The other day I was randomly surfing the net when a piece of news caught my eye. Renowned fashion designer Anita Dongre has launched her new line of vegan accessories. The news made me immensely happy inside. It was a happiness that I haven’t felt for years. I took Snowy in my arms and cuddled him as he licked my face with equal zest. Burying my face in his fluffy fur, I tried to convey my love to all furry animals of the world that have been killed to satisfy human lust in name of fashion and beauty.
Innocent animals have been victim to the human’s frenzy for fashion since ages. The uber expensive mink coats, the crocodile leather bags, the luxurious silk sarees… all bear a testimony to excruciating pain suffered by hapless living beings. Animal skins, furs and feathers are most commonly used in luxurious dresses and accessories and these materials are often obtained through inhuman procedure. Innocent animals are killed and deskinned, birds’ feathers are ripped off, and sheep are mercilessly beaten and mutilated for their wool. This brutal practice is going on in name of fashion since ages and several luxurious brands are making huge money at the expense of innocent lives.
Thankfully, the horror picture is changing and many fashion designers including Dongre across the world are propagating cruelty-free, clean fashion. The change is certainly spreading a happy vibe among us, animal lovers. However, I feel we still have a long way to go as not only the designers, but the consumers too need to be more conscious and aware. After all, being mindful of the pain and suffering of helpless animals killed for the sake of fashion and saying ‘no’ to such fashion lines are the least we can do to save those innocent lives.
I have often pondered upon a simple question: Why do fashion brands and retailers keep using animals to create their fashion lines and beauty products, forcing innocent animals to undergo inhuman torture? It is very shocking, especially when there are already so many alternatives available. My heart feels heavy when I see clothes made up of wool, leather, and silk obtained from living beings. Why can’t we be fashionable without wearing animal skin? The naturally obtained fibers made from different wood pulp like milkweed fibers, silk cotton tree fiber, and banana fiber are used by countless fashion brands in India and look as good as silk or wool.
As a consumer, we have so much power to change the world by just being careful about what we buy. I request the readers of this blog to check carefully the label of the fashion brands before buying. There are a whole lot of popular brands that embrace cruelty-free, sustainable fashion and do not conduct testing on animals. Always opt for vegan lines and please raise your voice against all types of animal cruelty over social media urging the brands to apply for cruelty-free certifications. Sharing and posting articles on animal cruelty with hashtags can go a long way to creating awareness.
I believe with our collective effort and consciousness it is possible to create a sustainable world where animals too can live peacefully cohabiting with us. And please remember: Wearing a mink or pashmina is not a fashion – it's outright cruelty which certainly is not fashionable.
Commenti