Word on the street: think vegan

By Kimberley Rino Lightfoot and Carolina Pedrajas-Botella

As vegan fashion grows globally every year, well-known magazines such as Vogue are encouraging new animal cruelty-free clothing, whilst influencing millions of people across the world.

From Swedish activist Greta Thunberg to professional tennis player Roger Federer, people across the world are now responding to climate change, pointing out how the world is slowly dying because of us. Thanks to their outspoken efforts, more and more people and large companies are determined to make a change.

According to Independent Online, fast fashion has one of the world’s worst environmental impact, resulting in water pollution caused by the dye and chemicals we use to produce clothing, as well as the increased levels of textile waste.

“I think it’s good to buy recycled clothes. I often get them in stores and second-hand,” said 24-year-old Amanda Larsson, who now lives in London. “We all know that the environment is in such a state so I try to do my best to help. Where I live back in Fruängen [Sweden], there are four charity shops and it’s a rather small town.”

Famous brands such as New Look are creating new sections focusing on vegan clothing. That’s a good thing: according to 27-year-old Shakiah Morris-Glace, a saleswoman at the brand on Holloway Road, people are drawn to veganism clothing more than ever before.

“I’ve always been big on veganism, both food-wise and clothes-wise, because my father was vegan and I was inclined to follow his footsteps,” said Morris-Glace. “The good thing is, people are starting to buy more vegan clothes in our retail shop since we have a vegan section.”

Luxury brands, such as Gucci, have banned their production of fur.

Freelance actor and part of the Extinction Rebellion community, 25-year-old Saifyddine Benamar, is repulsed by any kinds of fur.

“I don’t like the texture of any fur to be honest but if people are buying fake fur to get themselves away from real fur, I don’t mind. I support it all the way but personally I am not a fan of fur,” he said. “I mainly buy second-hand clothes or I get them given to me, so everything I wear is 100% recycled.”

According to Human Society International, around 100 million animals are bred and killed on intensive fur farms to supply the fashion industry. How would the world look like if we stopped killing animals for fur at such an extreme level and recycled our clothing instead?

Albert Einstein once said that the world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look and do nothing.

Act now.