WEGANOOL: Sustainable Plant-Based Wool Wins PETA India Vegan Fashion Award 2020

This year, a sustainable and cruelty-free innovation called WEGANOOL by Faborg won the PETA India Vegan Fashion Award 2020 in the best vegan wool category. This is a plant-based wool alternative made from the fibres of the plant Calotropis along with regenerative organic cotton.

Faborg was an endeavor started in South India to explore sustainable textile options. The founder Gowri Shankar discovered the potential of Calotropis fibres and turned it into vegan wool as an ethical and sustainable alternative to wool. Calotropis is an ayurvedic plant which is found abundantly in the country, works as a fertilizer, and grows fast – providing yield two times a year.

Faborg calls the fibres from the plant ‘vegan cashmere’ as its texture resembles that of wool. A soft and delicate material, WEGANOOL is processed by hand and handled with extreme precision. The fabric has similar warming properties as wool and can retain warmth.

The manufacturing process of WEGANOOL is chemical-free, which is safe for the workers and the environment. Since it is made from plants, it is also 100% biodegradable.

The wool industry exploits animals like sheep, goats, and rabbits for their fur. The animals are mishandled and are sometimes injured during the sheering process. Moreover, the upkeep of the animals requires a large amount of resources which renders this industry unsustainable, especially during the current ecological crisis.

Image Courtesy: Faborg.in