This Week in Food News: Oreos That Change Colour, Mimosa Cinnamon Rolls, and Vegan Wings for the Super Bowl

From vegnews.com

By Charlotte Pointing

This week’s food news includes the lowdown on Fly By Jing’s Hot Pot Bomb, a Maya’s Cookies drop, and more

Are you prepared for the day of love? Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and if you’re panicking about what to get the special someone in your life, don’t worry—we’ve found some amazing vegan products on Amazon, all under $50.

Looking for other great Valentine’s Day gift ideas? Think colour-changing Oreos, mimosa-flavoured cinnamon rolls, and Hot Pot Bombs. Luckily, they’re all available right now. Get the full details in this week’s food news roundup below.

Plus, we’ve got an update from Impossible Foods and a look at how vegan wings are scoring big with Americans ahead of this year’s Super Bowl.

Oreo’s newest cookie features first-of-its-kind colour-changing creme. | Mondelēz

Oreo releases colour-changing cookies with Marvel, and they’re vegan  

You can always rely on Oreo for an accidentally vegan cookie. Its classic options are dairy-free, and many of its limited-edition flavours are vegan too, including its recent collaboration with Reese’s. Now, it has teamed up with Marvel to create its new Stuf of Legends range, which features character embossments and even first-of-its-kind colour-changing creme. Like many of its other options, Stuf of Legends is free from animal-derived ingredients. The cookies are available to purchase now, for a limited time only.

Cinnaholic’s new cinnamon rolls combines brunch’s best flavours into one decadent treat. | Cinnaholic

Cinnaholic launches new vegan roll that tastes just like a mimosa

If you’re partial to a mimosa with brunch, you’ll probably love Cinnaholic’s latest vegan offering: a Mimosa Mocktail Roll. According to the popular chain, the new cinnamon roll is topped with mimosa frosting, fresh strawberries, and a citrusy drizzle. Are you drooling, or is it just us? The limited-edition roll will be available until the end of March.

Fly By Jing’s Hot Pot Bomb makes it easy to enjoy the comfort dish. | Fly By Jing 

Fly By Jing releases the first-ever “Hot Pot Bomb” and it’s vegan

Fly By Jing has made vegan hot pot easier than ever with its first-ever Hot Pot Bomb. Developed in collaboration with Logan Moffitt—better known as TikTok’s “Cucumber Guy”—the Hot Pot Bomb works much like stock. You simply drop the hot pot block into boiling water in a hot pot cooker, add ingredients like noodles, vegetables, and tofu, and within minutes, you’ve created an umami-rich, spicy hot pot.

“Hot pot is my comfort ritual. I love it because it’s deeply personal and completely customizable, with bold, exciting flavours that really wake up the senses. Creating the first-ever Hot Pot Bomb with Fly By Jing is our way of sharing that experience with you,” said Moffitt. “This mini Hot Pot Bomb is real innovation, taking a dish usually meant for big groups and making it easy, fast, and delicious for one person at home.”

Maya’s Cookies new Black History Month collection brings back fan-favourites from past collections. | Maya’s Cookies

Maya’s Cookies has unveiled its new Black History Month collection

Popular California bakery Maya’s Cookies, which has locations in San Diego and San Marcos, has revealed its Black History Month collection for 2026. This year’s limited-edition range, titled The Continuity of Culture, pays tribute to several of the vegan bakery’s past offerings.

The collection includes The MVP, which originally debuted as part of the 2024 Black History Month line-up and honours Earvin Magic Johnson. The cookie features brown sugar dough with chocolate chips, caramel chips, toasted pecans, shredded coconut, and caramelized vegan condensed milk. There’s also The Amanda Gorman, first introduced in 2021, made with raspberries soaked in lemon juice, white chocolate, and lemon zest, as well as The Chart Topper, which honours Patti LaBelle and features peach jam, peach pieces, and a cinnamon brown sugar crumble.

The new collection is available for a limited time and can be ordered nationwide.

Impossible Foods enters a new chapter following leadership change. | Impossible Foods

Impossible Foods’ CEO is stepping down

Impossible Foods CEO Peter McGuinness, who took over from founder Pat Brown four years ago, is stepping down.

