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Purchasing clothes and furniture that use vegan fabrics is a great way to support your vegan lifestyle and encourage brands to stock more vegan products. But although more brands than ever are stocking vegan and cruelty-free products, they don’t always label them as such.
Finding out whether a fabric is vegan or not is easy – we’ve listed 150 fabrics below, given a brief description, and stated whether they are vegan or not. We’ve worked hard to make this the most useful source for information on cruelty-free fabrics on the internet, but we still recommend you check the label and, if necessary ask the manufacturer for more information.
| Fabric | Vegan or Not? | Description | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aba | Not Vegan | Aba is a course felted fabric woven from goat and/or camel hair. | |
| Acrylic | Vegan | Acrylic is a synthetic fabric made from a polymer called acrylonitrile. | |
| Aertex | Vegan | Aertex is a trademark for a brand of loose-weave cotton fabric. | |
| Alpaca | Not Vegan | Alpaca fiber is derived from alpaca hair. It is warmer than wool, water-resistant, and hypoallergenic. | |
| Angora | Not Vegan | Angora fiber is woven from hair of the angora rabbit. Silky and soft. | |
| Baize | Depends | Baize is a felt-like material used for covering snooker and pool tables. Typically a wool/cotton blend. | |
| Bamboo | Vegan | Bamboo cellulose is used to make all types of rayon, including viscose, modal, and lyocell. These materials are semi-synthetic and require a large amount of chemicals to create. | |
| Batiste | Vegan | Batiste, also known as Cambric or Chambray, is a lightweight cotton (or linen) fabric used for linings, lingerie, and handkerchiefs. Vegan. | |
| Broadcloth | Depends | Broadcloth is a dense cloth historically made of wool, but in a modern context more likely to be cotton or cotton blend. | |
| Brocade | Depends | Brocade is a rich, thick fabric with an elaborate raised design. Normally silk, but synthetic alternatives are available. |
| Fabric | Vegan or Not? | Description | More Info | Buckram | Vegan | Buckram is a stiff cotton or linen cloth. Used for bookbinding, hats, and in clothing. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bunting (or Bunt) | Depends | Bunting is traditionally made from a lightweight wool, but alternative materials include plastic, synthetic fabrics, and paper. | |
| Calico | Vegan | Calico is a cheap, plain-woven textile made from unbleached cotton. Often, the cotton has not been fully-processed. | |
| Cambric | Vegan | Cambric, also known as Chambray or Batiste, is a lightweight cotton (or linen) fabric used for linings, lingerie, and handkerchiefs. Vegan. | |
| Camelhair | Not Vegan | Camelhair is fiber or cloth made from the hair of a camel. Often blended with other fibers, including wool. | |
| Camlet (or Camelot, Camblet) | Not Vegan | Camlet is a woven fabric traditionally made of camel or goat's hair. Later made from blends of goat's hair and silk, or of wool and cotton. | |
| Canvas | Vegan | Canvas is a course and durable plain-woven fabric traditionally made from hemp, but now typically made from cotton, linen or PVC. | |
| Cashmere | Not Vegan | Cashmere is a soft and silky fiber harvested from cashmere, pashmina, and other types of goats. | |
| Challis | Depends | Challis is a lightweight woven fabric. It can be made from cotton, silk, or wool (or often a blend), but is now sometimes produced from man-made fabrics, such as rayon. | |
| Chambray (or Cambric) | Vegan | Chambray, also known as Cambric or Batiste, is a lightweight cotton (or linen) fabric used for linings, lingerie, and handkerchiefs. Vegan. |
| Fabric | Vegan or Not? | Description | More Info | Chenille | Depends | Chenille is a heavy woven fabric typically manufactured from cotton or synthetic yarns, sometimes mixed with wool or silk. |
Full Article - Is Chenille Vegan? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chiffon | Depends | Chiffon is a lightweight and sheer fabric. Can be made from cotton, silk, or synthetic fibers. |
Full Article - Is Chiffon Vegan? |
| Chino | Vegan | Chino is a twill fabric. It is typically made from either 100% cotton or cotton-synthetic blend. Vegan. | |
| Chintz | Vegan | Chintz is a brightly printed and glazed cotton fabric. | |
