Choosing a vegan suit

 A practical guide to cruelty-free, stylish tailoring.

If you’re vegan or simply aiming for cruelty-free fashion, you don’t have to sacrifice style or versatility to find a great suit. Modern suiting offers plenty of fabric options that avoid animal products while delivering solid drape, structure, and durability. Here’s how to navigate the process from fabric choice to final fit.

What “vegan” means in a suit

• Vegan fabrics: materials derived from plants or synthetic fibers with no animal content. This includes cotton, linen, hemp, bamboo viscose (rayon), lyocell (Tencel), modal, polyester blends, and other plant- or man-made fibers.
• Non-vegan materials to avoid: wool, cashmere, mohair, silk, leather, and any trims or linings made from animal products.
• Certifications and cues: look for vegan labels or certifications (for example, PETA-Approved Vegan) and ask retailers to confirm there are no hidden animal-derived components in linings, buttons, or trims.

Fabrics to consider for vegan suits

• Cotton and cotton blends: breathable and comfortable, great for spring/summer or business-casual settings. Expect a crisper look with a bit more texture; may wrinkle more than wool.
• Linen and linen blends: excellent breathability for hot climates and summer events. Linen wrinkles easily, so consider a modern, relaxed cut or blends (linen with viscose or lyocell) to improve drape and reduce creasing.
• Hemp: durable, breathable, and often produced with lower environmental impact. Good for casual to business-casual looks; texture is noticeable but can be refined with tailoring.
• Plant-based viscose (rayon), modal, and lyocell (Tencel): soft, smooth drape with good wrinkle resistance, especially in blends. Lyocell tends to be more breathable and resilient and can mimic the fluidity of wool quite well.
• Blended fabrics: many vegan suits use blends (e.g., cotton/viscose, lyocell/polyester) to balance breathability, drape, and durability. Read the label to understand the proportions and performance.
• Faux-wool or wool-free fabrics: some mills offer “vegan wool”-style fabrics that use plant- or synthetics to replicate the feel and drape of wool without animal content. These can be a good middle ground if you want a traditional suit silhouette.

Fabric performance considerations

• Draping and structure: plant-based and synthetic blends can mimic wool’s drape, but pure cotton or linen will behave differently (they may require different tailoring and care).
• Wrinkling: linen and linen blends wrinkle more readily; if you want a crisper look, opt for a blend with viscose, lyocell, or a lightweight polyester to help hold shape.
• Breathability: for day-to-day wear and longer events, fabrics with good moisture management (lyocell, bamboo viscose blends, and cotton blends) will feel more comfortable.
• Durability and care: many vegan fabrics are machine-washable or dry-cleanable; however, most traditional suits (even vegan ones) will still require dry cleaning. Check care labels and ask about cleaning options before purchasing.

Lining and trims: what to check

• Lining materials: silk or wool linings are out for vegan buyers. Look for viscose (rayon), cotton, or polyester linings. A fully lined jacket can feel more structured, while unlined or half-lined jackets offer more breathability—especially valuable in warmer climates.
• Buttons and trims: choose buttons made from vegan-friendly materials like corozo (vegetable ivory) or plastic, and avoid horn, mother-of-pearl, or leather embellishments. Some brands also offer coconut or wood-tone buttons; verify their vegan status if that matters to you.
• Pockets and hardware: ensure zippers, hooks, and hardware are cruelty-free and not sourced from animal-derived materials.