During his tenure, McGuinness sought to give plant-based meat a new image by emphasizing nutrition over the climate benefits of vegan protein, which had previously been the company’s key focus. Following his departure, chief legal officer Jason Gao, chief demand officer Meredith Madden, and chief supply officer Robert Hass will take over leadership of the company.

“Impossible is primed to further strengthen its position in the marketplace as a respected food company built for long-term success,” Fedele Bauccio, a member of Impossible Foods’ board of directors, said in a statement. “We’re grateful for Peter’s impactful leadership as CEO, which helped establish Impossible as the strongest player in the category.”

Vegan wings are a tasty option for Super Bowl Sunday. | Danielle Brown

New study says more than 50 percent of Americans want plant-based wings for the Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is here, and for many people, that means eating a wings, and a lot of them. But according to a new poll by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), more than 50 percent of Americans would chow down on plant-based wings over chicken ones, if they were available. The poll also found that young adults were more likely to consider trying plant-based wings if they were on offer.

Are you among them? Check out some of our favorite vegan wings here. “Whether you are an armchair quarterback or in the end zone, choosing a plant-based diet is a win for good health,” says Stephanie McBurnett, RDN, a nutrition educator for PCRM.

https://vegnews.com/food-news-oreos-cinnamon-rolls-vegan-wings

The Best Vegan Restaurants in America: VegNews Readers Choose America’s Most Influential Eateries

From vegnews.com

VegNews readers have spoken: these are the plant-based restaurants redefining dining across the country

In Portland, a beloved vegan cheesemaker opens in a brand-new, sprawling location complete with a counter-service cheese shop, deli, and fresh pasta restaurant right inside. In Grand Rapids, an über-cool vegan brunch café-slash-coffee shop-slash-marketplace concept is creating a gathering spot for plant-based Midwesterners. And all around the nation, new and exciting plant-based eateries are cropping up (Filipino baked goods in California! Neapolitan pizza in Hawaii! Arabian tapas in New York!), proving that vegan restaurants are indeed still hot.

So we say, it’s time to celebrate! We gathered more than 250 vegan brick-and-mortar nominees, and you voted in a month-long campaign to crown the best of the best—and the votes are in! Which city is taking home the most wins (hint: it’s a Pacific Northwest landslide)? Who was named Chef of the Year? And which restaurant did you choose as the best in the entire country? We present to you … the third annual VegNews Restaurant Awards.

Plant Power Fast Food

Best Vegan Fast-Food Restaurant:
Plant Power Fast Food (California & Nevada)

With veganized versions of nostalgic favorites like super-stacked Big Zacs, crispy chicken snack wraps, In-N-Out-style fries, and thick Blizzard-like ice cream concoctions, Plant Power Fast Food—with drive-thru outposts in Las Vegas, Sacramento, and throughout Southern California—has cracked the code to satisfying just about any fast-food craving.

1st Place: Plant Power Fast Food (California & Nevada)
2nd Place: Face Plant (Portland, OR)
3rd Place: Slutty Vegan (Multiple Locations)

Editors’ Vote: Next Level Veggie Grill (Nationwide)

Crossroads Kitchen

Best Vegan Fine-Dining Restaurant:
Crossroads Kitchen (Los Angeles, CA & Las Vegas, NV)

Chef Tal Ronnen’s two vegan dining institutions draw diners from all over the world (including celebs like Ariana Grande, Beyoncé, Alicia Silverstone, and Joaquin Phoenix), and with perfected dishes like chicken scallopini parmesan, chestnut tortellini in rosemary brodo, and grilled lion’s mane steak with truffle potatoes, it’s easy to see why.

1st Place: Crossroads Kitchen (Los Angeles, CA & Las Vegas, NV)
2nd Place: Planta (Multiple Locations)
3rd Place: Feral (Portland, OR)

Editors’ Vote: Miss Rachel’s Pantry (Philadelphia, PA) & Crossroads Kitchen (Los Angeles, CA & Las Vegas, NV) (tie!)

Doomie’s Home Cookin’

Best Vegan Diner:
Doomie’s Home Cookin’ (Los Angeles, CA)

Where to go when the late-night vegan munchies hit? For diners in Hollywood, it’s Doomie’s Home Cookin’, where you can chow down on some next-level indulgent grub. Pulled pork-mac and cheese sandwiches? Peanut butter bacon cheeseburgers? A bucket of crispy fried chicken (complete with skin and bone)? Check, check, and check.

