Non-Vegan Clothing Materials from Animals (Beyond Leather)

Everyone knows leather, wool, and fur come from animals. If you’re aiming for a vegan wardrobe, however, there are other fabrics and elements you might want to watch out for. 

So, we’ll point out the most common clothing materials from animals that might be hiding in your closet or in the garments you’re planning on buying (for some we genuinely had no clue!).

We’ll also recommend some cruelty-free alternatives and show you how to easily find fully vegan clothes without going insane.

You decide what to prioritise and whether or not you want to avoid all these clothing materials from animals

Let's clarify something: we're not here to preach or judge.

• Different vegans have different preferences – If you want to avoid all clothing materials derived from animals, this guide is going to be an eye-opener. But if, for example, you realise you don’t mind wearing shoes that have a tiny bit of gelatine-based glue, you do you
• Vegan doesn’t automatically mean eco-friendly – Unfortunately, some vegan alternatives (like PVC leather) are terrible for the planet 

Basically, it’s hard and, in some cases, impossible to be “perfect” with our fashion choices.

We believe that what matters most is trying our best to reduce our environmental impact and prioritising what aligns with our personal preferences and beliefs.

So, we created this guide on non-vegan clothing materials from animals to help you make informed decisions. What those decisions end up being? It’s entirely up to you.

Non-vegan clothing fabrics derived from animals (beyond “obvious ones” like leather, fur, and wool)

Silk 

Not everyone knows this, but silk actually involves silkworms. And the worst part? They’re boiled, steamed, or baked alive in their cocoons during the production process.

Vegan alternatives to silk

• Cupro
• Synthetic fabrics (to lower your environmental footprint, consider opting for recycled ones)

Suede

Many consumers think of suede as more of a texture, but it’s actually a type of leather made from the underside of animal hides, especially lamb.

Vegan alternatives to suede

• Faux suede, also known as microfiber suede (made with synthetic fibers)

Other animal-derived materials in clothes

Shell, bone, and horn buttons

Sometimes, buttons are made with the shells of molluscs like oysters and mussels (and therefore come from industrial marine farming) or bone and horn (mainly from cattle like cows and buffaloes but also deer).

In some cases, they’re only labelled as “natural”. So, you might not think they have anything to do with animals, specifically. 

Vegan alternatives to animal-derived buttons

• Wood buttons
• Metal buttons 
• Synthetic or plastic buttons (better if recycled)
• Corozo (made from the nut of Tagua palm trees) or coconut buttons

Down 

Many insulated clothes (like puffer jackets) are filled with duck and goose feathers.

Vegan alternatives to down

• Synthetic down (made from polyester fibres, and in some cases, recycled ones) 
• Plant-based fibres
• Air-based insulation 

Some types of glue

From shoes to accessories, some clothing items involve glue containing animal collagen, which is present in bones, skin, or connective tissue. 

Vegan alternatives to animal-derived glue

• Synthetic glues 
• Water-based adhesives 

Carmine (red dye)

This popular red dye (also known as cochineal, crimson lake, or Natural Red 4) is actually made from crushed insects.

Vegan alternatives to carmine

• Synthetic red dyes
• Plant-based red dyes

Certain types of wax

Wax coatings give a water-resistant surface to jackets, coats, and bags, but did you know they often involve lanolin (which comes from the glands of wool-bearing animals like sheep) or beeswax?

Vegan alternatives to animal-derived wax

• Synthetic waxes 
• Plant-based options like candelilla wax

How to easily find fully vegan clothes that don’t contain any animal-derived materials (without wasting hours)

If you want to reduce or downright avoid all kinds of clothing materials derived from animals, you might be wondering “How can I keep track of ALL that when looking for new garments and accessories?”

We’ve done a lot of research into the brands we work with to save us all time.

At Project Cece, we brought hundreds of ethical brands in one place and added filters to simplify your choices. One of them is our Vegan label.

When you select it, it’ll only show you garments that are entirely vegan. Staying true to both your style and ethos while avoiding animal-derived materials has never been easier.

Shop entirely vegan clothes from sustainable brands