When one becomes vegan, for most of us it extends far beyond what we put in our mouths. The clothes we wear also come into the picture. There are a number of materials or fabrics made from animal hair, bone and skin. However, it is not difficult to find vegan clothing and fabrics in just about any store that sells these products. Lets take a look at some vegan friendly and non vegan fabrics.
Vegan Materials
These are materials made from plant-based sources, synthetic fibre or a combination of both.
Material |
Description |
Acrylic |
synthetic fabric |
Aertex |
trademark brand for a loosely woven cotton fabric |
Bamboo |
cloth yarn and clothing made out of bamboo fibres. Modern bamboo clothing is clothing made from either 100% bamboo yarn or a blend of bamboo and cotton yarn |
Batiste |
lightweight semi-sheer cotton fabric; used for heirloom sewing lingerie and blouses |
Broadcloth |
dense plain woven cloth historically made of wool. Modern broadcloth is cotton or a cotton blend |
Buckram |
stiff cloth made of cotton or linen used in bookbinding and to stiffen clothing |
Calico |
plain-woven textile made from unbleached and often not fully processed cotton |
Cambric |
finely woven white linen |
Canvas |
extremely durable plain-woven fabric (used for clothing chairs sails or tents) |
Chambray or Cambric |
linen-finished (flax) gingham cloth with a white weft and a coloured warp used for linens shirting handkerchiefs and as fabric for lace and needlework |
Chenille |
heavy fabric woven with chenille cord; used in rugs and bedspreads commonly manufactured from cotton but can also be made using acrylic rayon and olefin |
Chino |
twill fabric originally made of 100% cotton and cotton-synthetic blends |
Chintz |
brightly printed and glazed cotton fabric |
Cork |
material that is made from the soft bark of a kind of oak tree |
Cord/Corduroy |
textile composed of twisted fibres that when woven form the cloth’s distinct pattern a “cord”; usually made of cotton |
Cotton |
soft white fibrous substance that surrounds the seeds of a tropical and subtropical plant and is used as textile fibre and thread for sewing |
Cotton flannel/Canton flannel |
stout cotton fabric with nap on only one side |
Cretonne |
heavy cotton fabric typically with a floral pattern printed on one or both sides used for upholstery. |
Denim/ Dungaree /Jean |
coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric |
Dimity |
hard-wearing sheer cotton fabric woven with raised stripes or checks |
Duck |
heavy plain woven cotton fabric; used for clothing and tents |
Elastane |
synthetic fibre known for its exceptional elasticity. It is a polyester-polyurethane copolymer that is stronger and more durable than natural rubber |
Elastic |
flexible stretchable fabric made with interwoven strands of rubber or an imitative synthetic fibre |
Etamine/Etamin |
light cotton or worsted fabric with an open mesh; used for curtains or clothing etc. |
Flannelette |
light cotton fabric imitating flannel |
Fustian |
strong cotton and linen fabric with a short nap usually dyed in dark colours |
Gingham |
lightweight plain-woven cotton cloth typically checked in white and a bold colour |
Hemp |
tough coarse fibre of the cannabis plant used to make cordage yarn and fabric |
Khaki |
sturdy twilled cloth of a yellowish brown colour. used especially for military uniforms usually made from cotton and linen |
Lame |
fabric interwoven with threads of metal |
Leatherette (imitation leather) |
Imitation leather made from paper cloth etc |
Linen |
textile made from the fibres of the flax plant Linum usitatissimum; is very absorbent and garments made of linen are valued for their exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather |
Lint |
cotton or linen fabric with the nap raised on one side; used to dress wounds |
Mackintosh/Macintosh |
lightweight waterproof (usually rubberised) fabric |
Madras |
lightweight cotton fabric with typically patterned texture and plaid design used primarily for summer clothing such as pants shorts dresses and jackets |
Marseille |
strong cotton fabric with a raised pattern; used for bedspreads |
Microfibre |
very fine synthetic yarn |
Modal |
