Retail giant H&M just unveiled its new vegan collection that spotlights the best in animal-free fashion. The retailer’s new “Co-Exist” collection is approved by animal-rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and features menswear, womenswear, and childrenswear, all made to spotlight alternatives to animal materials typically used in fashion.
Inspired by ‘90s partywear, the collection was created to help modern city dwellers craft a wardrobe that works for dinner in the city and early morning nature hikes, all while putting innovations in animal-free fabrics at the forefront. “We designed this collection for modern urbanites, those who love the social hubs of city life but equally crave weekends spent wearing their waterproof rubber boots immersed in nature,” H&M Senior Designer Malin Dubois said in a statement. “We’re proud to be able to unite two passions: versatile, fashion-forward design with more sustainable PETA-approved alternatives to animal-derived materials.”
Highlights of the collection include puffer jackets made from FLWRDWN, an alternative to cruelly begotten goose down that is made from wildflowers; vests created from VEGEA, a vegan leather made from the byproducts of the wine industry; and asymmetrical skirts made from ECONYL, a material made entirely from waste such as old carpets, fishing nets, and industrial plastic. Many of the collection’s T-shirts bear slogans—such as “speak up for animals”—to support the work of PETA and other animal-rights groups. The collection also includes H&M’s first vegan makeup items (lipsticks and eyeliners) which are certified vegan by the United Kingdom’s The Vegan Society.
Replete with reduced goats, cows, and horses, the advertising images for H&M’s new vegan collection were photographed by Johnny Dufort and styled by Alexandra Carl at the Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Norfolk, one of the UK’s largest animal sanctuaries for rescued farm animals. “Much of our work at PETA is accomplished by forming positive relationships with companies such as H&M as we strive to end the use of animal-derived materials,” PETA Corporate Responsibility Manager Laura Shields said in a statement. “We’re thrilled to partner with H&M on a collection that features fabulous vegan designs that are kinder to the planet and to the animals who live on it.”
The Co-Exist collection will be available to customers worldwide through H&M’s website and at select stores starting November 4.
H&M gets into animal-free fashion
The new Co-Exist collection is H&M’s third installment of its Innovation Stories initiative, which it launched in early 2021 to explore sustainable materials, technologies, and designs. In March, H&M launched its Science Story as part of this initiative which spotlighted other innovative vegan materials, including Desserto, a vegan cactus leather made by Mexican entrepreneurs Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez, and EVO by Fulgar, a bio-based yarn derived from renewable castor oil. The pieces in that collection were both modern and experimental and included white wide-leg jeans with a removable double waistband, a cropped collared shirt with an oversized breast pocket, and a cuffed tracksuit, alongside accessories such as a chunky necklace made of interconnecting orange swirls and embellished with rhinestones, block-heeled acid yellow strappy sandals, and double-framed blue sunglasses.
Prior to launching its Innovation Stories initiative, H&M explored a variety of plant-based alternatives to animal-derived materials such as pineapple-based leather Piñatex and vegan silk Orange Fiber. Through this initiative, H&M intends to continue to explore the future of animal-free, sustainable fashion.
“The ‘Co-Exist Story’ collection epitomises our ongoing commitment at H&M to exploring innovative alternatives to animal-derived fabrics while still offering our customers cutting-edge fashion,” H&M Creative Advisor Ann-Sofie Johansson said in a statement. “H&M and PETA have enjoyed a positive dialogue throughout the project, and we are proud to support the valuable work that PETA is doing every day.”
For more about animal-free fashion, read:
Nike’s Iconic Air Force Ones Get a Vegan Pineapple Leather Makeover
Vegan Mushroom Leather Handbag Hits the Runway for the First Time
Two Guys in Mexico Just Created Vegan Leather From Cactus
Anna Starostinetskaya is the Senior News Editor at VegNews and is always keeping an eye on all things vegan in her home city of San Francisco, CA and everywhere else.
