Vegan Knitwear: what are sustainable vegan wool alternatives?
There are plenty of sustainable vegan knitwear options that mean dressing naturally – yes, without any synthetics or plastic – while staying away from wool that belongs to animals.
For starters, vegan knitwear can simply be made from cotton. The organic variety is hands-down the best choice (this is one of those cases when organic actually makes a difference) as it is grown without toxic pesticides and produces way fewer CO2 emissions.
The vegan jumpers and cardigans that we sell from KOMODO are all made from organic cotton.
Hemp is also a great choice for sustainable knitwear: as it doesn't require pesticides or or herbicides, it is perfect for organic farming. It is also the least water-intensive material of all natural fibres.
Up-and-coming vegan knitwear fabrics that may replace animal-derived fibres in fashion include soybean cashmere – is soy the most versatile thing or what?
This material drapes like silk, but offers the warmth of cashmere, minus the deforestation.
Tencel – or Lyocell as it's also called – is another highly sustainable knitwear option. Made from wood pulp cellulose, this material is created with a closed-loop technology, meaning that the water and chemicals used in the process are re-used, in order to minimise waste.
And of course, then there are synthetics – but not in the way you think.
Recycled fibres have been around for a long time, especially within the realm of ethical fashion, but are now increasingly being used as replacements for wool, and can be considered a sustainable choice for ethical knitwear – especially when blended with organic cotton.
Recycling and upcycling aren't completely free from environmental impact, but they are a good way to prolong the lifespan of existing synthetic materials, and offer a sustainable knitwear option that is free from the animal cruelty that is implicit in any fibre – knitwear or other – that comes from an animal.
When it comes to vegan and sustainable knitwear, many exciting alternatives to animal-based materials are still being developed.
But the first step to change lies in realising that using animals for clothing is wasteful, cruel and unethical. With that premise as a starting point, innovators of the future will harness the many plant-based materials that nature has to offer to provide warmth, comfort and style.
The best knitwear brands create sustainable wool alternatives that satisfy our wardrobe and the planet.