Live blog: Should fashion go vegan?
By Adebukola Fadipe and Nikos Papanikolaou
Should fashion go vegan? That’s the question that a panel of sustainable fashion experts are about to debate at London Metropolitan University this evening in front of a full hall of BA Journalism students and guests.
Today’s speakers are Bel Jacobs, former fashion editor of Metro who now freelances on ethical fashion and animal rights; Marta Canga, vegan fashion influencer; Sascha Camilli, founder and editor of Vilda Luxe Vegan Living; Omar Mansoor, London-based fashion designer and Vanita Badlani Bagri, founder of cruelty-free LaBante London.
16:58 The speakers are sitting before the packed hall and getting ready for the event.
16:59 BA Journalism Senior Lecturer Gill Wood welcomes the guests and the speakers
17:00 Gill mentions the immediacy of tackling Climate Change and the catastrophic events that are occurring around the planet
17:03 Gill introduces the speakers to the audience
17:06 The conversation is about to start
17:08 First question to the panel asked by student Natasha Drakakis: Why should animals have rights?
17:06 Sascha replies that animals are sentient beings and that they feel pain
17:07 Marta refers to the line we draw concerning which animals we think it’s okay to kill, and which animals we keep as pets
17:10 Bel says that animals should definitely have rights, and that we as humans have a fundamental right of duty of care to them
17:12 Omar mentions the recent tragedy in Germany in which fireworks exploded in a local zoo, causing a fire and killing many animals. The fire provoked outrage from the community and he asked why such empathy cannot be afforded to all animals
17:14 Second question to the panel is asked by student Aaron Patel: Business opportunity or genuinely vegan?
17:15 Bel answers by saying that it depends on each different company but she wants more vegan items out there, even if it is just a business opportunity
17:16 Omar thinks that there is now more variety on vegan products than before and he thinks that it is indeed just for business
17:17 Gill asks a follow-up question about millennials answered by Vanita, who thinks that millennials are more conscious. Vegan fashion gives people more options
17:19 Sascha talks about leather products, saying that leather is everywhere but consumers rarely question it
17:20 Being sustainable is the new normal, she adds
17:21 Are your followers informed about following a healthy diet? A question from student Ilaria Mastio to Marta
17:22 Marta says she’s not an expert nutritionist or an accredited one, and that vegans should speak to a professional nutritionist or dietician. She adds that social media has played a huge part: she gives her own tips and shares recipes but whoever wants to follow a healthy diet should get professional advice first
17:23 Aren’t leather products more sustainable than vegan ones in terms of the materials used by vegan fashion brands, asked student Monika Marjomaa to Bel
17:24 Bel thinks that this is a never-ending debate and acknowledges that vegan fashion promoters and producers should do more in terms of using less toxic products
17:25 She adds that there are alternatives but she will choose plastic over leather
17:26 Student Victoria Calabrese asks the panel if vegan fashion can put traditional suppliers out of business, and if veganism is a threat to some cultural traditions
17:26 Marta thinks that some people may run out of business but for some others it can be an opportunity. She believes that everything is a matter of perspective
17:27 John Chisengalumbwe asks Omar: You don’t appear from your website to use vegan products in any of your fashion ranges – why not and do you plan to?
17:28 Omar thinks that the most important thing is to have an effect on the masses. He says that he’s in the process of starting to use vegan products in his fashion ranges going forward
17:29 Student Lamin Jaiteh asks Vanita: Vegan fashion is pricey and not everyone has the money to buy it. Is it a luxury trend only for the rich?
