For the sake of the animals: vegan fashion.
Photo: Getty Images, Ollie Millington. All rights reserved.
<!–
–>
The author of these humble lines has not eaten any animal products, including honey, for five months, and I am happy to announce to the dear Fashion-Killa readers: The switch to veganism to protect the climate, cows, karma and health is easy. At least if, like me, you haven’t eaten a dead animal for thirty years and, as a vegetarian, have slowly chewed your way to the subject. However, I underestimated the vegan fashion thing. I don’t need a mink coat in winter.
But strictly speaking, I would now also have to do without my JW Anderson down jacket, Shetland wool sweater, beloved Loewe mohair scarf and fur-lined Danish Duckfeet. Sheep have to be sheared, otherwise they get too hot! – I can already hear my inner relativizer shooting across. As I slowly orientate myself on the market for vegan fashion, I resist the first temptation: In December, after a long hype lead-up, the “Sand Be The Time” New Balance sneakers designed by Salehe Bembury finally came in the ingenious color combination made of delicate orange, silver, dark green and washed out pink. I didn’t buy them because: suede!
How do Beyoncé and Jay-Z solve the problem?
As I have often done in challenging phases of my life, I look to pop stars for guidance. Beyoncé and Jay Z
be vegan, says the internet. How do they solve the problem? Not really: Jay-Z continues to wear baseball jackets with leather sleeves, and Beyoncé donned a spectacular Schiaparelli leather bustier for her RENAISSANCE album. Well, Beyoncé describes it in her liner notes as “a place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking,” so maybe I should take it easy on the leather, too? If the cow is eaten by others, you still have to make something out of its skin, wouldn’t anything else be disrespectful?
Some of the Ivy Park products from Beyoncé’s Adidas collaboration also contain leather. Only people who wear sneakers from Veja and recycled backpacks from pinqpong seem to be on the safe side. Are they all vegan? Is this my new tribe? I don’t like the prospect of their look, I find these brands ugly. Not getting in a bad mood when getting dressed – that seems to be my challenge for 2023. Or my luxury problem? On Running sneakers, which until recently I found repellent because of their perforated snow caterpillar soles, I suddenly find surprisingly good. Because they are vegan.
This column first appeared in the Musikexpress issue 02/2023.
<!–
–>
<!–
–>