type of rayon a semi-synthetic cellulose fibre made by spinning reconstituted cellulose in this case often from beech trees. Modal is used alone or with other fibres (often cotton or spandex) in household items |
Moleskin |
durable cotton fabric with a velvety nap |
Monk’s cloth |
heavy cloth in basket weave made from cotton |
Moquette |
thick velvety synthetic fabric used for carpets and soft upholstery |
Muslin |
cotton fabric of plain weave |
Nankeen |
yellowish cotton cloth |
Nylon |
synthetic fabric |
Oilcloth |
cloth treated on one side with a drying oil or synthetic resin |
Olefin |
synthetic fibreade from a polyolefin, such as polypropylene or polyethylene. It is used in wallpaper, carpeting, ropes, and vehicle interiors |
Organdie/Organdy |
sheer stiff muslin |
Orlon |
brand of synthetic acrylic textile fibre of lightweight wrinkle resistance and resistance to weathering and many chemicals |
Percale |
fine closely woven cotton fabric; typically used for bed covers |
PET/PETE |
common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family used in fibres for clothing containers for liquids and foods and manufacturing |
Pilot cloth |
heavy twilled woollen overcoating with a thick nap used especially for seamen’s blue uniforms |
Pique |
weaving style normally used with cotton yarn which is characterized by raised parallel cords or fine ribbing |
Polar fleece/ Polar wool/Vega wool |
soft napped insulating fabric made from a type of polyester called polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or other synthetic fibres |
Polyester |
large class of synthetic fabrics |
Poplin |
plain-woven fabric typically a lightweight cotton with a corded surface |
Prima Loft |
brand of patented synthetic microfibre thermal insulation material developed for the United States Army in the 1980s |
Rayon |
synthetic fibre made from purified cellulose primarily from chemically treated wood pulp |
Sailcloth |
anyof various fabrics as of cotton nylon or Dacron for boat sails or tents. |
Sateen |
cotton fabric with a satiny finish |
Screening |
fabric of metal or plastic mesh |
Scrim |
woven material one a finely woven lightweight fabric widely used in theatre the other a heavy coarse woven material used for reinforcement in both building and canvas making |
Seersucker |
light fabric of linen cotton or rayon usually striped and slightly puckered used to make clothing for spring and summer wear |
Silesie |
sturdy twill-weave cotton fabric; used for pockets and linings |
Spandex |
synthetic fibre or fabric made from a polymer containing polyurethane used in the manufacture of elastic clothing |
Tapa/ Tappa |
paper like cloth made in the South Pacific by pounding tapa bark |
Tencel |
from the natural cellulose found in wood pulp. The fibre is economical in its use of energy and natural resources and is fully biodegradable. Process and Products. Tencel is made from cellulose in wood pulp which is harvested from tree-farmed trees |
Thinsulate |
brand of synthetic fibre thermal insulation used in clothing. The word is a portmanteau of thin and insulate |
Toweling |
any of various fabrics (linen or cotton) used to make towels |
Ultrasuede |
synthetic microfibre fabric used to substitute suede leather; used in fashion interior decorating automotive and other vehicle upholstery and industrial applications |
Velcro |
nylon fabric used as a fastening |
Velour |
plush knitted fabric or textile made from cotton or polyester |
Velveteen |
cotton fabric with a pile resembling velvet |
Viscose / Viscose rayon |
rayon fabric made from viscose (cellulose xanthate) fibre commonly used in dresses linings shirts shorts coats jackets and other outerwear; it is also used in industrial yarns (tyre cord) upholstery and carpets |
Voile |
soft sheer fabric usually made of 100% cotton or cotton blends including linen or polyester |
Vulcanised fibre |
laminated plastic composed of only cellulose. The material is a tough resilient hornlike that is lighter than aluminium tougher than leather and stiffer than most thermoplastics |
Wire cloth |
fabric woven of metallic wire used for window screens and strainers |
Non-vegan Materials
These are non-vegan materials made solely or partly from animal products.
