Hidden Animal Ingredients
Fiber labels only tell part of the story. These are the places animal products hide in clothing, shoes, and accessories.
Animal glues
Shoes, bags, belts, and some bookbinding. Traditional hide and bone glues are made from animal skin and bones.
Look for shoes certified vegan, or ask the maker what adhesive they use.
Leather patches & labels
The back waistband of jeans, hang tags, zipper pulls, and logo tabs.
Check the label on the inside, not just the hang tag.
Leather trim & lining
Insoles, heel linings, bag straps and handles, piping, and watchbands.
A shoe can have a vegan upper and a leather lining. Read the full material list.
Horn, bone & shell buttons
Coats, blazers, suits, and shirts. Often labeled natural, mother-of-pearl, or genuine horn.
Swap buttons yourself. Corozo, wood, and metal are easy replacements.
Silk thread & linings
Tailored suits and coats, ties, embroidery, and luxury knits.
Check the lining's fiber content. It's often listed separately.
Wool in blends
Sweaters, socks, coats, and hats where wool is a small percentage of the blend. Felt hats are usually wool.
Read the whole fiber list, down to the last percentage.
Down & feathers
Quilted jackets, pillows, comforters, and trims. Sometimes labeled natural fill.
Look for synthetic fill or down-alternative on the label.
Fur trim & pom-poms
Hood ruffs, hats, gloves, keychains, and shoe trims.
Real fur has tapered tips and a skin base. When in doubt, skip it.
Carmine (cochineal)
A red dye made from crushed insects. Common in cosmetics and food, occasionally in textiles.
Look for carmine, cochineal, or natural red 4 on ingredient lists.
Beeswax & shellac
Waxed cotton jackets and bags, shoe polish, and coatings. Shellac comes from lac insects.
Ask what the wax is, or choose plant-wax finishes.
Lanolin
Wool grease used in leather care, shoe creams, and many balms and lotions.
Choose plant-oil or synthetic care products.
Casein
A milk protein used in some glues, paints, and finishes.
Ask the maker, especially for handmade or vintage goods.
Tallow & stearic acid
Animal fat in some shoe polishes and soaps. Stearic acid can be plant- or animal-derived.
Choose products labeled vegan or plant-based.
Animal-hair bristles
Shoe-shine, hair, and makeup brushes, often boar, horse, or goat hair.
Synthetic bristles work just as well.
Pearl & shell
Jewelry, buttons, beads, and inlays.
Glass and costume pearls give the same look.
When in doubt, ask the maker. Brands that care about this are happy to answer.