Cruelty-free it-pieces: Vegan belts for men and women

More and more consumers are committed to animal welfare and are calling for vegan accessories. We show functional and stylish must-haves: vegan belts

Vegan belts from NOANI
Source & Copyright by NOANI

Author: House of Eden

While more and more fashion designers are producing vegan Prescribing collections, the demand for vegan products on the customer side in particular increases leather. That shows 2020 Conscious Fashion Report the trend-setting online search engine Lyst. This describes a 69% increase in searches for vegan leather over the last year.

An indication that consumers are decisively in favor of alternatives to classic leather products such as accessories interested. These functional and fashionable must-haves are currently particularly popular: vegan belts.

What distinguishes vegan belts?

Key facts
  • 100% free from animal ingredients (wool, silk, leather, down, fur etc.)
  • No animal testing and cruelty
  • Use of innovative, often natural, materials
  • Resource-saving value chain
  • Less use of chemicals in the production process
  • The most important vegan seal for fashion: PETA Approved Vegan

Be it vegan belts for men or women - the main thing is that they are made in the context of avoiding any animal products. In a holistic sense, this applies not only to leather, but also to silk, honey or mother-of-pearl, for example.

In this sense, vegan belts must be made of 100% animal-free materials. From the belt itself to the seams to the buckle. It is particularly important to note that fabrics that seem vegan at first glance can contain animal ingredients such as wool or silk. Just because it's not a leather belt doesn't mean that the belt is vegan.

With this in mind, using beeswax to seal seams or care for leather is another trap that classifies products as non-vegan. Those who want to be on the safe side can always orientate themselves on quality seals such as the PETA-Approved Vegan Certificate.

Vegan belts have these advantages over conventional alternatives

The most important benefit is the avoidance of cattle farming. Cattle farming is one of the largest CO2 emitters in the world, and a lot of water and energy are used to keep them. In addition, around 40% of all slaughtering takes place only for the purpose of leather production.

leather on cactus

Image source & Copyright by Desserto (vegan leather made from cacti)

Since vegan labels often take a holistically conscious approach, production not only does without animal materials, but is also environmentally friendly. So follow the vegan labels Stella McCartney and LaSeine & Moi For example, the idea of ​​circular economy, which is why waste and energy and water waste in manufacturing processes are minimized.

Not only the animals but also the people who work leather suffer in many cases. In order to make conventional leather or fur durable, they have to be treated with many toxic chemicals such as sulfuric acid. The production steps and slaughter are also often a psychological burden for people.

BRAND GUIDE

In order to protect people and the environment, many well-known designers aim to discover innovative materials in the process of making vegan clothing and accessories. Materials that make the use of animal products completely superfluous. Alternative leather variants made from recycled plastics such as polyester are more water and energy efficient in their production, which protects the environment. No chemicals are used in production for this purpose.

These are the most popular materials for vegan belts

Common alternatives are primarily leather imitations from fruit or vegetable waste, cork, or (recycled) textiles and plastics.

1. Vegan "leather" belts made from fruit waste

The most famous imitation leather from fruit waste is Pinatex. The pineapple leather, which is made from the leaves of the fruit, is resource-saving, free of pesticides and more energy and water efficient in its production than traditional leather production.

Oriented on Cradle-to-Cradle Concept is the by-product of the fruit harvest so particularly sustainable. In addition, other fruit fibers are used, which are obtained from fruit waste. For example, remains of the apple industry become APPLESKIN upcycled - whatever else is thrown away is given a new use.

2. Vegan "leather" belts made from vegetable waste

The most common veggie leather alternative is MuSkin, which is a mushroom leather. This is breathable, tear-resistant, flexible, water-repellent and 100% natural. To increase its longevity and durability, it is also lined with linen and hemp fibers. For example, only natural materials are used along the entire value chain of mushroom leather, while no chemicals are used at all.

3. Belt made of cork leather

Cork - which is the bark of the cork oak - is a purely natural material that is renewable, recyclable and biodegradable and therefore completely environmentally friendly. When peeled, cork oaks swallow three to five times as much CO2 as an unpeeled tree, which is why the renewable raw material also promotes sustainability in an industrial sense.

In addition, despite their robustness and resilience, cork products are light and elastic, which qualifies them as the ideal basis for a vegan belt. An additional plus point: the natural grain of the cork leather leads to individual color combinations and patterns and thus exclusive one-offs.

4. Plastic belt

While synthetic fibers are sometimes criticized for having a poor environmental balance during production, they can be recycled or upcycled in an environmentally friendly manner. For example, polyester, which is widely used in the fashion industry, can be upgraded with minimal wastage of water and energy and waste. Thanks to its elasticity and durability, the recycled polyester is ideal as a basis for a vegan belt.

Function, aesthetics, price - differences?

In terms of function and design, the animal-friendly accessories do not differ from conventional variants. They are robust, hard-wearing, waterproof and long-lasting. In addition, a large number of designs are available due to the large selection of leather alternatives and vegan fabrics.

These can appear in a classic leather look or be unique pieces. Vegan belts for men and women made from leather alternatives can be just as timeless as the conventional version. In addition, fabric belts made of jeans, linen or hemp in particular can pick up on current trends and reproduce them in colorful, patterned or simple designs.

Buying vegan belts also has its price advantages. Compared to pieces made of real leather, the animal-friendly alternatives are often cheaper. If there is an innovation or a complex upcycling process behind the production, the pieces are sometimes a bit more expensive.

These are our top 5 vegan belts for men and women

Contrary to the initial skepticism of the fashion industry that luxurious fashion can also be created without leather and fur, these designers demonstrate that it is possible.

1.Stella McCartney

Vegan belt by Stella McCartney

Source & Copyright by Stella McCartney

Vegan belt for women

Key facts: Piñatex, PETA-Approved & fair and sustainable production

Price: around 495 euros

Available at: Farfetch

2.NOANI

Vegan belt from Noani

Source & Copyright by NOANI

Lia II - Brass Silver: waist belt

Key facts: Appleskin, PETA-Approved & fair and sustainable production in Italy

Price: around 120 euros

Available at: NOANI

3. Will's Vegan Store

Vegan Belt from Wills Vegan

Source & Copyright by Will's Vegan Store

Continental: vegan belt for men made of imitation suede

Key Facts: Ecolabel certified vegan suede, Eco-Tex 100 & fair and sustainable production in Italy

Price: around 41 euros

Available at: Will's Vegan Store

4. NOAH

Vegan belt from Noah

Source & Copyright by NOAH

COMO: Vegan belt for women made from Mirconappa

Key facts: Vegan leather made from microfiber, PETA approved, winner of the Vegan Fashion Award

Price: around 59 euros

Available from: NOAH

5. Benedetti Life

Vegan belt from Benedetti Life

Source & Copyright by Benedetti Life

Pineapple Belt: Vegan belt for men

Key facts: Piñatex, fairly produced & committed to protecting species

Price: around 165 euros

Available at: Benedetti Life

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