3 Ways to Give Your Closet a Vegan Boost

It is inevitable that an entrenched vegan will start looking beyond his or her plate into other aspects of life. For me, this occurred one morning when I was looking for the right shoes to wear. Wearing a size 14 has made me a big shoe fan. Those of us in the teens (shoe size) know that when you find something you like that is fashionable it must be purchased, price tag be damned in most cases. I’ve therefore accumulated quite a collection over the years. At last count, I had three pair of black dress shoes and four in brown, all leather.

Although my first instinct was to take them all to Goodwill, I reminded myself this evolution is about progress, not perfection.

 

Here are my top three tips for giving your closet a vegan boost

1. Don’t Step on My Near-Suede Shoes
During my recent experience at the Main Street Vegan Academy in New York City, one of our presenters was Joshua Katcher aka The Discerning Brute. His knowledge of sustainable and cruelty-free fashion was inspiring and thought-provoking. It is staggering to think of all the animal-based products (besides food) that we accumulate. In addition to these products, another seemingly endless list are tested on animals. With everything we know (or should and need to know) and the growing number of options it is easier to find new and appealing options for your closet. The pair above are from Moo Shoes in NYC and they will be opening a second location in Los Angeles in the coming months. They are comfortable, durable and always draw a compliment or two from the ladies. A blue pair of the same style are next on my list. After bringing these home, I started the trade-out in my closet and donated a pair of my black leather shoes.

 

2. Conscious Minimizing
One of the many amazing byproducts of my vegan lifestyle is a greater awareness of how many possessions I have and how many of them I really don’t need. Our recent efforts at minimizing include selling CD’s and DVD’s, donating furniture and luggage and ridding the closets of items that haven’t moved in a few years. One such item for me is a leather jacket from Banana Republic. It’s a great-looking jacket and I got it on sale……but it hasn’t moved out of the closet in 5 or 6 years. What better opportunity to accomplish two desired outcomes with one action. Items like these that simply are moved from one closet to the next are hardly missed when they are gone and it brings me one step closer to living in a home free of animal products.

 

3. Accessories
Think of all the accessories that fill your closet….from belts, bags and gloves to ties and pocket squares. Many of us are carrying our money and credit cards in a wallet made of leather. The animal-based products we use on a daily basis often go well beyond the shoes we wear. Maybe pick one product a month and find a cruelty-free alternative. If you are like me, you won’t be able to click through Matt and Nat’s website without finding something you love…..for example this chic iPad sleeve will be arriving in my mailbox any day! These companies always seem to have amazing stories related to ethics and sustainability while the creativity they employ to make a dent in the marketplace is inspiring.

 

At the very least, this is a useful exercise in determining what we really need and how can do the least collective harm with our choices in the kitchen and the closet!