1st Place: Doomie’s Home Cookin’ (Los Angeles, CA)
2nd Place: Vertical Diner (Salt Lake City, UT & Portland, OR)
3rd Place: The Tasty (Philadelphia, PA)

Editors’ Vote: 4th & State Diner (Columbus, OH)

Vtopian

Best Vegan Deli:
Vtopian (Portland, OR)

Where else can you pick up a Muenster-honeynut squash-fennel marmalade sandwich, a to-go container of garlic oil-drizzled potato salad, and a wedge of Brun de Noix cashew cheese? Portland mainstay Vtopian’s new cheese shop-deli-marketplace, of course.

1st Place: Vtopian (Portland, OR)
2nd Place: ​​Ben & Esther’s (Portland, OR & San Diego, CA)
3rd Place: Providence Vegan Deli (Providence, RI)

Editors’ Vote: The Butcher’s Son (Berkeley, CA)

Boxcar Pizza

Best Vegan Pizzeria:
Boxcar Pizza (Portland, OR)

It’s official: for the best vegan Detroit-style pizza, head to the West Coast. Boxcar Pizza’s sourdough pies hold some seriously ingenious fillings within their tall, caramelized cheese-lined crusts. Go classic with the Bianca (mozzarella, ricotta, sausage, garlic, basil, and parmesan) or keep an eye out for specials like the Bayou Blues (with cheddar, mozz, andouille sausage, garlic shrimp, blue cheese, and green onions).

1st Place: Boxcar Pizza (Portland, OR)
2nd Place: Donna Jean (San Diego, CA)
3rd Place: 20th Street Pizza (Philadelphia, PA)

Editors’ Vote: Boxcar Pizza (Portland, OR)

Kate’s Ice Cream

Best Vegan Ice Cream Shop:
Kate’s Ice Cream (Portland, OR)

At Kate’s Ice Cream, owner Kate Williams’ luscious, coconut cream-based scoops are crafted with local farm-grown ingredients in collaboration with woman- and minority-owned businesses, which makes treats like marionberry cobbler brownie sundaes, salted peanut butter brittle ice cream sandwiches, and custom ice cream cakes all that much sweeter.

1st Place: Kate’s Ice Cream (Portland, OR)
2nd Place: Like No Udder (Providence, RI)
3rd Place: Vaca’s Creamery (Chicago, IL)

Editors’ Vote: Via Lactea (New Haven, CT)

Orange & Blossom

Best Vegan Bakery:
Orange & Blossom (Portland, OR)

With its second consecutive win, this two-year-old bakery has now been named best in the nation every year it’s been open. Might it have something to do with its fluffy sticky buns dripping with maple caramel and sprinkled with crunchy pecans? The plum frangipane tart with white chocolate? The boysenberry bostock, featuring vanilla syrup-soaked brioche topped with almond frangipane and housemade boysenberry jam? We’d say so.

1st Place: Orange & Blossom (Portland, OR)
2nd Place: Vegan Treats (Bethlehem, PA)
3rd Place: Cinnaholic (Nationwide)

Editors’ Vote: Bakers Bench (Los Angeles, CA)

Doe Donuts

Best Vegan Doughnut Shop:
Doe Donuts (Portland, OR)

From Petunia’s gluten-free treats to Voodoo’s iconic dolls, Portland takes its vegan doughnuts seriously, but Doe Donuts remains the city’s—and now, the country’s—most reliable standout. The shop turns out consistently excellent raised doughnuts with rotating, world-class flavors, ranging from traditional chocolate hazelnut bombolini to ingenious chicken pot pie-stuffed doughnuts.

1st Place: Doe Donuts (Portland, OR)
2nd Place: Donut Friend (Los Angeles, CA)
3rd Place: Dottie’s Donuts (Philadelphia, PA)

Editors’ Vote: Doe Donuts (Portland, OR)

Coffee Beer

Best Vegan Coffee Shop:
Coffee Beer (Portland, OR)

“No dairy, because we’re a vegan shop. No decaf, because it’s just hot, brown water.” No problem for Portlanders. In fact, the city’s queer-owned, all-vegan, coffee shop-slash-beer bar is one of the best places to stop by for a cardamom Americano, a cheesy tofu scramble burrito (a few draft beers depending on how your day’s going), and a ton of super-cute vibes.

