Vegan design – the next big trend?

There is no doubt that vegan food products have been one of the biggest recent business successes, propelling start-ups and previously fringe products into the mainstream, attracting a wider audience as more and more people transition to a meat and dairy free lifestyle.

The fact that in 2019 a record number of 250,000 participants took part in Veganuary just goes to show the growth in the sector, fuelled by support from the rich and famous and more transparency regarding the state of the planet which has been damaged from the excess of humankind.

But whilst vegan food stock has claimed a worthy slice of the market, vegan design products have been somewhat lagging behind, leading many to believe this underdeveloped sector may well be the next big global trend. As the environmentally-conscious begin to alter their diets on a massive scale, it is expected that choices in fashion may well follow, something which is likely to affect the global markets, for example, leather.

In the same way that fur is now looked down on, leather products and those similar are likely to come under fire too. You need only look at the headlines this week praising Taylor Swift’s decision to wear a dress to the BAFTA’s designed by cruelty-free designer Stella McCartney – or the fact that we are currently in the middle of the first ever vegan fashion week – to see this movement developing.

Dezeen reports on the opinions of key players in the market: "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. Then they start to question: these boots, this coat..."

"The products that we surround ourselves with will get to the stage where food is now. It's just a more complicated and time-taking journey to get there." said Don Kwaning, whose lino leather provides a vegan substitute for leather upholstery.

With this in mind, Global Property Scene believes that the vegan design sector is one to keep an eye on!