It’s really important to me that what I wear reflects all that I believe,” Baird told Plant Based News. “I strive to wear clothing that is sustainable to the planet. That is also cruelty-free in terms of animals and also human labour.”

The mother-daughter duo isn’t alone in making more ethical red carpet choices. RCGD Global has been working to support more ethical and cruelty-free outfits at awards ceremonies since 2009.

Actor and activist Suzy Amis Cameron founded RCGD Global during the press tour for the first Avatar (her husband James Cameron’s record-breaking blockbuster). The organization spotlights the environmental and ethical problems in the fashion world and helps stars to make kinder choices.

Last year, RCGD Global supported Marlee Matlin, who wore a vegan custom-made Vivienne Westwood gown. Like Eilish’s 2022 dress, the garment features Tencel (a sustainable cellulose-based fiber). This year, Paloma Garcia Lee and Tati Gabrielle both made sustainable designer choices in collaboration with RCDG Global.

“The incredible platform our Oscars campaign gives us helps us champion brands that are going the extra mile to do good. It allows us to reach a global audience in one night – quite literally with one dress or tuxedo.

“Through the red carpet our campaign reaches millions in nearly 100 countries,” says Pattinson. “We have been promoting this change for over a decade now, but never in history has sustainability been more relevant.”

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Stella McCartney’s Latest Sustainable Collection Is Fantasia-Inspired https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/stella-mccartneys-collection-fantasia/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/stella-mccartneys-collection-fantasia/#respond Thu, 07 Apr 2022 16:04:42 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=265361 The range includes themed accessories and footwear made with recyclable and vegan-friendly materials

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Stella McCartney is bringing Disney’s 1941 classic Fantasia back to life, with a new collection of bags, sneakers, sweaters, and more.

The new Mickey Mouse-inspired range features a range of vegan materials, including organic cotton, recycled nylon, and recycled polyester.

Stand-out items from the new collection include a Mickey-emblazoned crystal tote (complete with Stella McCartney’s signature silver diamond-cut chain) and pastel pink Loop Lace-Up Sneakers. The latter features a rainbow-colored graphic of Mickey in Fantasia, a recycled polyester upper, and a bamboo lining.

Stella McCartney is renowned in the fashion world for its commitment to sustainable fashion. Last year, the brand launched several new sustainable products, including vegan sneakers made with recycled fishing nets and vegan leather bags made from mycelium (the root network of mushrooms).

That said, there are items in the new collection that include animal products, like silk and wool. While the brand uses repurposed and traceable versions of these materials, both industries are rife with animal welfare concerns.

Silk comes from farmed silkworms, and it takes roughly 3,000 of the creatures to make one pound of silk, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Similarly, PETA investigations have found that in the wool industry, the sheep shearing process can be violent and aggressive.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcA_BRzjk9x/

Stella McCartney’s Disney-inspired fashion

This isn’t the first time Stella McCartney has collaborated with Disney. Back in February, Stella McCartney herself was invited to Disneyland Paris to design Minnie Mouse’s first-ever pantsuit out of responsible materials.

But for the new collection, McCartney wanted to take inspiration from Mickey and Fantasia. The experimental Walt Disney animation married together the movie giant’s beloved character with classical music from composers like Ludwig Van Beethoven and Stravinsky.

According to the designer, her love for the movie was inspired by her mother, famous photographer, entrepreneur, musician, and passionate animal rights activist Linda McCartney.

“[My mother] was a huge fan of Disney, so I grew up watching Fantasia,” McCartney told WWD. “I loved escaping reality into this colorful and psychedelic world of magic, animals, and powerful symphony music. It was ahead of its time then, and is more relevant than ever now.”

She added: “I’m so excited to introduce one of Disney’s most beautiful animations to a new generation through fashion.”

As well as an appreciation for the world’s most famous animated mouse, McCartney also inherited a love of real animals from her mother. The designer launched her brand around 25 years ago, and in stark contrast to other brands at the time, she ensured everything was leather- and fur-free. To this day, she remains a pioneer of sustainable fashion.

The new Fantasia capsule collection is available to buy from the Stella McCartney website now.

The post Stella McCartney’s Latest Sustainable Collection Is Fantasia-Inspired appeared first on Plant Based News.

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Pamela Anderson Debuts Vegan Handbag Collection Made From Apple Skin Leather  https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/pamela-anderson-vegan-handbag/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/pamela-anderson-vegan-handbag/#comments Thu, 03 Mar 2022 15:36:30 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=263443 The post Pamela Anderson Debuts Vegan Handbag Collection Made From Apple Skin Leather  appeared first on Plant Based News.

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Celebrity and animal-rights activist Pamela Anderson has teamed up with French fashion house Ashoka Paris to create a new line of cruelty-free vegan handbags made from apple skin leather. 