1st Place: Coffee Beer (Portland, OR)
2nd Place: Grindcore House (Philadelphia, PA)
3rd Place: Memento Mori Coffee (Portland, OR)

Editors’ Vote: Memento Mori Coffee (Portland, OR)

Mothership

Best Vegan Bar:
Mothership (San Diego, CA)

Few bars commit to atmosphere quite like Mothership. With its sci-fi movie set interior, an original soundtrack playing in the background, and plenty of mouthwatering cocktails, the San Diego hot spot is as immersive and fun as it gets. Innovative, ultra fun, and completely vegan—exactly what a night out should be.

1st Place: Mothership (San Diego, CA)
2nd Place: Ladybird (New York, NY)
3rd Place: Charlie was a sinner. (Philadelphia, PA)

Editors’ Vote: June (Beaverton, OR)

Mis Tacones

Best Vegan Mexican Restaurant:
Mis Tacones (Portland, OR)

Mis Tacones continues to set the bar for vegan Mexican food in Portland and nationwide. But beyond the al pastor nachos and the chanterelle birria ramen, this restaurant is making a name for itself with its steadfast commitment to community. A trans POC eat free program, pop-up collabs with local vegan businesses, winter supply drives, immigrant rights training sessions, block parties, drag brunches, and merch made from community art submissions—Mis Tacones proves veganism is better together.

1st Place: Mis Tacones (Portland, OR)
2nd Place: Jajaja Mexicana (New York, NY)
3rd Place: Tacotarian (Las Vegas, NV & San Diego, CA)

Editors’ Vote: Chicana Vegana (Fullerton, CA)

Spicy Moon

Best Vegan Asian Restaurant:
Spicy Moon (New York, NY)

Next time you find yourself with a hankering for vegan Szechuan while traipsing around Manhattan, bad news … you’re going to have to decide which of Spicy Moon’s four always-busy locations to head to. Then, a choice between classics like mapo tofu, dry pot, or double-cooked mushrooms. Then finally, a slice of strawberry matcha cake at the table or a few fluffy red bean buns to go? Ahh, decisions, delicious.

1st Place: Spicy Moon (New York, NY)
2nd Place: Obon Shokudo (Portland, OR)
3rd Place: Chef Kenny’s Dim Sum (Las Vegas, NV)

Editors’ Vote: Jade Rabbit (Portland, OR)

Planta and Beyond Sushi

Best Vegan Sushi Spot:
Beyond Sushi (New York, NY) & Planta (Multiple Locations) (tie!)

Now this is a tie that we can get behind. Planta brings sleek, crowd-pleasing rolls to buzzy, beautiful dining rooms across North America (go big and—why not?—order a 96-piece maki roll platter for your party), while Beyond Sushi has spent more than a decade proving that vegan sushi can be inventive, showstopping, and craveable in Midtown Manhattan (the black rice mango-avocado roll is a must).

1st Place: Beyond Sushi (New York, NY) & Planta (Multiple Locations) (tie!)
2nd Place: Shizen (San Francisco, CA)
3rd Place: Nori (Austin, TX)

Editors’ Vote: Nori (Austin, TX)

Souley Vegan

Best Vegan Soul Food Restaurant:
Souley Vegan (Oakland, CA)

The pandemic knocked Souley Vegan off its throne as the premier vegan soul food restaurant on the West Coast. But 2025 saw the triumphant return of Chef Tamearra Dyson’s Louisiana cuisine institution in an even bigger and better location in Oakland. Generous plates, no-corners-cut recipes, and enough comfort to lull you to sleep almost immediately after your last bite of Cajun white cheddar mac—Souley Vegan is back.

1st Place: Souley Vegan (Oakland, CA)
2nd Place: Dirty Lettuce (Portland, OR)
3rd Place: Vegan Mob (Vallejo, San Bruno & Oakland, CA)

Editors’ Vote: Mo Brunch and Brews (Houston, TX)

Pura Vita

Best Vegan Italian Restaurant:
Pura Vita (West Hollywood, CA)

Pura Vita has become a fixture in West Hollywood, and for good reason. The menu is decadent, familiar, and satisfying, luring vegans and non-vegans alike with ease. Whether you’re celebrating a special day or just craving pasta done right (the avocado egg carbonara with macadamia romano cream is a perennial favorite), this is the reservation that keeps delivering.

