If you’re concerned about animal cruelty, you might be wondering if wool products are vegan. The good news is that wool products are easily available in stores, such as Target. And you can save yourself money, because wool tends to be cheaper than other animal-derived fabrics. Just make sure to read the labels of your products carefully.
Merino wool
Merino wool is one of the most luxurious types of wool. It feels more pliant than other types of wool, and is more environmentally friendly. However, this luxurious wool also has its drawbacks. Its production method is far from vegan. Merino sheep are subjected to abusive practices, including mulesing, during which a chunk of skin is removed from the infected area.
Most wool clothing is made from sheep, including sweaters and jumpers. These sweaters and wool hats insulate the wearer and keep them warm. But this luxury material comes at a cost: the animals are killed for the purpose of making wool clothing. An investigation by PETA revealed that the UK wool industry involved horrific abuses of sheep.
Acrylic wool
Acrylic wool is a synthetic fiber, and is not vegan. It contains acrylonitrile, a chemical produced by combining propylene, ammonia, and air. It is often blended with wool for the same warming properties of wool. However, acrylic fabrics are cheaper and more widely available. Despite their similarities to wool, they are not animal-derived. Therefore, they can be considered vegan.
A great advantage of acrylic wool is that it’s suitable for knitting and crocheting projects. You can also add it to weaving creations for a textured, cozy feel. This material is even hypoallergenic, making it perfect for baby clothes.
Natural fibers
Wool is one of the most common and versatile fabrics, but it is not vegan. Wool is made from animal hides and skins, and many other fabrics use animal hair and skin products. Other fabrics, such as silk and suede, are made from insect larvae or other animal parts. Suede, for example, is made from the underside of a pig or calf skin. Suede also contains animal products such as swan’s down, which is a form of animal fur. Other materials that aren’t vegan include cotton and linen.
Wool is popular with fashionistas because it breathes well and is comfortable to wear, but PETA has long advocated for vegan alternatives. A shocking video expose released by PETA exposed the inhumane treatment of sheep during the wool shearing process. In addition to beating and punching the sheep, they were also shown standing on their heads and being beaten with electric clippers.
Non-mulesed sheep
Buying wool from a non-mulesed sheep is a great way to support animal welfare. Many animal welfare groups believe that mulesing is a painful practice for sheep, which can be costly for producers. In Australia, mulesing has been banned since 1997, but the practice is still used in some places. Animal rights organizations claim that mulesing occurs on all sheep, not just those raised for wool.
The process of mulesing involves removing large strips of wool-bearing skin from young sheep, which causes excruciating pain to the animals. The process is often performed without anaesthesia, so the sheep are left in great pain. In addition, this practice is not necessary in cold climates, as there are other, more humane ways to protect the sheep from flystrike.
Skin wool
Many textiles are made from animal skins such as wool, leather, silk, and suede. These materials are usually derived from animals, such as sheep or goats. While some of these materials are vegan, others are not. Leather, for example, is made from animal hides, including cow, alligator, or calf skins. Another animal-derived fiber is suede, which is made from the underside of pig or calf skins. Other materials include cellulose, which is refined from cotton linters and wood pulp. They are then blended with other fibers to make them stronger and more durable. These materials may be vegan if they are blended with cotton or wool.
Skin wool can be mistaken for a vegan garment if it is labelled as such, but it should be noted that dead wool is not a vegan alternative. Dead wool is often of low quality, and many vegans would feel perfectly comfortable wearing such clothing.