| Cord (or Corduroy) | Vegan | Cord, or Corduoroy, is a textile made from twisted fibers that have been woven into a distinctive cord pattern. Normally made from cotton. | |
| Cork | Vegan | Cork is made the soft bark of some kinds of oak tree. | |
| Cotton | Vegan | Cotton is made from fibers that surround the seeds of the cotton plant. It is used as both a textile fiber and as a thread for sewing. |
Full Article - Is Cotton Vegan? |
| Cotton flannel (or Canton flannel) | Depends | Cotton flannel is a stout cotton fabric with nap on one side only | |
| Crepe (or Crape, or Crepe de Chine) | Depends | Crepe, or Crape, is a soft woven fabric. Originally made from carded wool or worsted yarn, modern crepe is normally either wool, cotton, or synthetic. | |
| Cretonne | Vegan | Cretonne is a heavy cotton fabric used for upholstery. Typically printed with a floral pattern. |
| Fabric | Vegan or Not? | Description | More Info | Damask | Depends | Damask is a woven fabric with an ornate and intricate pattern. It can be made from silk, wool, linen, cotton, or synthetic fibers. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denim (or Jean) | Vegan | Denim is a durable cotton textile with distinctive diagonal ribbing. Denim itself is vegan, but jeans sometimes aren't due to leather patches. |
Full Article - Is Denim Vegan? |
| Dimity | Vegan | Dimity is a sheer cotton fabric woven with raised stripes or checks. Hard-wearing. | |
| Doeskin | Not Vegan | Doeskin is leather made from the skin of a female deer. | |
| Down | Not Vegan | Down refers to fine feathers taken from birds, normally domestic geese. | |
| Duck (or Duck Cloth, or Duck Canvas) | Vegan | Duck is a heavy woven cotton cotton fabric which can be used for both clothing and tents. | |
| Duffel (or Duffle) | Not Vegan | Duffel is a coarse heavy woolen fabric used for both bags and clothing, particularly coats. | |
| Elastane | Vegan | Elastane is a synthetic fiber that is stronger and more durable than rubber, while still retaining exceptional elasticity. |
Full Article - Is Elastane Vegan? |
| Elastic | Vegan | Elastic is a flexible stretchable fabric, typically cotton, nylon or polyester, made with interwoven strands of rubber or elastane. | |
| Etamine (or Etamin) | Depends | Etamine is a soft, loosely woven fabric with a slight sheen. Can be made from cotton or wool. |
| Fabric | Vegan or Not? | Description | More Info | Faille | Depends | Faille is a shiny, closely-woven fabric characterized by slight ribs in the weft. Can be made from silk, rayon, or cotton. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faux-Leather (Leatherette, Vinyl, or Polyurethane) | Vegan | Faux-leather is a synthetic fabric that replicates the look of real leather. | |
| Felt | Depends | Felt is hair, wool or synthetic fiver that has been matted and pressed together to create a thick, strong material. Traditionally not vegan but can be made with synthetics. |
Full Article - Is Felt Vegan? |
| Flannel | Depends | Flannel is a soft woven fabric that can be made from wool, cotton, or synthetic fibers. |
Full Article - Is Flannel Vegan? |
| Flannelette | Vegan | Flannelett is a light cotton fabric that has been designed to imitate flannel. | |
| Fleece | Vegan | Fleece and microfleece are made from PET, a plastic. Not to be confused with the fleece of a sheep or goat. |
Full Article - Fleece Vegan? |
| Foulard | Not Vegan | Foulard is a lightweight fabric made of silk or a silk/cotton blend. Can be either twill or plain-woven, usually made with a printed design. | |
| Frieze | Not Vegan | Frieze is a heavy woolen fabric with a long nap. | |
| Fustian | Vegan | Fustian is a cotton and linen fabric. Strong, with a short nap, it is usally dyed in dark colors. | |
| Gabardine | Depends | Gabardine is a tough fabric with a tight weave. Traditionally worsted wool, but can be cotton, polyester, or a blend. Used for suits, overcoats, uniforms. |
| Fabric | Vegan or Not? | Description | More Info | Georgette | Not Vegan | Georgette is a sheer, lightweight silk material used predominantly in dressmaking. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gingham | Vegan | Gingham is a lightweight plain-woven cotton cloth. Typically produced in a check design mixing white with a bolder color. | |
| Grogram | Not Vegan | Grogram is made from a mix of silk and wool. | |
