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ZINK, a company that started out as an exotic skins fashion brand, not only decided to include a vegan line, but later transformed into a fully vegan brand.
After years of being an exotic skin brand, ZINK is now 100% vegan. All the bags are hand made and 100% sustainable, and very affordable as vegan faux-leather handbags go!
According to an interview with Vegan Magazine, Ben Freedland, the founder of ZINK, stated:
“Using exotic-skins is the top of the luxury pyramid so I decided by using them it would be a way for ZINK to be instantly known as a high-end quality brand.”
After deciding to design a high-quality bag that would retail under $100 (and would therefore be vegan), Freedland began to understand more about cruelty-free fashion and stated:
“So as time went on and I got more familiar with vegans, learned more about how animals were treated and also learned about how the world was suffering because of the fashion industry. I decided it was time for a change. Also at this point I had realized how much I cared about the world/planet, about who was making our products, how they were being treated, what our products were being made from.”
He stated that he then realized that ZINK “could still be a high quality brand” even if it became “100% vegan.” In 2016, that transition took place and their website now states:
“At ZINK, we believe that true quality exists without cruelty. For us, it is all in the details. From material to maker, we are committed to bringing you timeless, artisan goods of the highest quality. It’s 100% vegan. It’s 100% ethically made. It’s ZINK.”
With handbags and scarves made from Italian cork and plant-based cashmere, Freedland tells VegNews that although the transition was a difficult one, “it has been worth it.”
ZINK is now working towards improving their sustainability, planning to only use natural, recycled or sustainable fabrics plus only natural dyes or AZO free dyes in their products. They will no longer be manufacturing in China going forward, and will be expanding their fair-trade offering in the coming months to include wraps, caftans and some home decor (pillows and throw blankets). They are now PETA-certified and are currently working on 3 more vegan certifications!
Source: ClearlyVeg. Photo Credit: ZINK.