17:30 Vanita explains that it’s difficult to have cheap vegan fashion products but she can definitely see an improvement. She points out that it’s expensive to create a vegan fashion material which is both of good quality and affordable
17:34 Student Hazel Eddleston-Lee asks the panel about some reports which reveal that some vegan fashion brands are not eco-friendly
17:34 Marta thinks that there are brands which try to take advantage of the trend and they’re not producing vegan products. However, most vegan fashion brands do produce vegan products and are not “greenwashing”
17:36 Bel adds that throwing a piece of clothing in the garbage is like throwing away hard labour and designers’ inspiration. She believes that a piece of clothing is too valuable to be thrown away
17:37 Vanita add that high street brands are in it for the profit, so create more than they sell, which is why they end up sending so many unsold products to landfills
17:38 David Ashford asks the panel whether veganism is just another throwaway fashion trend
17:39 Sascha thinks that it’s not another trend; it’s something more significant. It’s not about our fashion styles but it’s about changing our lifestyle and make it more sustainable
17:39 Bel also thinks that vegan fashion is not a trend but a necessary change
17:40 Student Nimra Shaikh asks why some designers are sceptical about using vegan materials?
17:41 Bel believes that designers do worry about the planet but she reminds the audience that we’re still in a time of transition and that the technology is still being developed
17:42 Vanita thinks that it’s not just a material change but it’s more like a mindset that designers need to adopt.
17:42 Bel adds that this procedure needs time and she put her faith into millennials for leading this change.
17:43 Marta thinks that people are skeptical about vegan products and she thinks that they would be surprised if they tried them
17:44 She also believes that if labels will not follow the change they will miss out
17:45 “Why is vegan fashion more important now than before?” is Simone Limbu’s question to the panel
17:46 Bel explains that it’s not only about vegan fashion but it’s more about a general culture change that needs to be done
17:46 Omar thinks it’s important because it’s a big market to be explored and that is something that has been requested by the masses
17:47 Student Precious Aygo asks Marta on how easy is to get noticed about vegan fashion through social media
17:48 Marta says social media are not focused or aware of vegan fashion – just fashion in general. She advises the audience to make themselves different and stand out but at the same time to be engaging and friendly
17:49 Nikos Papanikolaou asks the panel about the fact that some companies are taking advantage of the vegan trend to greenwash
17:50 Marta believes that people can be skeptical about vegan fashion brands and that there are some brands that are taking advantage of the trend
17:50 “However I’m sure that most vegan fashion brands do produce vegan products,” Marta concludes
17:52 Student Julia Johnson asks the panel if its morally reprehensible for PETA to refurbish and recycle furs, and in what way we can support the communities reliant on the fur trade
17:52 Sascha says that PETA is giving unused material to homeless people and animal shelters in an attempt to support communities
17:53 Student Muhammad Reddy asks the panel if they focus on two aspects of vegan fashion: making sure all products are vegan and treating suppliers fairly
17:53 Bel says it’s important to focus on all aspects of vegan fashion – it defeats the purpose of vegan fashion if someone doesn’t
17:54 Vanita mentions her brand and the difficulties of creating affordable and ethical products
17:56 Marta says she noticed many high street brands offering vegan fashion but the fact that many of them are using forced labour is a huge issue. She adds that there is a need to be a consumer shift to independent retailers. Fast fashion is a problem and there is more work to get done by retailers
17:58 Panel is asked by Gill to give one piece of advice to those in the audience who are thinking about vegan fashion, and what contribution they can make on their journey
17:58 Sascha says get information about the journey of your product – how did it get to the store? How did they make it?
17:59 Omar says that instead of tweeting Love Island, tweet ASOS and ask about their products. He urges people to ask to see more vegan products by retailers
17:59 Bel says to be more vocal – if you see something you don’t like, let the brand know. Start dialogues
18:00 Vanita says if each of us tag independent vegan brands, your friends will see it – all the brands are listening to you
18:00 Gill thanks the panel and the audience
18:02 Catwalk is introduced by Julia Johnson
18:03 Catwalk is underway
18:05 Catwalk ends
18:06 Panel deliberates on winner
18:10 The winner is announced – Amelle El Ahmadi won the catwalk with student Sarah Elliott as her model.
18:12 Prizes were awarded – flowers, champagne and £50
18:15 Journalism Course Leader Wendy Sloane thanks the panel, audience and students – as well as Senior Lecturer Jo Payton, who – along with Senior Lecturer Olivia Pinnock – planned most of the event.
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