Is Cotton Vegan? 

Cotton

Cotton is a natural fibre that grows in bolls on shrubs that are natively found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world like the Americas, Africa and India. The plant has independently been domesticated throughout history, so it’s no wonder that the plant plays such a large part in today’s textile landscape.

The oldest uses of the material can be dated back around seven thousand years to the Middle East, Mexico and South Asia. But, can cotton be considered a vegan fabric? 

Is cotton clothing vegan?

We know that cotton is produced from natural fibres, but this isn’t always a conclusive indicator of if something can be considered vegan or not. However, in the case of cotton, it can be considered vegan as no animal by-products are used in its manufacturing process. 

Exceptions to this would be blended cotton textiles that are made of animal fibres too, such as wool-cotton or silk-cotton blends. 

What is sustainable cotton? 

Sustainable cotton is described by Cotton Up as a production system that ‘meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. This essentially means that we need to readdress the large volumes of cotton that we overproduce now so it can continue to be a viable option in the future.  

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