Best vegan clothing options for men: from casual to black-tie

You may have discovered that finding vegan clothes for men is not as easy as a simple Google search. That’s because the number of clothes retailers that build their marketing around the vegan status of their products is relatively small. But there are many retailers that are in fact offering vegan clothing but don’t emphasize this fact. 

Luckily for you, I’ve done the hard work over the past few years of discovering a few of the best retailers whose clothes are in fact vegan, even if they don’t emphasize that. Below I share a few of the retailers you can use for each article of clothing.

Socks

Most white socks will be made from cotton and synthetic fibers, so most white socks will be vegan. When it comes to dress socks and other colored socks, many of them will be wool, which, of course, isn’t vegan. But why is wool bad? This article lays out the problems with using sheep for wool, including the painfulness of the shearing process as well as the inevitable discarding and murder of the animals when their wool production declines.

As with other casual clothes items, Amazon will be one of your best sources for finding socks derived from plant-based sources. Check out these bamboo dress socks as well as these vegan cotton and synthetic socks. When on Amazon, just search for cotton, bamboo, synthetic, or polyester socks, as opposed to vegan socks, since few retailers label their socks as vegan (even though they are).

Shirts

Here again, it’s relatively easy to find men’s shirts, whether polos, button-downs, or sweatshirts, that are cotton or synthetic. Most shirts at Kohl’s and other department stores will be vegan. 

Pants

Casual pants will typically be cotton and spandex, so vegan is the default here as well. But if you’re looking for something that is more stylish and wrinkle resistant, I recommend Public Rec’s pants. Their Gamechanger and Daymaker pants are especially nice.

Belts

Amazon doesn’t have much selection for vegan belts, although there is this one, so a better option might be this store.

Outerwear

Kohl’s and other department stores have coats that have synthetic insulation and outer shells. With outerwear, you’ll want to avoid down, including so-called responsible down. Want to learn more about down production and why it’s never a good outcome for the animals involved? Check out this article.

Amazon too has some good options, including this hooded parka that actually emphasizes its vegan status in the marketing.

Shoes

Once you’re looking for sneakers and shoes, clothes shopping begins to get more difficult for those searching for vegan products. Most, but not all, sneakers are vegan; you just have to read what they’re made of and ensure they don’t use suede or leather. One 100% vegan sneaker brand I like is flux footwear, which has the added bonus of having a wide toe-box and zero-drop design. I particularly like their waterproof sneaker, which is great when I have to take my dog out in the rain.

As for vegan shoes and boots, your best bets are Will’s Vegan Store and Amazon, where you would search for synthetic leather shoes, polyurethane (PU) leather shoes, and vegan shoes. There, you can find everything from dress shoes to velvet shoes for a tuxedo.

Suits

Finding a vegan suit may be even harder than finding vegan shoes. Department stores won’t be of much use to you because their collection will be mostly wool suits, which often also include horsehair in them. 

The suit retailer I like best is one that sells 100% vegan suits but doesn’t mention this in their marketing, instead focusing on how their suits are for those with an athletic build. That retailer is State & Liberty. You won’t find the words “vegan” in their web copy, but I’ve verified with them that their suit product is completely vegan. Their suits have a great look and fit to them, and they will also be cooler to wear in the summer than a wool suit. Now that you’re fit and trim thanks to your vegan diet, you’ll appreciate the tapered cut of their suit jacket. Below you can see me in a State & Liberty suit jacket, shirt, pants, and pocket square, all 100% vegan.

Ties

While you can get a suit jacket, suit pants, and suit shirt at State & Liberty that are all vegan, you can’t get a vegan tie there because most, if not all, of their ties are made of silk. Here again, Kohl’s or Amazon are your best bet for ties made of cotton, microfiber, or some other vegan textile.

You might ask, “What’s the problem with silk?” Producing silk requires the killing of silkworms, which can feel pain. I’m admittedly no lover of insects, but I try to avoid killing them nevertheless because it’s cruel and unnecessary. Buying silk is not necessary in the way that removing a hornet’s nest from your home might be.

Tuxedos

Here again, if you go to your standard sources for tuxedos, you’ll be sorely disappointed by the offerings, which are almost always non-vegan. But there are two great options, and one is State and Liberty, which also offers a variety of tuxedos to purchase. The other option is the place where I bought a tuxedo, made from bamboo, and that is Hall Madden. This retailer, which is located in cities throughout the U.S., will create a tuxedo fitted to you specifically. And, don’t worry, these vegan tuxedo options look just like your standard-issue, non-vegan tuxedos; but they will be cooler to wear and, of course, not come with any guilt.

You can see my tuxedo below, as well as my vegan shoes (from Amazon); the Hall Madden shirt, bowtie, and pocket square were also vegan.

So, that’s it. Now you can go create a cruelty-free wardrobe that covers every possible male clothing need.