Veganuary may be coming to an end, but veganism is definitely not.  In April 2018, a comparethemarket.com survey found that the number of vegans in the UK had risen to a whopping 3.5 million. This means that 7% of British people are choosing not to eat any animal products. And the introduction of more meat alternatives into major supermarkets would suggest this trend is here to stay.

But whilst the press is focused on the food we eat, veganism can extend to other industries too. In particular we’ve seen it in fashion, where vegan shoes are now sold alongside traditional leather. And this month saw food design studio Bompas & Parr create the ‘world's first’ vegan guest suite inside Hilton London Bankside. Dressed exclusively in plant-based materials, the room has no leather, wool or feathers throughout its interior.

Piñatex, a leather-alternative made from waste pineapple leaves, has been used to upholster surfaces. Feather stuffing in pillows has been traded for organic buckwheat, millet seeds, or bamboo fibres. Additionally, cotton has been used instead of wool to make the carpet.

The growing market for vegan-friendly products has prompted a wave of new start-ups to begin innovating in the space. From vegetable coffee cups to soy wax candles and micro-fibre mattresses, Veganuary is just the tip of the vegan iceberg.  

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