1st Place: Pura Vita (West Hollywood, CA)
2nd Place: Lilla (Portland, OR)
3rd Place: Coletta (New York, NY)

Editors’ Vote: Pietramala (Philadelphia, PA)

Veggie Galaxy

Best Vegan-Friendly Restaurant:
Veggie Galaxy (Cambridge, MA)

Every menu item at this 14-year-old Boston-area vegetarian diner can be made vegan—a blessing for plant-based eaters looking for corned beef hash Benedict, Oreo pancakes, or a casual Mac ‘N Stack (fried chicken, bacon, and sriracha between two crispy mac and cheese waffles). Just be sure not to miss the goodies from the on-site vegan bakery—the hybrid cinnamon-roll cake slice is to die for.

1st Place: Veggie Galaxy (Cambridge, MA)
2nd Place: The Chicago Diner (Chicago, IL)
3rd Place: Rudy’s Pizza (Portland, OR)

Editors’ Vote: Veggie Galaxy (Cambridge, MA)

Best Vegan Chef:
Aaron Adams Casañas (Astera—Portland, OR)

Located on a lively, walkable corridor in Southeast Portland—known for its indie cafés, vintage storefronts, and steady flow of patrons in and out of neighborhood haunts—Astera sits as one of the fine-dining bastions of the West Coast, thanks in large part to Chef Aaron Adams ​​Casañas. Here at the intimate, 18-seat dining room, he and Chef de Cuisine Saxon Stites transform farmed-and-foraged plants from the Pacific Northwest into exquisite tasting menu experiences, with nods to fascinating fermentation techniques, Adams Casañas’ Cuban heritage, and even the mulchy forest floors of Oregon. After three decades in the kitchens—and a string of influential Portland restaurants, including Portobello Vegan Trattoria, Farm Spirit, and Fermenter—Adams Casañas is expertly shaping the trajectory of vegan dining, and shows no sign of stopping soon.

1st Place: Aaron Adams Casañas (Astera—Portland, OR)
2nd Place: Tal Ronnen (Crossroads Kitchen—Los Angeles, CA)
3rd Place: Amy Noonan (Kindred, Vulture—San Diego, CA)

Editors’ Vote: Aaron Adams Casañas (Astera—Portland, OR)

Face Plant

Best New Vegan Restaurant:
Face Plant (Portland, OR)

Face Plant wasted no time making a first impression. From the jump, the Portland newcomer arrived with a clear point of view (“All that matters is if it tastes better than McDonald’s. All that matters is if you feel something.”), confident flavors (“It took us three years to craft our burger. It took us two years to get our shake right”), and a simple-but-perfected menu that Portlanders can’t get enough of. With the help of rising food star and New York Times bestselling cookbook author Molly Baz as Head of Culinary, Face Plant’s nostalgic roster of burgers, nuggets (plus a nugget burger), and hand-spun shakes is becoming the talk of the town. And now, it’s the Best New Vegan Restaurant in America.

1st Place: Face Plant (Portland, OR)
2nd Place: Mission Burger Co. (Austin, TX & Atlanta, GA)
3rd Place: Reverie (Brooklyn, NY)

Editors’ Vote: Mission Burger Co. (Austin, TX & Atlanta, GA)

Crossroads Kitchen

Best Vegan Restaurant in America:
Crossroads Kitchen (Los Angeles, CA & Las Vegas, NV) 

At this point, Crossroads Kitchen is operating in a category of its own. With its polished dining rooms, consistent high-level cooking, and a menu that treats plant-based cuisine with the same seriousness as legacy fine-dining institutions, these restaurants are among the most influential players helping to shape how vegan food is perceived by the world. Chef Tal Ronnen and his team create thoughtful, seasonal menus that both longtime vegans and the plant-curious can marvel over. Blistered, bubbly Neapolitan-style pizzas have a fluffy chew that always please crowds. An ingenious eggplant short rib—served with truffle potatoes and mushroom bordelaise—is an elegant, buttery-yet-meaty simulacrum of the luxury dish that wows gourmands. Pasta aficionados revel in the selection of plates ranging from a cheeseless mafaldine cacio e pepe to the white wine linguine scallops. The desserts are top-notch, brunch is extensive (taking shape as a full-on buffet in Las Vegas), and the cocktails are flawless. Crossroads Kitchen has moved from being a destination to being a reference point, firmly at the center of the American vegan dining conversation.