| Grosgrain | Depends | Grosgrain is a corded fabric or ribbon characterized by a weft that is heavier than its wrap. Traditionally wool, silk, or a blend, but can also be made from nylon. | |
| Haircloth (or Horsehair) | Not Vegan | Haircloth is a stiff fabric made from horse hair or camel hair. | |
| Hemp | Vegan | Hemp is a tough fiber harvested from the cannabis plant. | |
| Horsehair (or Haircloth) | Not Vegan | Horsehair is a stiff fabric made from horse hair or camel hair. | |
| Jersey | Depends | Jersey is a kntted fabric originally made using wool, but now sometimes made with cotton or synthetic fibers instead. | |
| Khaki | Vegan | Khaki is a strong twilled cloth usually made from cotton and linen. | |
| Lace | Depends | Lace is a beautiful delicate fabric with an open weblike pattern. Traditionally made out of silk, but modern lace is often synthetic. |
Full Article - Is Lace Vegan? |
| Fabric | Vegan or Not? | Description | More Info | Lame | Vegan | Lame is a fabric made using a mix of one material (often synthetic) with thin metallic fibers to create a shiny, metallic-looking fabric. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leather | Not Vegan | Leather is made by tanning animal (often cow) skin. Strong and flexible. | |
| Leatherette (or Imitation leather) | Vegan | Leatherette is an imitation leather made from paper, cloth, synthetics, or other materials. | |
| Linen | Vegan | Linen is made from the fibers of the flax plant. Cool and fresh in hot weather. | |
| Linsey-woolsey | Not Vegan | Linsey-woolsey is a strong and coarse fabric made with a linen (sometimes cotton) warp and a woolen weft. | |
| Lint | Vegan | Lint is a linen or cotton fabric with a raised nap on one side. Commonly used to make bandages. | |
| Lisle | Vegan | Lisle is a fine fabric made from lisle yarn, (a strong, high-twisted yarn made of cotton). | |
| Lyocell | Vegan | Lyocell is a type of Rayon made using the Lyocell process. It is a semi-synthetic fabric made using wood or bamboo cellulose. | |
| Mackinaw | Not Vegan | Mackinaw is a felted woolen cloth with a heavy nap, often produced with a plaid design. | |
| Mackintosh (or Macintosh) | Vegan | Mackintosh is a lightweight waterproof fabric, usually rubberized. |
| Fabric | Vegan or Not? | Description | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madras | Vegan | Madras is a lightweight fabric made from cotton. It typically has a patterned texture and a plaid design. Ideal for summer clothing. | |
| Marseille | Vegan | Marseille is a strong cotton fabric. It has a raised pattern and is used for bedspreads. | |
| Mesh | Vegan | Mesh is material that resembles a net due to a large number of closely-spaced holes. Typically made of nylon or polyester. |
Full Article - Is Mesh Vegan? |
| Microfiber | Vegan | Microfiber is a very fine synthetic yarn. | |
| Modal | Vegan | Modal is a type of Rayon. It is a semi-synthetic fiber made out of tree or bamboo cellulose. Used alone or sometimes blended (often with cotton). |
Full Article - Is Modal Vegan? |
| Mohair | Not Vegan | Mohair is a silky fabric made from the hair of the Angora goat. | |
| Moire (or Watered-silk) | Depends | Moire is a fabric with a wavy (or watered) appearance. Traditionally made from silk, it is sometimes made from wool, cotton, or rayon. | |
| Moleskin | Vegan | Moleskin is a durable cotton fabric with a velvety nap. It is not made from moles. |
Full Article - Is Moleskin Vegan? |
| Monk's cloth | Vegan | Monk's cloth is a heavy cloth made from cotton with a basket weave. | |
| Moquette | Vegan | Moquette is a synthetic fabric. It is thick and velvety and is normally used for carpets and soft upholstery. |
| Fabric | Vegan or Not? | Description | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moreen | Depends | Moquette is a synthetic fabric. It is thick and velvety and is normally used for carpets and soft upholstery. | |
| Mousseline de soie | Depends | Mousseline de soie (literally: muslin of silk) is a thin, gauze-like fabric. Traditionally silk, but could be made from rayon or other materials. | |
| Muslin | Vegan | Muslin is a loose plain weave cotton fabric. | |
| Nankeen | Vegan | Nankeen is a pale yellow cotton cloth. | |
| Neoprene | Vegan | Neoprene is a synthetic alternative to rubber. |
Full Article - Is Neoprene Vegan? |
