The rapid growth of the vegan food movement is starting to drive demand for vegan furniture, fashion and homeware. Designers working to make cruelty-free products mainstream say an industry-wide shift is being led by consumers.
In the last few weeks, the first Vegan Fashion Week took place in Los Angeles, guests stayed at the first plant-based hotel suite in London and design heavyweight Philippe Starck ventured into apple-based upholstery.
Many believe that, as alternatives to animal products like leather and wool become more readily available, vegan design will go mainstream.
"The products that we surround ourselves with will get to the stage where food is now," said Don Kwaning, whose lino leather provides a vegan substitute for leather upholstery. "It's just a more complicated and time-taking journey to get there."
Vegan design needs to catch up with food movement
Designers producing vegan products claim the movement is lagging a few years behind the food scene, which has seen an explosion around the world.
"I think design-wise we are slightly behind the food movement in veganism, which has become crazily popular over the last two years," said Emily Turnbull of London-based Studio Can-Can, which specialises in vegan interior-design projects.
"The food industry is leading the shift," agreed Laura Stageman, founder of vegan watch brand Votch. "We eat at least three times a day and everyone wants their food to be delicious. ...