What if we told you silk wasn’t vegan? Just like leather, wool, or fur, silk isn’t compatible with vegan ethics. Its production entails exploiting (and often killing) the animals involved, prompting vegans to exclude it from their wardrobes.
“But isn’t silk just made from silkworm secretions?” is a common question. The answer is yes, but this fact alone disqualifies it as a cruelty-free material. Silkworms produce precious cocoons to envelop themselves before transforming into butterflies—these cocoons are then harvested for use in the textile industry. However, there’s a catch.
Regrettably, industrial silk production involves exploitation on two levels: first, by establishing intensive silkworm farms where insects are confined to produce silk cocoons; second, by the methods used to extract the silk without damage, which are often harsh and cruel, such as boiling or freezing the cocoons. These insects live incredibly short lives in captivity, typically only about a week, before being killed for their silk.
As with many other animal-derived materials, there are now several ethical and sustainable alternatives to silk. Thanks to innovation, it’s now possible to avoid animal exploitation in the fashion industry, even with this valuable and historically popular fabric.
See also: 6 vegan alternatives to silk: sustainable opportunities for businesses
