PETA Fashion Awards 2018
The fashion industry is all about making statements – and in 2018, luxury labels, new designers, and independent brands are making some big ones for animals.
As more consumers than ever demand ethical clothing and accessories for which animals weren’t beaten, slaughtered, or skinned – as well as materials that are kinder to the environment – PETA’s inaugural Fashion Awards recognise the biggest trends and standout brands on Australia’s fashion scene.
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BEST VEGAN ACCESSORIES
Sans BeastThese classic yet edgy creations by Cathryn Wills launched only a few months ago but already have a cult following. After making leather handbags for more than a decade, Wills walked away from her job as creative director at Mimco and started designing a collection using animal- and planet-friendly eco-polyurethane.
BEST FAUX-FUR BRAND
Unreal FurWith its garments often draped over the shoulders of celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence, Kylie Jenner, and DJ Tigerlily, Melbourne’s Unreal Fur is a leader in ethical glamour. Showcasing decadent colours and beautiful patterns, its designs are the next evolution in luxury clothing.
MOST ANIMAL-FRIENDLY LABEL
ZhivagoAlso a favourite among celebrities, Perth-based winner Zhivago has this year become a 100 per cent cruelty-free fashion house and one of the world’s biggest labels to sport the PETA Approved Vegan label on it’s entire collection. Its March 2018 collection is show-stopping – featuring metallic vegan leather in eye-popping colours and opulent silk-free gowns.
BEST WOOL-FREE COAT
Hopper Coat byCamilla and Marc
This gorgeous wool-free blazer is fit for royalty – or at least future royalty! Australian label Camilla and Marc has been worn recently by Meghan Markle. The brand uses cotton mixed with synthetic fibres to create this classic harlequin-check coat that can be worn with literally anything.
BEST LEATHER-FREE COAT
Bessy Biker Jacket byIvory and ChainVegan leather has become a mainstay in many collections this year, since the production of animal leather is not only cruel but also, according to a recent Pulse of the Fashion Industry report, the most devastating of any material in terms of the environmental impact. This luxe vegan leather jacket with its detachable faux-fur collar will keep you chic and snug without taking anyone else’s skin.
MOST SHEEP FRIENDLY KNIT
Karli Cardigan byFrankie and CoNow that countless investigations of Australian shearing sheds have revealed cruelty to sheep, wool is on the way out for designers who care about their ethical credentials. This stylish knit is a perfect warm and wool-free wardrobe addition this winter.
DESIGNER TO WATCH
REMUSE Designer Tamara Leacock describes REMUSE as a label where futurism meets nature. Every detail of its designs – from the dye to the material fibres – has been carefully considered with animals and the Earth in mind. All items are made to order in Collingwood, Victoria.
BEST WINTER BOOTS
Lyra Knee-High Boots byBeyond SkinThese boots are on-point for both style and sustainability. Beyond Skin’s most recent collection features 100 per cent recycled polyurethane lining materials, and all its shoe soles are made from 70 per cent recycled rubber resin.
BEST FASHION TREND
The Fall of FurDuring the past 12 months, Versace, Gucci, Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo, Donna Karan, and John Galliano joined the likes of Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood, and other fashion giants in declaring themselves fur-free to create a trend that will never go out of style
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Animals are not ours to wear, and the cruelty that millions around the globe endure to satisfy the demand for fashion is astounding. On fur farms, animals are driven insane inside tiny wire cages, where they spend their whole lives, before being painfully killed. The leather industry causes the deaths of over a billion animals every year, including cows, pigs, goats, kangaroos, sheep, and even dogs and cats. Investigations into the wool industry in Australia – the world’s largest exporter – have revealed the large-scale abuse of sheep, who are kicked, punched, and mutilated. And the down feathers used to stuff winter jackets are often torn from live birds, who endure this torture multiple times before eventually being slaughtered.
When used for their skin, wool, or feathers, animals are treated like nothing more than commodities. But thanks to brands such as our compassionate award winners, cruelly obtained materials are being ditched in favour of kinder and more sustainable vegan fabrics. To browse more animal-free clothing, check out our “PETA-Approved Vegan” fashion brands:
Let’s make 2025 a historic year for animals
