In the world of responsible fashion, the terms "vegan" and "sustainable" are often associated. However, it is important to understand that although these concepts overlap in many cases, they are not necessarily interchangeable.
Veganism and sustainability, same goals:
Veganism and sustainability share a common goal: to minimize the negative impact on animals and the environment. Veganism primarily focuses on eliminating all animal exploitation, whether in food, clothing, or beauty products. Sustainability, on the other hand, encompasses a broader approach emphasizing the reduction of waste, the use of renewable energy sources and the preservation of ecosystems. These two concepts come together on many aspects, because adopting a vegan approach can help reduce the ecological footprint.
Some differences between veganism and sustainability however:
Although veganism and sustainability share similar values, they also have distinct nuances. Veganism focuses specifically on animals and the elimination of all forms of animal exploitation. This includes the use of materials of animal origin such as leather, fur or silk. Sustainability, on the other hand, encompasses a broader spectrum of environmental concerns, such as reducing waste, conserving natural resources and promoting a circular economy. Thus, it is possible to be vegan without necessarily being sustainable and vice versa.
Vegan and eco-responsible fashion: In the fashion industry, more and more brands are adopting a vegan and sustainable approach at the same time. This means that they use cruelty-free materials while making sure to minimize their environmental impact. For example, they can use plant-based alternatives to replace leather, but also favor sustainable production practices, eco-friendly packaging and full transparency about their processes. This combination offers consumers the opportunity to make conscious fashion choices that take both the animals and the planet into consideration.
For Matcha Paris:
When I chose my alternatives to animal leather, I intentionally avoided poor quality imitation leathers, produced with petroleum. They are certainly vegan, but for me it was nonsense to use very polluting materials (we save a cow on one side but we pollute a river on the other!). The alternatives to animal leather used for my jewelry and my handbags are made from plants. Cork, Piñatex or Végéa. Végéa contains a small percentage of polyurethane in its composition. I know you are going to say "Ok, so it's not 100% sustainable?" It is a new material and the creators aim to soon release a vegetable version without this addition. Even if for the moment the material is not 100% vegetable, I think that we must encourage all these young emerging materials that will shape the world of tomorrow. And for the record, we save 90% CO2 on 1m2 of Végéa compared to classic animal leather, and we don't support intensive farming... So, even if it's not perfect, I think it's worth the shot ! #crueltyfreeandsustainable
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