1st Place: Crossroads Kitchen (Los Angeles, CA & Las Vegas, NV)
2nd Place: Pura Vita (West Hollywood, CA)
3rd Place: Monster Vegan (Philadelphia, PA)

Editors’ Vote: Crossroads Kitchen (Los Angeles, CA & Las Vegas, NV)

Our VegNews Restaurant Awards Prize Winners!

Everyone who voted in the 2025 VegNews Restaurant Awards were automatically entered to win one of 10 $100 gift cards to the great Next Level Veggie Grill! With 20 locations across the country and some of our all-time favourite dishes (think chik’n tenders, a steakhouse burger, the all-hail kale salad, crispy organic tofu, superfood smoothies, and the best-ever carrot cake), congratulations to all of our winners.

https://vegnews.com/best-vegan-restaurants-america 

Vegan fashion: Certifications, market data, and guides to decluttering

From fashionunited.in

The vegan fashion market is a niche but increasingly important sector, driven by the demand for cruelty-free products. According to data from the American research company Market.Us, the global vegan fashion market is projected to reach approximately 1,281.2 billion dollars by 2034. This is up from 556.3 billion dollars in 2024. This growth represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7 percent during the forecast period from 2025 to 2034.

Vegan fashion represents a sector that exclusively uses materials free of animal products

Peta has developed a guide to help consumers identify "cruel" materials in their wardrobes Credits: FashionUnited, image generated with the help of AI

Vegan fashion is a sector within the broader apparel industry that exclusively uses materials free from animal products. This approach aligns with the values of consumers who are conscious of ethics, the environment, and health. It prioritises the use of alternatives to leather, wool, silk, and other animal-derived resources.

Design and production processes are guided by the principles of cruelty-free sourcing and sustainability. They cater to a growing demographic that prioritises animal welfare and environmental impact in their purchasing decisions.

The vegan fashion market includes the production, distribution, and sale of clothing, footwear, and accessories that strictly adhere to vegan principles. This market segment is expanding as more consumers choose sustainable and ethically sourced products.

Rise of ethical consumerism has propelled vegan fashion into the spotlight

The rise of ethical consumerism has pushed vegan fashion into the spotlight, making it a significant niche within the global fashion industry. Companies operating in this space are increasingly innovating with synthetic and plant-based materials. They aim to offer durable, stylish, and accessible alternatives to traditional animal-based products. According to the Eurispes 2025 Report, 9.5 percent of Italian adults identify as vegetarian or vegan, a figure that has remained stable compared to the previous year. Of these, 2.9 percent are vegan, a number that, according to the 2014-2025 historical series, has nearly quintupled since 2014.

Consequently, a growing number of companies are obtaining animal-free certifications and ratings. For example, Animal Free Fashion is a rating system by Lav (Lega Anti Vivisezione). It was created to promote ethical, sustainable fashion that respects both animals and the environment.

The animal rights organisation Peta, an acronym for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), recently announced that over one thousand companies are using the “Peta-Approved Vegan” logo. This is used to highlight “clothing, accessories, furniture, and home decor items made with vegan alternatives to animal-derived materials, such as leather, fur, silk, feathers, or bone”.

All companies using the logo must sign a Peta statement of assurance certifying that the product is vegan Credits: Peta

All companies using the logo must sign a PETA statement of assurance certifying that the product is vegan.

Bonprix, Ecoalf, H&M, Harvest & Mill, Hugo Boss, and Hunter are just some of the companies using the logo. Among the Italian firms are Gamberini Italia and Italian Converter, a producer of innovative and sustainable fabrics for footwear, leather goods, apparel, and furniture. The shoe brand Marzeri Milano and Save the Duck also feature on the list.

PETA has also developed a vegan clothing shopping guide. It helps consumers identify "cruel" materials in their wardrobes and purchase vegan and animal-free clothing and accessories when shopping.

Leather and exotic skins

What are they? Leather is the skin of animals such as cows, pigs, goats, kangaroos, ostriches, cats, and dogs. Leather items are often not accurately labelled, so you never really know where (or from whom) they come. Snakes, alligators, crocodiles, and other reptiles are considered "exotic" in the fashion industry. They are killed and their skins are turned into bags, shoes, and other items.

