With Wool and Down Off the Table, What the Heck Do Vegans Wear in the Winter? motherboard.vice.com

Biotech is quickly advancing the world of textiles to give vegans animal-free options to stay cozy. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Leanne Mai-ly Hilgart learned at an early age how brutal winter could be. So when she launched her own line of vegan fashion, Vaute, in 2008, she knew that her outerwear needed to not just be cruelty-free and stylish: it had to be tough. Some vegans are only strict about what they eat, but others extend the no-animals-were-harmed philosophy to as much of their life as possible, and that includes clothing. Wool, goose down, fur, leather, and suede are all off-limits (yes, even wool is often a pretty grim business) which leaves few options in the traditional selection of cozy fabrics.