see how to maintain style without exploiting animals

Activism and fashion can and should go hand in hand, and this makes room for people and companies concerned with the cause of animals and with sustainability to create cruelty-free products and services.

“Vegano Shoes is proof of that. Our products fit right in with today’s fashion world and are 100% cruelty-free. Also, fashion can be a great means of expression for activism, making it more visible and sustaining itself”, points out Rosemir Folhas, founder of Vegano Shoes.

Patricia Zanella, researcher in sustainable fashion, vegan, international activist and co-founder of EcoCiclo, has always been a lover of fashion and, at the same time, concerned about sustainability. The young social entrepreneur points out the importance of having a critical and questioning eye. “Rethinking your consumption and the meaning of each piece you use as an extension of your values, which for me can and should coexist with the struggle for environmental protection and social awareness”, analyzes the researcher.

Differences between animal leather and synthetic products

Rosemir Folhas, founder of Vegano Shoes, explains the difference between products leather and synthetic products. “Animal leather, first of all, needs the sacrifice of a life to exist. After that, it goes through many processes that are very harmful to nature, the environment and the health of those who work in this process. Vegan leather, on the other hand, does not exist. This expression is misused in the market. Leather is a designation that should only be used for animal skin. What we use here is PU Synthetic Laminate”, clarifies Rosemir Folhas.

He explains, however, that there is a downside to the PU. “It’s just that most of it today comes from petroleum-derived raw material. Every oil derivative is organic, that is, it is a carbon chain and came from something that was once alive. However, not all PU is derived from petroleum. We already have this material made from castor beans, but the cost still makes large-scale production unfeasible. But, it is important to know this information in order not to generalize the source of obtaining the PU”.

cruelty free options

To facilitate the search for clothing and accessories free of raw materials that harm the planet and kill animals, it is important to research the brands that produce these products and value small producers. “accompanying people vegan and sites like Understand de Moda, helps to have access to the various options available in the market that are not in the mainstream media”, advises international activist Patricia Zanella.

Style aligned with conscience

The social entrepreneur also suggests prioritizing thrift stores and shared closets and understanding your own style. “Knowing which fabrics and colors work best for me and the other items in my wardrobe ensures that my style is in line with my personal brand and commitments, ending that feeling of ‘not having clothes’, in addition to knowing that I’m wearing what I want. I believe, that is, something aligned with my values”, explains Patrícia Zanella.

conscious production

To protect animals, it is possible to use several other sources, in addition to taking advantage of what already exists. “We work here at Vegano Shoes with fabric that most often comes from recycling waste from textile industries, we reuse used tire inner tubes (which would go to the trash) and also PU synthetic blade. Some materials are used raw, such as the inner tube, others are recycled at Vegano Shoes partner industries”, explains Rosemir Folhas.

Vegan accessories and clothing are also of quality

People tend to believe that a product made with leather, for example, is better and more durable, but synthetic products can have the same quality and even some can be better. But for a synthetic product to be good, it also needs to be produced with quality materials.

“Very cheap products are almost always linked with environmental exploration and/or people. It is necessary to understand that there is a point where we get a fair price and without exploitation, it is this point that we are always looking for. The best way to improve the accessibility of vegan products is to increase consumption, so companies will gain more production potential”, analyzes the founder of Vegano Shoes.

Search before buying

Rosemir Folhas warns that sometimes, because we want to pay a lower price for certain products, “we end up opting for imported products with labor of dubious origin and who knows, maybe even slave labor. So it’s worth reflecting on: will the product you want be paid for by you or by third parties through exploitation?”, he asks. That’s why research is essential. “Opting for thrift stores, vegan fairs and integrated stores that have several more sustainable brands”, suggests Patrícia Zanella.

Vegan fashion is for everyone

It is not necessary to be vegan to exclude from your clothing products that are produced with raw materials of animal origin. “We believe that people’s awareness occurs gradually. We have examples here at Vegano Shoes, of people who are not yet vegan, but are concerned with the planet, with nature and seek us out to purchase our products. Thus, we noticed that among people, in their daily lives, the use of vegan products is already growing a lot”, reports Rosemir Folhas.

He points out that these products do not lose anything when it comes to beauty, comfort and style. “Soon they will be on the catwalks. It’s a matter of time, because, little by little, people are realizing that it’s not necessary to kill to dress or shoe well”, she analyzes. People are increasingly open to the lifestyle that protects animals, but there needs to be more awareness about how animals and the planet are affected by mindless consumption.