…and what the hell else are they supposed to wear?
Oh, sister, we have got you covered!!
According to VegforLife.com: Sheep have been purposely bred to produce excessive wool. As a result of having an abnormal amount of wool, many sheep suffer from fly infestations, skin sores and wool parasites. During shearing, the majority of these animals are handled roughly and their fleece is removed as quickly as possible. Injuries are common and shearers frequently cut into the flesh of terrified sheep. Lambs typically suffer from painful mutilations, such as tail docking and castration, without anesthesia. Sheep may also undergo mulesing, a painful process by which a four by six-inch piece of skin is cut from their tails and backside. When the sheep are no longer producing prime wool, they are commonly transported to slaughterhouses in overcrowded trucks. 
Many sheep become “downers” and are left to suffer and die slowly from neglect. Australia, the largest wool producer, sends many of its “spent” sheep on a long, tortuous journey by ship to the Middle East where they are sold and slaughtered. Felt, or compressed wool, is also a product of the cruel wool industry.
Our perspective: anytime we are using animal agriculture to create clothing, there is a green-er way. From land taken up, food to feed these (bred) animals, methane, and additional natural resource, new research is stating that animal agriculture may be responsible for up to 51% of greenhouse gasses! If that doesn’t scare you right outta that wool hat, we don’t know what will. Except maybe this video:
Our friend Josh over at The Discerning Brute says: When Australian sheep are no longer ‘useable’ they are shipped off to slaughter in the Middle East. Millions of sheep are packed onto enormous, multitiered ships where severe overcrowding causes many to be trampled to death or to starve when they cannot reach food and water troughs. Treated as mere cargo, sick or injured sheep may be thrown overboard to drown or are tossed alive into shipboard grinders. Those who survive the grueling weeks- or months-long voyage in filthy, disease-ridden conditions have their throats slit without being stunned first. Additionally, mulesing is a cheap, crude attempt to create smooth, scarred skin that is resistant to blowfly maggots which can eat sheep alive. However, the enormous, bloody wounds can attract the very flies the procedure is supposed to repel, and lambs sometimes get flystrike before they even heal from the traumatic ordeal.
Are you sufficiently horrified for the poor sheep? Just wait til you see the undercover footage on www.savethesheep.com. Us truly eco gals don’t wear wool, so at times sweater shopping can feel frustrating. But once you get a handle on what you can wear – things get easier!
- YES to Cotton
- YES to Tencel (according to Josh it’s; “breathable, durable, and biodegradable, and is one of the newest cruelty-free wool substitutes”)
- YES to Polartec Wind Pro (eco cuz it’s made from recycled plastic soda bottles, is breathable, durable, and biodegradable, and is one of the newest cruelty-free wool substitutes. It’s a high-density fleece with four times the wind resistance of wool that also wicks away moisture.
- YES to eco-tastic Bamboo knits
- YES to Cotton Flannel, Polyester Fleece, Synthetic Shearling, and Rayon.
- YES to non-animal based fibers (check out this list of our favorites!)
As long as there is a demand for wool products, and companies making it look great, sheep will be subjected to exploitation and cruelty. Please look into alternatives to wool that consider sustainability, social justice, and animal advocacy. There is nothing sexier.
Just a few fabulously cruelty-free eco options:
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| This gorgeous jacket is made from 100% recycled cruelty-free fabrics and deadstock buttons in Chicago by our favorite coat company Vaute Couture ($400 at vautecouture.com, 30% off with code “GirlieGirlArmy”) | 100% Organic Cotton cardi from Loomstate ($225 at Kaightshop.com) | Chic and oh-so-cozy! The ecoSkin Danburite Wrap ($160 at thegreenloop.com) uses petroleum alternative fibers – is made from perfect fabric bamboo, and is sweat-shop free, made in the USA. |
Is there any cruelty-free wool brands? I don’t wear clothing made of wool, but I make crochet and planned on buying bed items made of wool since it’s better than others. What to do?
Who can afford those prices listed above. I think that second hand stores are still your best eco bet.
It does seem as though quality wool substitutes are a bit pricey. This year after learning from Chloe Jo and Josh about the horror that sheep go through for wool production, I decided to take a stand. I have stopped purchasing any fabric/fiber that comes from animals. No more leather boots, wool coats/sweaters, silk cami’s, etc. I have decided to wear what I have and as I get the money, I will start replacing all those items until I am realllly vegan, 100%. I really hate traipsing around in my leather shoes and wool coat but I know in my heart/head and soul that I am headed in the right direction. This year alone I have gone almost entirely vegan diet, wardrobe is just the next step and sometimes it takes time. Maybe you can do what I am doing, pledge to stop buying these products, use what you have and then slowoly replace each item. I hope this helps. CJ has certainly been a great vegspiration for me and if you join the Girlie Girl Army, you will be handed “kind” options for everything in your life, left and right, every single day. Take a small step today towards a bigger step tomorrow!
xoxoxoxoxo
I need help. My budget allows for jeans at Target costing $25.00. I never spend more the $30.00 on a sweater, my budget just doesn’t allow it. Does anyone offer a more vegan-type clothing in my price range? There has to be something out there!! Help!!
Thanks for your comments everyone! There are wool-free brands everywhere – even Target has plenty of non-wool sweaters and organic cotton options! Check out girliegirlarmy.com regularly (and sign up) for tons of affordable, animal-friendly fashion! Megan, simply switch out your wool yarns for cotton or bamboo yarns to go cruelty-free.
Hmm cotton’s ok sometimes but does not come near wool’s qualities if you’re heading out into cold and/or wet weather (it’s distinctly bad to wear if you get wet and cold).
Polartec is probably your best bet for serious outdoorsy activities.
Also, I’m not sure what cotton growing conditions are like in the US but here in Australia a ridiculous amount of water goes into producing cotton (not to mention areas of forest cleared to grow crops, as happens with soy crops in Brazil).
You really need to look at full lifecycle analyses to make a good decision about which vegan fibres to wear.
May I suggest that you all sign up for Chloe Jo’s newsletter “The Girlie Girl Army”. She will hit you with High and Low options for looking fabulous and recipes and resources galore!
xxoo