You’ve already said no to pork sausages. You walk right past the dairy aisle without a second glance. You’ve unfollowed every BBQ Instagram account that ever haunted your feed. You’re doing the plant-based thing and it feels good.
But what about your wardrobe?
Read below for my full thoughts on how you can stylishly expand your compassion!
If you’re anything like I was when I first went vegan, food was the obvious place to start. Swapping out cheese, milk, and meat is a daily act, it’s visible, and it’s where so much of the messaging around veganism is centred.
But once you’re feeling steady in your food choices, it’s natural to start wondering, “what’s next?”.
Clothing might not seem like the most urgent battleground for animal rights, but let me tell you it absolutely matters. Leather isn’t just a by-product of the meat industry, it is the industry. Skins are one of the most profitable parts of the carcass, and demand for leather helps keep animal agriculture alive and well.
The same goes for wool, silk, feathers, and other animal-derived materials. Each has its own cruelty baked in, from the horrors of live-plucking geese for down to the routine abuse of sheep in the wool trade. It’s not cute, it’s not kind, and it’s certainly not necessary.
Now, I know this is where some people get stuck. They’ve done the work with food, and then suddenly someone says, “Your shoes?” and they freeze. It’s not about shaming or perfectionism. This is about broadening our understanding of what compassion looks like. If your values led you to stop eating animals, why stop there?
Choosing vegan clothing and footwear isn’t just a style decision. It’s a refusal to support suffering. It’s an extension of the kindness you already practise every time you sit down for a meal.
For years now, I’ve been a proud supporter of The Third Estate, an ethical boutique and shoe store based in London. Angela and James, the powerhouse duo behind the shop, have dedicated themselves to helping people shop with integrity. This isn’t fast fashion pretending to be conscious. This is the real ethical deal.
Everything in The Third Estate is vegan, but that’s just the start. The products they carry are carefully chosen from brands that treat their workers fairly and prioritise environmental sustainability. It’s compassion for animals, yes, but also for people. The folks who make our clothes, often in invisible and exploitative systems.
If you’re in London, I insist you make your way to the shop in person. You’ll be welcomed with warmth and probably end up chatting for longer than you expected (ask me how I know). And if you’re elsewhere in the world, you can still experience their magic.
The Third Estate also has an online store that ships worldwide.
So whether you’re in waterproof boots, seasonal sandals, comfy trainers, or the cosiest vegan slippers imaginable, remember the following…
Every step we take can be a step towards justice.
Follow The Third Estate on Instagram.
If you appreciate these blog posts and the work I do to support vegan business, please consider making a one time small donation of a couple of quid online here.
You can order my book ‘Fat Gay Vegan: Eat, Drink and Live Like You Give a Sh!t’ online now. It has been out a while now but is still a good read. You can also listen to the Audiobook read by me!
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