PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has announced the winners of its annual awards, recognizing brands that have made significant efforts to reduce harm to animals and improve sustainability in 2023.
BALENCIAGA earned the Best Luxury Product award for its use of the sustainable Lunaform material in its Spring and Summer 2024 series. This animal and plastic-free material was used in floor-length tunics in the brand’s Summer 2024 collection, helping BALENCIAGA to revamp its brand image following a controversy in late 2022.
Isabel Marant won the Best Luxury Moment award for banning fur, wool, and exotic leather; GUCCI received the Best Vegan Handbag award for its Demetra Horsebit 1955 bag; Ganni was recognized for a jacket made in collaboration with biomaterials manufacturer Polybion and was named Leader of the Year for its collaboration with plant-based leather producer Ohoskin. These are part of Ganni’s Future Fabrics initiative, promoting environmentally friendly materials.
PETA awarded the Best Film Moment to “Barbie” for Ryan Gosling’s use of vegan boots from Good Guys Don’t Wear Leather in the film. The Best Street Fashion Moment went to French fashion group SMCP for its decision to ban down and other feather-based materials.
Other honorees include MoEa, whose plant-based leather sneakers won Best Vegan Shoe; Bananatex, awarded Innovation of the Year for its banana-derived polyester alternative; and Blue District, whose bamboo ostrich feathers were recognized as Best Vegan Feather. The Best Men’s Fashion award went to Christian MacLeod.
Yvonne Taylor, PETA’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Programs, stated: “Our fashion awards celebrate designers and brands that support animal protection programs and we hope they will inspire other companies to make changes.”