Why I've Become a (Fashion) Vegan

Vegans are here to stay...

Becoming a Fashion Vegan has nothing to do with my love for animals or my choice of diet (kinda sorta vegetarian but for the occasional hamburger). I became a convert because Fashion is now doing such wonderful things with vegan leather.

I put down plastic leather in its early days, despite having a pair of black "pleather" pants. I felt rather risqué wearing them, as if they were some kind of bondage gear. They were also sweaty. No tears were shed when the material began to peel and they hit the trash.

I never minded impersonations, up to a point. I've long known that "patent leather" is no more leather than the apricot candy and "tortoise shell" accessories are honest-to-goodness plastic. But there was something about imitation leather shoes or handbags that seemed a poor substitute. But things that fool on purpose have always been fine (ie fake leopard anything).

When motorcycle jackets and black leather pants made it into my fashion stratosphere, I bought the real deal, a Schott leather jacket that weighed a ton and black leather pants I could hardly walk in. Evidently I was not meant to join that fashion gang. 

When introduced in the early '70s who didn't love Ultrasuede? A Japanese invention, Ultrasuede was used by Halston in 1972 for his first couture show and both were immediate hits. More supple than suede, washable and able to be produced in any color, alas Ultrasuede was expensive.

Halston and his first Ultrasuede creation

Fast forward a few decades and today you can find Ultrasued-ish garments in every price point. We just take it for granted now. This embrace of Vegan leather still feels newish. I only had to search "Vegan leather" on the Banana Republic Factory Store site to find myriad examples beyond pants of stylish Vegan leather and (because "Ultrasuede" is copywrighted) faux suede.

Classic trench $150

Bermuda short $56

Oversized shirt $63

Sleeveless coat $108

Knee-length dress $48

Casale top $33.97

Read the care labels of almost anything today, and the fabric is a chemist's cupboard of ingredients whipped into amazing replications of cashmere, silk or wool. Even the dreaded rayon seems to have been replaced by another, improved, rayon. And much of all this is sprinkled with a dusting of Spandex for good measure.

While the plethora of pleather (couldn't help myself) hasn't entirely lifted the fashion malaise I'm feeling, I'm curious and willing to try. I better order that Casale top on final clearance before they're all gone.