Animals in Fashion

Animal Farming for Materials

The fashion industry relies heavily on animal-derived materials such as fur, leather, wool, and silk. The production of these materials often involves the raising and mistreating of animals in factory farms, where conditions can be crowded, unsanitary, and inhumane.

There are also some key environmental concerns associated with animal farming for materials, which include:

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Animal agriculture and raising animals for materials are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Livestock, especially cattle, produces a potent greenhouse gas called methane during digestion.
• Land Use: Raising animals requires vast land for grazing and growing feed crops. This can lead to deforestation, habitat destruction, and biodiversity loss. Converting forests and other natural ecosystems into farmland contributes to the loss of valuable carbon sinks.
• Water Use: Animal farming requires significant amounts of water, not only for the animals but also for growing their feed crops. Excessive water use can lead to water scarcity issues in regions with intensive animal farming.
• Chemical Pollution: The tanning and processing of leather and fur involves chemicals, such as chromium and formaldehyde, which can pollute waterways and harm aquatic ecosystems if not properly managed.
• Waste Management: Managing the waste generated by animal farming operations can be a significant environmental challenge. Improper manure disposal can lead to water pollution, and large-scale operations often produce vast amounts of waste.
• Resource Intensity: Producing animal-based materials can be resource-intensive compared to alternative synthetic materials. For example, it takes more resources and energy to produce a leather jacket than a synthetic one.
• Ethical Concerns: Beyond the environmental impact, there are also ethical concerns related to the treatment of animals raised for materials, including issues related to animal welfare, confinement, and slaughter practices.

So, let's take a closer look at the materials and processes that affect animals:

Fur Farming

The fur industry raises animals like minks, foxes, and rabbits in captivity for their fur. These animals suffer from cramped living conditions, lack of proper care, and inhumane slaughter.

Leather Production

Undoubtedly, animals are most used in fashion to produce leather and fur for clothing and accessories.

Although cattle are the most popular animals for leather (not just a by-product of the meat and dairy industries), lamb, deer and pig skin are regularly used. Lamb and kid (goat) skin is commonly used to make gloves. Other animals, including buffalo, horses, stingrays, eels, dogs, snakes, ostriches and kangaroos, are also used to make leather.

The leather industry contributes to deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and water pollution from tanning processes.

Wool Production

While wool is a natural fibre, the sheep farming industry has been associated with concerns such as mulesing (a painful procedure that involves cutting crescent-shaped flaps of skin from around a lamb's breech and tail), overcrowded living conditions and unethical treatment of animals.

Silk Production

Silkworms produce silk; traditional silk harvesting involves boiling live silkworms in their cocoons. Alternatives like "peace silk" or "ahimsa silk" seek to minimize harm to silkworms.

According to PETA, around 3,000 silkworms are killed to make 450 grams of silk ². That means that billions, if not trillions, of them are killed for this every year.

Exotic Animal Skins

The use of exotic animal skins, such as those from snakes, alligators, and crocodiles, raises concerns about the impact on wild populations, as well as ethical considerations about the treatment of these animals.

Testing on Animals

Some fashion brands may test their products or ingredients on animals, particularly for cosmetics and skincare items. This can involve subjecting animals to painful and harmful procedures.

It is estimated that more than 115 million animals worldwide are used in laboratory experiments every year ³. Laboratory testing involves a wide range of animals, and the specific species used can vary depending on the type of research, objective, and regulatory requirements. Some commonly used animals in laboratory testing include rats, mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, dogs, cats, birds and primates.

Animal Cruelty and Welfare

The demand for cheap and fast fashion can lead to the exploitation of animals in the production process, such as in sweatshops or other unethical work environments.

Disposal of Products

The disposal of fashion products, especially those made from animal materials, can lead to environmental concerns. Leather and fur items, for example, do not easily biodegrade and can contribute to waste issues.

Top tips for animal-friendly fashion choices

To address these issues, there is a growing movement within the fashion industry toward ethical and sustainable practices. This includes cruelty-free materials, vegan alternatives, transparency in supply chains, and the adoption of certifications that ensure animal welfare standards are met. Consumers are also becoming more conscious of these issues and are demanding more responsible and compassionate choices from fashion brands.

Here are some top tips for being more animal-friendly.

1. Educate yourself on materials by learning which are derived from animals and consider alternatives.
2. Support brands that are transparent about their supply chains and committed to ethical practices.
3. Check labels carefully to understand what materials are used and choose items made from sustainable, non-animal materials.
4. Participate in clothing swaps or purchase second-hand to reduce demand for new animal-derived products.
5. Advocating for change by encouraging your favourite brands to adopt more animal-friendly practices.

REFERENCES

1. Four Paws, https://media.4-paws.org/3/0/f/5/30f5ed3f4bd074fb228525ec2346d75d4594b126/FOUR-PAWS-2020-Animal-Welfare-in-Fashion-Report.pdf - Last accessed 1.9.2023 ↩︎
2. PETA, 3,000 Animals Die for 1 Pound of Silk—Reasons Not to Rock It, https://www.peta.org/blog/is-silk-vegan/ - Last accessed 1.9.2023 ↩︎
3. Humane Society International, UK, About Animal Testing, https://www.hsi.org/news-resources/about/ - Last accessed 1.9.2023 ↩︎