👗 Fashion
The Vegan Fashion Guide
What to wear, what to look for on a label, and Indian brands worth your money.
The non-vegan materials to learn
| Material | Source | Common in |
|---|---|---|
| Leather | Cow, buffalo, goat skin | Bags, shoes, belts, jackets |
| Suede | Underside of leather | Same |
| Silk | Silkworm cocoons | Sarees, scarves, blouses |
| Wool | Sheep | Sweaters, coats, suits |
| Cashmere | Goat undercoat | Premium sweaters, shawls |
| Pashmina | Cashmere goat | Shawls |
| Mohair | Angora goat | Sweaters |
| Angora | Rabbit | Fluffy knits |
| Down / feathers | Geese, ducks | Jackets, pillows, duvets |
| Fur | Various | Coats, trims |
| Shearling | Lamb with wool still on | Coats, boots |
| Exotic skins | Snake, croc, ostrich | Luxury accessories |
Vegan alternatives that don't look like plastic
- Leather: cactus leather (Desserto), apple leather, mushroom leather (Mylo), cork, washable kraft paper, recycled rubber, Piñatex (pineapple leaf).
- Silk: cupro (regenerated cotton), Tencel/lyocell, modal, peace silk is not vegan (it's still silkworm).
- Wool: organic cotton knits, hemp, Tencel, recycled poly fleece, bamboo.
- Cashmere: Tencel-cotton blends, modal blends, recycled cashmere is still wool.
- Down: PrimaLoft (synthetic), recycled polyester insulation, kapok.
How to read a label
Indian apparel labels list fibre content by percentage. Look for the small composition tag — usually on the inner seam.
- 100% Cotton ✓
- 100% Linen ✓
- 100% Hemp ✓
- 100% Viscose / Lyocell / Modal / Tencel ✓
- 100% Polyester / Nylon / Acrylic ✓ (synthetic — vegan, less sustainable)
- Cotton 95% / Elastane 5% ✓
- Wool / Cashmere / Pashmina / Silk / Leather ✗
Indian vegan brands
Everyday
- No Nasties — organic cotton tees, basics, certified vegan.
- The Souled Store — most graphic tees vegan (check the rare wool/silk).
- Tamarind — modern vegan-friendly Indian wear.
- Tee-Owls — vegan, slow fashion.
Footwear & bags
- Paaduks — vegan shoes, hand-crafted in India.
- Studio Beej — vegan bags, ethical, modern.
- Arture — vegan cork accessories.
- Veja — global vegan sneakers, available on Tata Cliq Luxury.
- Bourgeois Boheme — vegan shoes, premium.
Premium / occasionwear
- Doodlage — vegan, zero-waste, premium.
- Jaywalking — gender-neutral, mostly vegan.
- Bhumiputra — sustainable, Indian fabrics.
Outerwear / down alternatives
- Wills Vegan Shoes — sneakers, boots, jackets.
- Stella McCartney — global luxury vegan (Net-A-Porter).
The wardrobe rule
You don't need to bin what you own. Wear out the leather jacket and silk saree you already have. The most ethical garment is the one already in your closet. From today, simply: don't buy new leather, silk, wool, cashmere, or down.
"I gave away nothing. I wore the silk saree at my best friend's wedding two years after going vegan. Then I gave it to my sister. Now I buy differently."
Pashmina, in a sentence
Pashmina is cashmere with extra steps. It's the undercoat of a Himalayan goat, often combed (sometimes shorn) — and the goats face significant stress, harsh climate, and often slaughter at end of life. Modern wool-free shawls in Tencel-modal blends are softer, warmer per gram, and washable.
References
Written by Malavika Malaviya. Last updated 19 June 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.
