Miscellaneous Vegan Items

Veganism is not all about the food; it is about changing your entire lifestyle so that animals are not exploited.  This includes eliminating fur, leather, and animal tested products from your daily routine.

Fashion

Fur and leather can be expensive.  If you really do not want to part ways with your beloved jacket or wallet, hang on to it until it is too worn to be used.  The damage has already been done since the day you purchased it, and there is nothing wrong with using a non vegan item until it has reached its end.  Be sure to check the labels on new items, such as belts, shoes, hats, and gloves so that they are animal free.

Sometimes we are unsure if a fabric has come from an animal.  Here’s a list of some materials to avoid!

Aba (goat or camel hair woven fabric)
Alpaca
Baize
Brocade
Camlet
Cashmere
Cerecloth
Challis
Chiffon
Crepe
Damask
Doeskin
Faille
Felt (sometimes made of wool)
Foulard
Frieze
Gabardine
Mohair
Moquette
Moreen
Plush
Poplin
Russet
Serge
Silk
Suede
Tweed
Vicuna
Wool
Worsted

Many of these materials do not explicitly tell us what it is made from.  There are many apps to download to smartphones that can scan products to determine if they are vegan or not.

Makeup & Beauty

Makeup can be tricky.  Some may be entirely vegan while others may be cruelty-free, yet still contain animal products.  Unfortunately there are still many companies who test their products on animals.  It is up to you how you decide which to purchase.  It is still important to create a demand for cruelty-free products – kind of like how you should support Ben & Jerry’s non-dairy ice cream.  The company itself may not be vegan, but demanding these products generates a huge shift in production.

Some of my favorite vegan makeup brands include Kat Von D, Jeffree Star, ELF, Tarte, Wet n’ Wild, Paul Mitchell, and LUSH.  Cruelty-free brands include Urban Decay, Tresseme, Lime Crime, and Melt Cosmetics.

Look for a bunny or “V” logo on the packaging to determine if a product is animal free.

 

Entertainment

Animals are commonly used as a form of entertainment.  Circuses have exploited animals for years, forcing them to perform unnatural tricks and travel in cramped cages.  It is best not to support these acts whatsoever; many have already begun shutting down due to the public realizing the mistreatment occurring behind the scenes.  Many zoos are also exploiting animals for our entertainment.  Try to attend animal hospitals, rescues, and museums instead of supporting typical zoos.

 

Can you think of other areas that exploit animals?  We have taken advantage of life on earth for many years in a myriad of ways.  Do your part to respect Earth and those who share it with us.