Alternatives to Wool, Fur, Angora and Cashmere

http://www.peta2.com/TAKECHARGE/t_factsheet_wool.asp

This is a more down-to-earth PETA article with references.

This blog will be about all kinds of alternatives to wool, fur, cashmere, angora and any other product made from hurting or killing animals.

I don't need to tell you ALL the horrible stuff people do to animals for the name of fashion because you know (even though you pretend not to). You hear it from Greenpeace, PETA and other organizations doing what they can to help save animals!

So this blog is about the alternatives you can purchase and wear to make yourself still fashionable, yet cruelty-free.


Here is an excerpt from the link above:

What You Can Do
Use alternatives to wool, including cotton, cotton flannel, polyester fleece, synthetic shearling, and other cruelty-free fibers, as people with wool allergies have been doing for years. Tencel—which is breathable, durable, and biodegradable—is one of the newest cruelty-free wool substitutes. Polartec Wind Pro, which is made primarily from recycled plastic soda bottles, is a high-density fleece with four times the wind resistance of wool, and it also wicks away moisture.(13)

Buy clothing from retailers that have pledged not to sell Australian merino wool products until mulesing and live exports have ended, such as American Eagle Outfitters, Abercrombie & Fitch, Timberland, Aéropostale, and Limited Brands.

Here is another PETA link with a list of companies and a brief description of the non-leather non-fur materials they use to make their products:

http://www.peta.org/living/alt2.asp

For those of you with money to spend, here are a couple links to designer and trendy products:

Stella McCartney is a FAMOUS designer, but also a cruelty-free activist:
http://www.stellamccartney.com/

Rag Bag is a company that makes messenger bags, wallets and the like from recycled trash bags picked off the street from people in India. These people receive fair wages.
http://www.ragbag.eu/

Actually, my stepdad bought me a Rag Bag bag and a Rag Bag wallet and I love them!! This is a pic from the website. This is kind of the color I have!





Another alternative is organic cotton. I actually bought two pairs of organic cotton socks from H&M (pink and gray) and even though they look like regular socks, I love putting them on knowing that I did the right thing in buying them!


I've also decided to resist buying leather purses and bought a denim purse. And as for shoes, Converse All-Stars are always a good choice! They are ALWAYS in fashion and now come in MANY colors and designs!


It may be a slow process, but if we can all wear cruelty-free, "Green", and fair trade products, we will feel better about ourselves as well as give those animals who were once destined to suffer a chance to live! :)