Whether it’s for dominating in the office or walking down the aisle, no wardrobe is complete without at least one stylish suit.
Good suits should be versatile, comfortable, and able to transcend the seasons to last a lifetime, but there’s no reason they should cost the Earth.
A plant wool suit is more than a style essential; it sends a message to the world that you value sustainability as much as success and want to strike a fair deal for the planet and animals.
Gone are the days when we had to add to the planet’s methane burden and use animals to suit up with flair. Thanks to plant wool, vegan suits are the way forward, offering a breathable, tailored upgrade to the itchy suits of the past.
Plant wools are essential to your new look, and sustainability suits you!
What Is Plant Wool?
Plant wool might be the future, but the vast variety of plants already being used to make these eco-friendly fabrics enjoy a rich history. Fibres like cotton, linen, hemp, and bamboo have dressed us for centuries, and now, more designers are leaning on them to tailor suits that turn heads.
Plant wools require far less land and water than animal wools, and their production emits far fewer destructive greenhouse gases. Natural and eco-friendly, many plant wools even nourish the soil as they grow, while capturing carbon and emitting oxygen.
Where animal grazing relies on deforestation, plant wools need only sunshine, soil and rainwater to thrive, and many – like those made from orange peels, rose petals, and weeds –also help solve issues like food and horticulture waste.
The Best Plant Wools for Suits
Bamboo, cotton, linen, and hemp are the most common plant wools used for suits, because they’re breathable, insulating, flexible, strong, and can be structured to sit perfectly.
When Hugo Boss launched its first-ever vegan suit, it was made with certified organic European linen, a lightweight and exceptionally comfortable fabric that lasts, but many other plant wools – and blends of several – are also popular.
Cotton has been used for decades, and increasingly, designers are turning to hemp and bamboo to not only create structured suits, but to bolster their green credentials. Now more than ever, consumers want to see that designers are working to reduce their carbon and water footprints. Adding plant wool garments to their range helps fashion brands hit evermore essential sustainability targets and gives brands something to boast about.
Master bespoke tailors King & Allen have flagged bamboo as a rising star in the suit game, thanks to what they refer to as its “beautifully soft handle and impeccable drape.”
While the more traditional plant wools are the most common in suits, emerging plant wools are poised to become just as popular.
Kenyan designer brand Lila Bare makes this gorgeous blazer from cotton and pineapple waste, subverting agricultural surplus, while Textura’s casual jacket in aubergine is made from 100% nettle!
With scientists sounding the alarm on what most contributes to our warming climate, animal agriculture has been put on notice and is untenable if we want to avoid climate catastrophe. This means the fashion world, which has always been built on innovation and bringing the unexpected to the fore, is moving toward fabrics like plant wool to not only limit its impact, but to showcase the creativity of designers no longer content to settle for the same old harmful, cruel products.
Suit Up: How to Find Plant Wool Suits
Ensuring you choose a sustainable, sheep-free suit is as easy as checking the tag to confirm that one or more plant wools are used. Aside from the more common plant wools, look for next-gen plant wools, too, like soya, Tencel, and even orange waste! Pioneering brands are now even using the 100% Plant Wool Logo to stand out from the crowd and lead consumers to the more sustainable choice.
Whether you’re heading into the office to close the deal or getting runway-ready for a formal event, here are some standouts you should add to your suit collection immediately.
King & Allen Bespoke Vegan Suits
With two decades of custom tailoring experience, King & Allen know suits, and, ever modern, offer two ways to get a plant wool suit. Their made-to-measure service ensures a perfect fit, while their bespoke vegan suit service means a never-before-seen piece tailored to your personal brief. Either way, you’ll get a gorgeous suit made from hemp, bamboo, cotton, linen or a blend.
Hawes & Curtis Cotton Velvet Blazer
Plush and timeless, velvet elevates a garment beyond the practical. With peak lapels, a streamlined single-breasted fit, and sophisticated fabric buttons, this Hawes and Curtis cotton velvet blazer in rich jewel tones, such as emerald and garnet, will make you the toast of wedding season.
Paul Smith Organic Cotton Suit
Tailored to be timeless and with enough stretch to be comfortable all day long, the Paul Smith organic cotton suit separates offer a relaxed style made from organic cotton, which means a reduced environmental impact and increased breathability for you. Dress them up with a tie, or down with sneakers.
Peter Christian Linen-Cotton Blend Suit Jacket
A summer jacket that can take you from garden party to city cocktails is a must, and this cotton-linen blend suit jacket from Peter Christian is perfect. Available in timeless stone or striking cobalt, this lightweight, super breathable jacket looks refined when buttoned and relaxed when paired with casual accessories.
De IONESCU Military 100% Hemp Jacket
If you like to stand out in a crowd, the De IONESCU military jacket, made from 100% hemp, is for you. Bold and adaptable, this jacket is the choice for those who choose comfort over conformity. A carbon-neutral garment, this jacket is dyed with GOTS Certified dyes, protecting our waterways while putting all eyes on you.
Paul Smith Cotton Velvet Suit
Levelling up your next formal event is this burgundy cotton velvet suit from Paul Smith. Perfectly tailored to make you the toast of any formal soiree, this rich and luxurious suit is woven from fine cotton for maximum movement, while the velvet texture will entice everyone to touch.
Edit Suits Co Huddersfield Bamboo White Tuxedo Jacket
If you want to look like James Bond but aren’t too keen on the ‘license to kill’ part, this bamboo tuxedo jacket is gentle on the planet, animal-free, and tailored to you for a perfect fit. Wrinkle-resistant bamboo ensures you’ll always look polished, no matter your mission.