Material |
Description |
Aba |
fabric woven from goat and camel hair |
Alpaca |
natural fibre harvested from an alpaca |
Brocade |
decorative shuttle-woven fabrics often made in coloured silks and with or without gold and silver threads |
Bunting |
lightweight worsted wool used for making flags and ribbons |
Camelhair |
type of cloth made from pure camel hair or a blend |
Camlet |
woven fabric of Asian origin originally made of camel or goat’s hair; later made of goat’s hair and silk or of wool and cotton |
Cashmere |
soft fibre obtained from cashmere goats and other types of goat |
Cerecloth (altar cloth) |
waterproof waxed cloth once used as a shroud (also called altar cloth used in churches) |
Doeskin |
leather made from the skin of a female fallow deer |
Duffel /Duffle |
coarse heavy woollen fabric |
Felt |
cloth made of wool and fur often mixed with natural or synthetic fibres through the action of heat moisture chemicals and pressure |
Fleece |
woollen coat of a domestic sheep or long-haired goat especially after being sheared (but before being processed into yarn or thread) |
Frieze |
heavy woollen fabric with a long nap |
Georgette |
sheer lightweight silk dress material |
Grogram |
type of fabric that’s a mix of silk and wool |
Haircloth Hair |
cloth woven from horsehair or camel hair; used for upholstery or stiffening in garments |
Horsehair |
fabric made from horsehair fibres; used for upholstery and cosmetic brushes and applicators |
Leather |
durable and flexible material created by tanning animal rawhide and skin often cattle hide |
Lisle |
fabric woven with lisle thread (a type of cotton) |
Mackinaw |
heavy woollen cloth heavily napped and felted often with a plaid design |
Mohair |
silk-like fabric or yarn made from the hair of the Angora goat |
Moire Watered-silk |
fabric with a wavy (watered) appearance produced mainly from silk but also wool cotton and rayon |
Paisley |
soft wool fabric with a colourful swirled pattern of curved shapes |
Pongee |
soft thin cloth woven from raw silk |
Russet |
coarse grey brown or reddish-brown homespun cloth made of wool and dyed with wood and madder |
Samite |
heavy silk fabric (often woven with silver or gold threads) |
Sarcenet / Sarsenet |
fine soft silk fabric from Italy and used for clothing ribbons etc. |
Serge |
twilled woollen fabric |
Shark Skin Shagreen |
sharkskin used as a decorative material or for its natural rough surface of pointed scales as an abrasive |
Silk |
fine soft shiny fibre produced by silkworms to form their cocoons |
Stammel |
coarse woollen clothing fabric usually dyed red and used sometimes for under-shirts of penitents |
Suede leather |
type of leather with a napped finish commonly used for jackets shoes shirts purses furniture and other items. Suede leather is made from the underside of the skin primarily lamb although goat pig calf and deer are commonly used |
Swan’s down |
soft woollen fabric used especially for baby clothes |
Tammy |
plain-woven (often glazed) fabric of wool or wool and cotton used especially formerly for linings and garments and curtains |
Tweed |
A soft thick fabric woven from contrasting woollen yarns. |
Vicuna |
wool from the vicuña’s fine lustrous undercoat |
Viyella |
fabric made from a twilled mixture of cotton and wool |
Wincey |
plain or twilled fabric of wool and cotton used especially for warm shirts or skirts and pyjamas |
Wool Woolen Woollen |
fibre obtained from sheep and certain other animals including cashmere from goats mohair from goats qiviut from musk oxen angora from rabbits and other types of wool from came lids |
Worsted |
woollen fabric with a hard textured surface and no nap; woven of worsted yarns |
Vegan / Non-Vegan Materials
These are materials that could either be vegan or non-vegan depending on the source of the fibre. Also, some of these materials are made with a combination of vegan and non-vegan sources. Therefore, you care needs to be taken when choosing these, find out the source before purchasing.