After a successful collaboration in 2020 with the Parisian fashion brand, the Baywatch star has once again joined forces with Ashoka Paris to create a new vegan shopping bag collection available in red, black, terracotta and nude shade.

Uses apples that would otherwise be wasted

The PETA-approved Pamela Shopping Collection features four bags made from apple skin leather, a revolutionary biodegradable material that is crafted using apple waste obtained from Italy.

Apple leather is made using the cores and skins discarded from the industrial food industry.

The wasted fruit scraps are gathered together, juiced, and naturally dried into a fine powder. The fine powder is then blended with a resin-like material and is dried, producing a flexible leather-like sheet.

The inside liners of each bag feature Pamela’s stylised lips and her inspirational activist slogan “RESIST!”, and like all liners of their entire collection, it is made from recycled plastic bottles.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CaMXwEyoYFd/

Animal activism

For many years, Pamela Anderson has been a supporter of PETA and is an active animal rights campaigner. 

On their website, Ashoka Paris shared, “The partnership between Pamela Anderson, PETA Award 2018 Personality of the Year and Ashoka ParisPETA Award 2018 Best Vegan Bag was a natural fit. Working on this Vegan bag project with Pamela, a global celebrity and committed activist, is an honour and a fabulous experience,”.

As part of the collaboration, Ashoka Paris will donate a portion of the sales to the Pamela Anderson Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation, which has been working to support and protect human rights, animals and the environment for 25 years.

If you would like to get your hands on a bag, Ashoka Paris and Pamila Anderson are holding a giveaway with PETA UK where one lucky fan will get the chance to win an uber-chic bag in the colour of their choice.

The future of fashion

Predicted to be the future of fashion, a growing number of brands are ditching animal skin in favour of vegan alternatives, such as apple leather.

The shift to sustainable and ethical material is hugely motivated by the animal welfare and environmental concerns that come with producing leather. 

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The Term ‘Vegan Leather’ Has Been Banned In Portugal https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/vegan-leather-ban/ https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/fashion/vegan-leather-ban/#comments Thu, 17 Feb 2022 17:49:57 +0000 https://plantbasednews.org/?p=262528 The post The Term ‘Vegan Leather’ Has Been Banned In Portugal appeared first on Plant Based News.

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The Portuguese government has banned the term ‘vegan leather’. Now, any company that uses plant-based prefixes such as ‘vegan,’ ‘synthetic,’ or ‘pineapple’ on their products could face fines and prosecution. 

Consumer clarity has been touted as the main reason for the legislation. But with the vegan leather market projected to hit almost $90 billion by 2025, the enormous growth provides a problem for the Portuguese government, which is under pressure to protect the country’s leather industry. 

War of the words 

Portugal is not the first country to ban so-called ‘misleading’ terms. Belgium, France, Italy, and Spain have all made moves to initiate similar laws, with consumer clarity always cited as the primary motivation.

However, last year a new study busted the myth that consumers are confused by labels such as “meat’” and “milk’” on plant-based products.

Attempts to suppress the vegan market have not always been successful. In 2020, European farmers lost in their attempt to ban terms such as “veggie burger,” and last year an Australian senator failed to enforce a ban on meat-like terms used on vegan product packaging.

Traditional leather is bad for the environment

Conventional leather has come under heavy criticism in recent years for its detrimental environmental impact, not to mention the obvious animal welfare connotations. 

The Livestock sector is the world’s biggest user of agricultural land, primarily through grazing and the use of feed crops. As a result, real leather plays a significant role in climate change.

Many of the plant-based alternatives hitting the market are significantly more sustainable.

For example, a peer-reviewed life cycle assessment of Modern Meadow’s Bioleather1 material family found that Bioleather1 produces 80 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than bovine leather and 20 percent fewer than PU-based synthetic leather alternatives. 

Furthermore, The Environmental Profit & Loss tool developed in 2018 by Kering states that the impact of producing vegan-leather can be up to a third lower than traditional leather.

Recent years have seen a boom in manufacturers releasing more and more types of vegan leather as global demand surges. From utilizing floral waste in India to the fique plant in Colombia, the industry is not slowing down any time soon.

Vegan leather drawbacks? 

Despite vegan alternatives having a lower impact on the environment than the real thing, they also have some drawbacks, mainly when they include plastic. Leather-like materials often rely on fossil-fuel-derived synthetics that mimic the desired effects of animal leather. 

Plant-based materials are sometimes mixed with PU plastic which can end up in water or landfill. It takes many years to degrade and releases toxic chemicals into the environment. 

However, over the past few years, innovators have pioneered ways to make vegan leather without plastic, making it the most environmentally sound choice. 

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