Here are the brands taking a stand, plus cozy, cruelty-free coats to buy now.
Once upon a time, goose down and furs were synonymous with winter warmth. These days, though, the notion that you need animal-sourced materials to face the elements is not only bunk but also increasingly uncool. Take the recent bans on fur by fashion powerhouses Gucci, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. Hot on the heels of its wildly successful fur-lined loafers, Gucci’s about-face alone is a sure sign cruelty-free fashion will only become more de rigueur.
As a number of brands turn to faux-fur and non-down alternatives, others have made a point of pushing for more ethical standards. The North Face, for one, developed its own Responsible Down Standard (RDS) to ensure no unnecessary harm comes to the animals its goose-down and feather supply chain. The North Face has guaranteed all of its down products are RDS-certified since last fall.
Meanwhile, new brands have jumped into the fray to offer outwear alternatives that are 100-percent animal-free. Founded in 2012, Milan-based Save The Duck forgoes feathers in favour of Plumtech, an animal-friendly padding that mimics that fluffiness and thermal insulation of down. As vegan fashion becomes more mainstream, it’s hardly surprisingly the brand has already been spotted on celebrities including Meghan Fox, Isla Fisher, Jimmy Fallon and Penelope Cruz.
Here at home, Toronto-based Dani Roche announced the launch of her vegan outerwear brand, Biannual, this past fall. Comprising eight genderless styles, her debut collection features everything from reversible parkas to fuzzy, colour-blocked coats. Likewise, Canadian-made Wully specializes in premium, animal-free bombers, parkas and vests, touting it has saved more than 2,000 animals since it hit the market in 2013.
Whether you’re passionately pro–animal rights or simply looking to make more ethical fashion choices moving forward, the number of cruelty-free options is only bound to grow as the fashion industry takes an increasingly animal-friendly approach to outwear. In other words, it’s never been easier to stay warm without the guilt.
In the spirit of staying cozy the cruelty-free way, we’re giving away one Save The Duck coat to one lucky reader. To enter for your chance to win, complete the steps below by November 30, 2017:
1. Like Editors Inc.’s Instagram contest post.
2. Follow both @editorsinc and @save_the_duck on Instagram.
In search of outerwear that’s free of leather, fur and down? Check out these chic vegan coats:
