PETA Launches $1M Design Challenge For Exemplary ‘Vegan Wool’
Photo 62311474 © Sue Feldberg | Dreamstime.com
Baa, baa, black sheep, they can (finally) keep their wool. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is dedicating US$1 million to the first designer or small business that can create a material that is “visually, texturally, and functionally akin or superior to sheep’s wool” yet is sustainable and cruelty-free.
Until July 28, 2023, individuals, groups, or companies with annual incomes of under US$30 million can send in a sample of their wool alternative, as well as their plan for how the material can be produced, to apply for the cash prize.
While fashion brands have been adopting animal-free replacements for leather and yarns, many of the substitutes are still fossil fuel-based.
Samples submitted should be bio-based or bio-engineered; look and feel like wool while mirroring its properties such as neutralizing odors, wicking moisture, and maintaining its wearer’s body temperature; shed minimally; be soft to the touch; have the ability to be produced in multiple weights; and be suitable to mass production.
At the next stage, creators of approved materials will need to demonstrate that their fabrics are scalable and appealing for at least one of the world’s top 10 clothing retailers, as well as prove that the product will be attractive in the US.
While PETA’s Vegan Wool Challenge seems to be open to entrants worldwide, interested designers will need to mail their fabrics to Norfolk, Virginia.
“From flowers and fruit to hemp and soya beans, options are limitless when it comes to creating animal-free clothing and accessories,”shares Mimi Bekhechi, PETA Europe’s Vice President, in a statement. “PETA is delighted to foster innovation that will help protect animals and halt the environmental destruction caused by animal agriculture.”
[via Business of Fashion, The Guardian, PETA UK, cover photo 62311474 © Sue Feldberg | Dreamstime.com]
