Veganuary 2022: what is it and how is it connected to fashion?

January doesn’t only represent the beginning of a new year, it is also known for hosting an event that has become quite popular recently: Veganuary.

Veganuary is an annual challenge that was originally created by run by a UK nonprofit organisation that encourages people to try out the vegan lifestyle for the entire month of January, in order to learn more about it and promote its benefits!

Veganism is a way of living which excludes all forms of use of animals for food, clothing or any other purpose

And even though it usually is associated to food, veganism can also be applied to so many more areas, like the fashion industry. It has actually become a benchmark for people seeking out both ethical and sustainable fashion options…not without controversies since not all vegan fashion is harmless for our environment, on the contrary. Some important institutions in the vegan space have been seen endorsing fast fashion brands…raising many concerns.

So, what’s the most important thing to keep in mind when shopping vegan? For starters…

If the clothes feature any kind of animal byproduct, they’re not vegan.

The most popular fabrics that include animal byproduct are silk, leather, wool, cashmere, feathers and fur!

Another thing that is quite important to remember is that…

Just because the product is vegan, doesn’t necessarily mean it is sustainable

Even though so many products nowadays are being labelled vegan, it is important to point out that they are made from fossil-fuel derived synthetics, which are difficult to break down and can harm our oceans!

To avoid these kinds of products, you can always do your on research. Ask yourself: Where does this material come from? 

Luckily for you, there are so many cool, innovative materials made out of fruits and vegetables that are great alternatives to leather and synthetic fabrics – e.g. Appleskin leather, Piñatex, Mushroom leather, and more! You can find them all of the app;)

And last but certainly not least…

Stay on the lookout for greenwashing

Sadly, greenwashing is an ugly wave that has risen with the popularity of sustainable fashion. More and more brands claim to be sustainable even though they are not, for the sole purpose of attracting more people that buy from them.

Here is how to spot it! Bare in mind that sustainability is not a fact, but a continuous journey. So where we draw the line between a greenwash and the real deal is Renoon’s Sustainability Framework – taking the 1% best responsible options out there, in a continuously updated way.

Veganuary is definitely a fun way to begin the year, and even though sometimes it might be hard, we always recommend going on the app if you need a hand.

You can always choose the filter “Vegan” to make the process 10x easier 🙂