What is wrong with it, according to PETA? Most leather comes from cows killed for meat and milk, making it a by-product of the meat and dairy industries. Leather is also the worst material for the environment. It not only shares responsibility for the environmental destruction caused by the meat industry but also pollutes the Earth with toxins used in the tanning process. PETA emphasises: “Whether it comes from cows, cats, or snakes, no animal should have to die for humans to wear its skin.”

Brands and materials to wear. PETA assures: “Today, most major brands offer synthetic leather, from affordable options at shops like Topshop and Zara to high-fashion designers like Stella McCartney and Bebe. Look for ‘vegan leather’ on the labels of clothes, shoes, and accessories. High-quality synthetic leather is made from many different materials, including non-animal microfibres, recycled nylon, polyurethane (PU), and even plants, including mushrooms and fruit. And lab-grown, bio-fabricated leather will also be in stores soon.”

Wool, shearling, cashmere and angora

What are they? Wool is the hair of a lamb or sheep, while shearling is the skin of a lamb with the fleece still attached. Angora is the wool of a rabbit, and cashmere is the hair of the Cashmere goat.

What is wrong with it, according to PETA? The guide states: “Sheep produce only the wool they need to protect themselves from extreme temperatures and do not need humans to shear them. Yet, in the wool industry, their ears are pierced, their tails are docked, and the males are castrated, all without any painkillers. Wool also harms the environment by degrading the soil, polluting water, and contributing to climate change. Lambs, goats, and rabbits are also mistreated and killed for shearling, cashmere, and angora.”

Alternative brands and materials. Vegan shearling and warm, cruelty-free jumpers are easy to find today. The environmental association suggests that major brands like H&M, Nasty Gal, and Zara offer wool-free coats and other animal-friendly garments. High-fashion designers, including Joshua Katcher of Brave GentleMan and Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart of Vaute, collaborate with manufacturers to create innovative, high-quality materials. The guide specifies: “Look for vegan fabrics in twill, cotton, and recycled polyester: efficient materials that repel water, dry faster, and are better for the environment than wool.”

Fur

What is fur? Fur is literally the coat of an animal still attached to its skin. Animals killed for fur include bears, beavers, cats, chinchillas, dogs, foxes, minks, rabbits, raccoons, and seals.

PETA points out: “Whether it comes from an animal on a fur farm or one trapped in the wild, every fur coat or trim is the result of tremendous suffering and the sacrifice of a life. On fur farms, animals spend their entire existence confined to cramped, filthy wire cages before being suffocated, electrocuted, gassed, or poisoned.

Regardless of the species, these animals feel pain, fear, and loneliness: they do not deserve to be tortured and killed for a fur-trimmed jacket." Regarding alternatives, the association adds that Gap Inc., H&M, and Inditex are three of the biggest names on a long list of retailers that have completely abandoned fur. Gucci and Michael Kors have also recently banned it, and Norway has issued a total ban on fur farming, following the example of many other countries.

Silk and down

Silk is the fibre that silkworms weave to create their cocoons; it is sometimes used for shirts and dresses. Down is the soft layer of feathers closest to a bird's skin; down stolen from geese and ducks is found in puffer jackets, pillows, and bedding. Peta points out that other feathers are also used to decorate clothes and accessories.

What is wrong with it, according to the animal rights association? To obtain silk, distributors boil silkworms alive inside their cocoons. The guide states: “Anyone who has seen worms flinch when their home is uncovered must recognise that these animals are sentient. Silk is also considered the second-worst material for the environment in the fashion industry, just after leather. Down is often obtained by painfully plucking live birds and is also a by-product of the foie gras and meat industries. Silk and feathers belong to the animals that created them.”

Brands like Express, Gap Inc., and Nasty Gal offer satin and silky items not derived from animals, explain PETA's experts. Nylon, milkweed pod fibres, cotton-tree filaments (kapok), polyester, and rayon are vegan materials that are easy to find and usually less expensive than silk. For silk-free underwear, Wama Underwear uses hemp as an alternative. For down enthusiasts, PETA has compiled a list of cruelty-free garments.

This article was translated to English using an AI tool.

https://fashionunited.in/news/fashion/vegan-fashion-certifications-market-data-and-guides-to-decluttering/2026020553117