I take out a dress to put on, it's flowing silk with cotton paneling, it's a gift - sentimental value is woven into it. But out of the blue (or rather, red, it's a red dress) I ask myself - is silk cruelty-free and vegan? No, no it's not! I could, naturally, justify the industry and the process, just out of reasons of exploration, nothing else. There is, however, a stand from the environmentally-conscious point of view, and that is: upcycling, reusing, recycling the fabric. It's silk! - it's gorgeous, sensuous, strong and, if you're into that sort of thing, expensive. It's also art. So, being gifted unknowingly, buying second-hand, keeping out of the landfills - could one stand the use of silk within those terms, gilt-free?