Material |
Description |
Aba |
fabric woven from goat and camel hair |
Alpaca |
natural fibre harvested from an alpaca |
Brocade |
decorative shuttle-woven fabrics often made in coloured silks and with or without gold and silver threads |
Bunting |
lightweight worsted wool used for making flags and ribbons |
Camelhair |
type of cloth made from pure camel hair or a blend |
Camlet |
woven fabric of Asian origin originally made of camel or goat’s hair; later made of goat’s hair and silk or of wool and cotton |
Cashmere |
soft fibre obtained from cashmere goats and other types of goat |
Cerecloth (altar cloth) |
waterproof waxed cloth once used as a shroud (also called altar cloth used in churches) |
Doeskin |
leather made from the skin of a female fallow deer |
Duffel Duffle |
coarse heavy woollen fabric |
Felt |
cloth made of wool and fur often mixed with natural or synthetic fibres through the action of heat moisture chemicals and pressure |
Fleece |
woollen coat of a domestic sheep or long-haired goat especially after being sheared (but before being processed into yarn or thread) |
Frieze |
heavy woollen fabric with a long nap |
Georgette |
sheer lightweight silk dress material |
Grogram |
type of fabric that’s a mix of silk and wool |
Haircloth Hair |
cloth woven from horsehair or camel hair; used for upholstery or stiffening in garments |
Horsehair |
fabric made from horsehair fibres; used for upholstery and cosmetic brushes and applicators |
Leather |
durable and flexible material created by tanning animal rawhide and skin often cattle hide |
Lisle |
fabric woven with lisle thread (a type of cotton) |
Mackinaw |
heavy woollen cloth heavily napped and felted often with a plaid design |
Mohair |
silk-like fabric or yarn made from the hair of the Angora goat. |
Moire Watered-silk |
fabric with a wavy (watered) appearance produced mainly from silk but also wool cotton and rayon |
Paisley |
soft wool fabric with a colourful swirled pattern of curved shapes |
Pongee |
soft thin cloth woven from raw silk |
Russet |
coarse grey brown or reddish-brown homespun cloth made of wool and dyed with wood and madder |
Samite |
heavy silk fabric (often woven with silver or gold threads) |
Sarcenet Sarsenet |
fine soft silk fabric from Italy and used for clothing ribbons etc. |
Serge |
twilled woollen fabric |
Shark Skin Shagreen |
sharkskin used as a decorative material or for its natural rough surface of pointed scales as an abrasive. |
Silk |
fine soft shiny fibre produced by silkworms to form their cocoons |
Stammel |
coarse woollen clothing fabric usually dyed red and used sometimes for under-shirts of penitents |
Suede leather |
type of leather with a napped finish commonly used for jackets shoes shirts purses furniture and other items. Suede leather is made from the underside of the skin primarily lamb although goat pig calf and deer are commonly used |
Swan’s down |
soft woollen fabric used especially for baby clothes |
Tammy |
plain-woven (often glazed) fabric of wool or wool and cotton used especially formerly for linings and garments and curtains |
Tweed |
soft thick fabric woven from contrasting woollen yarns |
Vicuna |
wool from the vicuña’s fine lustrous undercoat |
Viyella |
fabric made from a twilled mixture of cotton and wool |
Wincey |
plain or twilled fabric of wool and cotton used especially for warm shirts or skirts and pyjamas |
Wool /Woolen /Woollen |
textile fibre obtained from sheep and certain other animals including cashmere from goats mohair from goats qiviut from musk oxen angora from rabbits and other types of wool from came lids |
/Worsted |
woollen fabric with a hard textured surface and no nap; woven of worsted yarns |
This is by no means an exhaustive list, so more information will be added with time.
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