| Ninon | Depends | Ninon is a sheer fabric with a plain weave used in dresses, scarves, and eveningwear. Traditionally made from silk, it can now also be made with synthetic fibers. | |
| Nylon | Vegan | Nylon is a synthetic polymer made from materials derived from petroleum. | |
| Oilcloth | Vegan | Oilcloth refers to a cloth treated on one side with a drying oil or synthetic resin. | |
| Organdie (or Organdy) | Vegan | Organidie is a sheer stiff muslin. | |
| Organza | Depends | Organza is a sheer fabric with a thin plain weave. Traditionally made from silk, but can also be made out of polyester or nylon. |
| Fabric | Vegan or Not? | Description | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orlon | Vegan | Orlon is a brand name for first acrylic fibers created by DuPont. | |
| Paisley | Depends | Paisley is a pattern of colorful swirled curved shapes. Traditional paisley likely to be on wool and silk, but can be used on other fabrics. | |
| Percale | Vegan | Percale is a closely-woven cotton fabric used to make bed covers. | |
| PET (or PETE) | Vegan | PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, is a plastic. When used in fashion is is normally called polyester. | |
| Pilot Cloth | Vegan | Pilot cloth is a heavy woolen material with a thicknap. Used for seamen's uniforms. | |
| Pique | Vegan | Pique is a weaving style characterized by fine ribbing. Normally used with cotton yarn. | |
| Plush | Depends | Plush is a term used to describe fabric with a piler higher than ⅛ inch (0.3 cm). | |
| Polar Fleece (or Polar Wool) | Vegan | Polar fleece is a highly-insulating fabric with a soft nap. Made from synthetics such as polyester. | |
| Polyester | Vegan | Polyester is category of synthetic fibers. The Most common is PET. | |
| Pongee | Not Vegan | Pongee is a soft thin cloth woven from raw silk. |
| Fabric | Vegan or Not? | Description | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poplin (or Tabinet) | Depends | Poplin has a tight weave and a distinctive ribbed texture. Typically made of cotton, but can be wool or silk. | |
| Prima Loft | Vegan | Prima Loft is a brand of synthetic insulating materials developed for the US Army in the 1980s. | |
| Ramie | Vegan | Ramie is a natural fiber made from the stalks of the Chinese Nettle plant. It is similar to linen, and has been used for fabric for more than 5,000 years. | |
| Rayon | Vegan | Rayon is a semi-synthetic fiber made by chemically treating tree and bamboo cellulose. | |
| Rep (or Repp) | Depends | Rep (from the Latin for 'rib') is a fabric with horizontal ribs. Can be made from silk, wool, or cotton. | |
| Russet | Not Vegan | Russet is a coarse gray, brown, or reddish-brown cloth. It is made of wool and dyed with wood and madder (a red dye). | |
| Sailcloth | Vegan | Sailcloth is any fabric used for boat sails. Could be cotton, nylon, or Dacron. | |
| Samite | Not Vegan | Samite is a luxurious heavy silk fabric which often has silver or gold threads woven into it. | |
| Sarcenet | Not Vegan | Sarcenet is a fine soft silk fabric from Italy. | |
| Sateen | Vegan | Sateen is a cotton (or sometimes rayon) fabric with a satiny finish. |
| Fabric | Vegan or Not? | Description | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Satin | Depends | Satin is a smooth fabric with a glossy surface. Uses fibers such as silk, nylon, or polyester. | |
| Scrim | Vegan | Scrim is a lightweight woven fabric used in curtains, bookbinding, and upholstery. May also refer to a heavier reinforcement material used art, building, and canvas making. Made from cotton or flax. | |
| Seersucker | Vegan | Seersucker is a light fabric normally made of cotton with alternating rough and smooth stripes. | |
| Serge | Not Vegan | Serge is a twilled woolen fabric made with a two-up, two-down weave. | |
| Shag | Depends | Shag refers to a fabric with a deep pile. Typically used in reference to rugs or carpets. | |
| Shagreen | Not Vegan | Shagreen is a type of leather made from rough, untanned skin. Often shark or ray. | |
| Shantung | Not Vegan | Shantung is a silk plane weight fabric often used for bridal gowns. | |
| Sharkskin | Depends | Sharkskin is a worsted fabric with a two-toned appearance. Traditionally made from wool, mohair, or silk, but can also be made using rayon. Could also refer to an actual sharkskin (not vegan!). | |
