[必환경 라이프] The underwear was there last year too… ‘Vegan fashion’ to develop world view

Artificial fur cover cushions introduced at Home Goods, an American interior specialty store. yunhap news

One of the biggest changes in Korean society this year can be called the’vegan trend’. Even the most conservative army has decided to provide separate meals for vegetarian soldiers starting this year. In addition to eating, vegan is now expanding its scope to life in general, such as cosmetics applied and clothes worn.

In particular, in the apparel industry, the wind of’vegan fashion’ this year following last year is unusual. Vegan fashion refers to clothes made without animal testing and without using animal fur or leather. Luxury brands that have been dealing with expensive fur, goose hair, fox hair, and leather have been leading, but recently, they are spreading to relatively inexpensive clothes such as everyday wear.

Organic children’s underwear and indoor wear from’Mabam Organic’. Picture jabet

For example, on the 11th, an unexpected jackpot broke out at an online shopping mall. In one day, 1,600 pieces of underwear for infants and children of a brand that is not usually well known were sold.
The underwear of’Mabam Organic’, which generated sales of 200 billion won at once, were clothes that were sold in the past. The shopping malls and businesses cited a different perception as a reason for their success. Lotte On (ON) introduced underwear by creating a’Vegan Fashion Special Exhibition’ in celebration of the new year, which is said to have worked.

Jabet’s CEO Jang Dong-hyuk, who makes Mabam Organic products, said, “Since 2016, we saw the possibility of the eco-friendly children’s clothing market, and made clothes with organic fibers and eco-friendly fibers extracted from beech, but growth was slow.” Even though there are no skin diseases such as atopy, the number of mothers trying to find and wear eco-friendly clothes has increased.”
Lee Shin-hye, head of Lotte On’s fashion team, said, “Last year, the fashion industry suffered from the impact of the corona, but recently, indoor wear types and eco-friendly clothing are showing growth.”

In fact, the definition of vegan fashion is not clear. It is often mixed with sustainable fashion, eco-friendly fashion, and ethical fashion.
In this regard Received the British Empire Medal (MBE) from the British Royal Family Paul Alger, director of the British Fashion Textiles Association, said, “Sustainable fashion is a concept related to recycling and renewable energy use,” said “Sustainable fashion is the use of limited resources so that it does not pollute the earth.” It is about whether the workers are being treated appropriately.” He said, “Now, sustainable fashion includes both the earth (green) and people (ethics).”

An introduction image of’Legend & Vibe’ that explains 100% vegetable ingredients, the sustainability of the planet, and an ethical manufacturing process. Photo Legend & Vibe homepage

Vegan fashion also started as part of the’ethical fashion for animals’, and because animals are a member of the earth, it can be embraced in sustainability and eco-friendly fashion.
In the case of Legends & Vibes, an American women’s clothing brand that actually puts out a vegan fashion, they emphasize that they make clothes in a way that does not abuse or kill animals, does not exploit workers, and saves the environment. Vegan fashion, which was the exclusive property of animal protection activists and luxury brands, is becoming a’green fashion’ that considers sustainability as an opportunity for Corona 19. This is why the vegan fashion trend in the apparel industry is not one-off.

Lim Ji-yeon, head of the Samsung Fashion Research Institute, said, “Now, the power of a brand is determined not by recognition or fame, but by content and image.” “The enormous flow of ESG has become an irreversible trend,” said Lim, and stressed that “fashion companies should also shift their paradigm toward pursuing the values ​​of members of society.”

Reporter Soah Lee [email protected]