How to Shop for a Vegan
Shopping for a vegan, whether it's clothes, food or cosmetics, can be a bit challenging because a vegan is a person who will not consume any animal products whatsoever. While some may be a little more lenient and understand that you meant well, other vegans will promptly return items that are not animal friendly or donate them before you can turn your back. To avoid these uncomfortable moments, try to find items that vegans would buy for themselves. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Check clothing tags to see what the fabric is made of. While the jacket shell may be cotton, if it has goose feathers or a leather pocket, that won't work for a vegan. Sweaters are sometimes made from sheep's wool, which is also a no-no. It is easier to find animal-friendly items online than it is in your average mall, but if you do choose to go to a clothing store where you regularly shop, be prepared to do a lot of label reading.
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Avoid fake animal fabrics altogether, and stick to cotton or hemp products. Some vegans are sensitive about wearing faux fur because it feels like it came from a real animal. The same goes for pleather.
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Know what fragrances were tested on animals. You will know which fragrances, body washes, lotion and oils are animal friendly if the product has a label telling you that it was not tested on animals. If you can't tell from the bottle, ask a salesperson. There will be some salespeople who are unaware of how the item is tested, but a savvy salesperson will point this out immediately. Searching on the web for animal-friendly fragrances is also a way to be sure. PETA also has a list of companies that don't test on animals that is updated regularly (see Additional Resources below).
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Do not buy shoes for a vegan unless you are sure that the shoes contain no animal products. There are vegans who will try their best to avoid any kind of shoe if the sole or outer layer is made of leather or alligator skin. Resources for vegan shoes include Moo Shoes (see Additional Resources below), Vegetarian Shoes and Bags (www.vegetarianshoesandbags) and Alternative Outfitters (www.alternativeoutfitters.com), but there are others that are worth checking out online as well.
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If you are thinking of a culinary gift, ask the person what kinds of foods she likes. The easiest way to buy food for a vegan is to look around her home to see what she's eating. Shopping at Whole Foods or or specialty health food stores helps narrow down the food items because these stores carry more veg-friendly items than your neighborhood supermarket. If food seems too dicey, opt for a vegan cookbook. There are some excellent ones out there; see Amazon.com for specifics.
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Regardless of eating preferences, most women use cosmetics. Finding vegan cosmetics can be somewhat challenging, but most of the larger Whole Foods stores have a variety of animal-free cosmetics. Other online resources include allnaturalcosmetics.com and cosmosveganshoppe.com.
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