| Sheepskin | Not Vegan | Sheepskin is a sheep's hide which has been tanned with the fleece still attached. | |
| Silesia | Vegan | Silesia is a twilled cotton fabric used for pockets and linings. |
| Fabric | Vegan or Not? | Description | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silk | Not Vegan | Silk is a soft and shiny fiber harvested from silkworm cocoons. | |
| Spandex | Vegan | Spandex is an extremely stretch synthetic fiber used in the manufacture of elastic clothing. |
Full Article - Is Spandex Vegan? |
| Sponge Cloth | Depends | Sponge cloth is a porous fabric usually made in a loose honeycomb weave. | |
| Stammel | Not Vegan | Stammel is a course woolen fabric historically used for the undershirts of penitents. | |
| Suede Leather | Not Vegan | Suede leather is a type of leather with a napped finished. Uses the underside of the skin of the animal, normally lamb, but can be deer, goat, pig, or calf. |
Full Article - Is Suede Vegan? |
| Swan's-down | Depends | Swan's-down could refer to either the soft down feathers of a swan OR a thick soft fabric, often wool (could be cotton, rayon), used in baby clothes. | |
| Taffeta | Depends | Taffeta is a smooth plain woven fabric made from either silk or synthetic fibers. Primarily used for evening wear. | |
| Tammy | Not Vegan | Tammy is a plain-woven fabric of wool or a wool/cotton blend used for linings. Often glazed. | |
| Tapa (or Tappa) | Vegan | Tapa is a paper-like cloth made in the South Pacific by pounding tapa bark. | |
| Tapestry (or Tapis) | It Depends | Tapa is a paper-like cloth made in the South Pacific by pounding tapa bark. |
| Fabric | Vegan or Not? | Description | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tencel | Vegan | Tencel is a brand of lyocel and modal rayon fibers produced by Lenzing. It is a semi-synthetic fabric made from the natural cellulose found in wood pulp. |
Full Article - Is Tencel Vegan? |
| Thinsulate | Vegan | Thinsulate is a brand of synthetic themally-insulating fiber used in clothing. | |
| Toweling | Depends | Toweling refers to any fabric used to make towels. Usually linen or cotton. | |
| Tweed | Not Vegan | Tweed is a rough wool patterned fabric assocatied with Scotland and Ireland. | |
| Ultrasuede | Vegan | Ultrasuede is a synthetic microfiber used as a substitute for suede leather. | |
| Velcro | Vegan | Velcro is a fastener for clothes consisting of two connecting sides, one with stiff hooks, the other softer loops. Both sides are made from nylon. | |
| Velour | Vegan | Velour is a plush fabric made from cotton or polyester that resembles velvet. It can be produced cheaper than velvet and is vegan. |
Full Article - Is Velour Vegan? |
| Velvet | Depends | Velvet is a silk fabric with a dense pile. Traditionally, made from silk, but it can be made from a wide range of materials, including nylon, rayon, linen, and wool. |
Full Article - Is Velvet Vegan? |
| Velveteen | Vegan | Velveteen is a cotton fabric with a dense pile made to resemble velvet. | |
| Vicuna | Not Vegan | Vicuna is the wool from the vicuña's (a South American relative member of the camel family) undercoat. |
| Fabric | Vegan or Not? | Description | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl (or PVC) | Vegan | Vinyl, or PVC, is a plastic. |
Full Article - Is Vinyl Vegan? |
| Viscose | Vegan | Viscose is a type of rayon made using the viscose process. It is made from tree and bamboo cellulose and commonly used in fashion. | |
| Viyella | Not Vegan | Viyella is a fabric made from a cotton and wool blend in a twill weave. | |
| Voile | Vegan | Voile is a sheer fabric, usually made of either 100% cotton or cotton blended with linen or polyester. Used in curtain making. | |
| Vulcanized Fiber | Vegan | Vulcanized fiber is a tough laminated plastic made from cellulose. | |
| Whipcord | Depends | Whipcord is an extremely strong worsted fabric with a twill weave. Can be made from heavy cotton, worsted wool, or synthetics | |
| Wincey | Not Vegan | Wincey fabric can be plain or twilled, and is made with a wool weft and a cotton warp (sometimes linen is substituted for cotton). | |
| Wool | Not Vegan | Wool is a natural fiber obtained from sheep, goats, rabbits, and other animals. | |
| Worsted Wool | Not Vegan | Worsted wool is a high-quality type of wool. Stronger and smoother than wool, worsted is often used in suit-making. |
