{"id":5930,"date":"2020-01-15T23:05:44","date_gmt":"2020-01-15T23:05:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fashioninsiders.co\/?p=5930"},"modified":"2021-03-09T14:32:18","modified_gmt":"2021-03-09T14:32:18","slug":"cruelty-free-fashion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fashioninsiders.co\/features\/opinion\/cruelty-free-fashion\/","title":{"rendered":"The Global Rise of Cruelty-Free Fashion"},"content":{"rendered":"
For many, the search led them to nowhere. Others chose to do something it and launched their own brands in this increasingly popular product niche.<\/p>\n
The poor state of the planet we live in is highlighted daily. No longer do we witness natural disasters from a safe distance. More and more of us experience first-hand or know of someone who has been directly affected by such climate change provoked calamities.<\/p>\n
Most causes point to the vast amount of land, claimed through (mostly) deforestation in order to make it suitable for growing crops that will feed the animals. According to a study done by the Harvard University approved in 2013, around 30% of the worlds ice-free surface land is farmed to support the feeding of chickens, pigs and cattle that we consume.<\/p>\n
This, in turn, uses up even bigger, incomprehensible to a normal human, amounts of water and energy.<\/p>\n
The biggest activists fighting against climate change are the millennials and gen Z. They also happen to\u00a0have\u00a0a major impact on how businesses think, act, advertise\u00a0and exert the\u00a0most influence globally.<\/p>\n
Not to say other generations aren\u2019t \u2013 but these two generations are the most passionate and vociferous. They know how to use social networks and media to their advantage creatively. They also do not stop when they have an unmet need. Instead – they rise to the challenge and do something about it.<\/p>\n
This will explain the sudden rise of cruelty-free fashion brands tailoring their demands to the needs and desires of the conscious-minded amongst us.<\/p>\n
While the term \u201ccruelty-free fashion\u201d may not evoke visions of beauty and luxury, many of the brands using these materials are creating beautiful and covetable products.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Products that are a hit with the environmentally conscious consumers, as well as, vegetarians, vegans and other flexitarian categories. These currently account for 11% of the world\u2019s population and the numbers are growing daily.<\/p>\n
In terms of materials, there is an ever-increasing list of sources that, in one way or another, are able to produce raw materials that can be used in the fashion industry.<\/p>\n
Silk, for instance, is one of the most criticized materials. The preferred choice for luxury brands, due to its soft handle and sheer finish, silk is often criticised by vegans and animal rights activists because of its origins. Typically produced by boiling the cocoons of the silkworm \u2013 it is anything but a kind process. The silkworms die in the process.<\/p>\n
While there are several synthetic, silk-silk alternatives, they, unfortunately, are not bio-degradable.<\/p>\n
But what is perceived as a problem by some, is an opportunity for another. Silk farmers in India have developed an innovative method of breeding and harvesting of silk. Done in accordance with the principle of AHIMSA (Sanskrit word for \u201cnon-violence\u201d) the silk yarn and fabric is manufactured under the most stringent social and natural conditions. This results in cruelty-free or also known as \u201cpeace\u201d silk that is slowly becoming more known and sought-after raw material.<\/p>\n