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How to find a winter coat as a vegan in Toronto

Finding a winter coat appropriate for vegans is similar to spotting a koala in downtown Toronto. There are very few options to choose from, especially considering most winter jackets are filled with down or made of wool. Many popular coats have fur collars and use water repellent sprays that are high in chemical usage. As a vegan, I find it frustrating looking for clothing that will keep me warm in the winter, especially coats. They are one of the most obvious examples of animal cruelty in the frivolous fashion industry. But, they are necessary in this wondrous Canadian winter.

Here are five vegan options I found during my search:

Better Sweater Fleece Jacket by Patagonia, $89.
Better Sweater Fleece Jacket by Patagonia, $89.

Patagonia Women’s Better Sweater Coat

Patagonia’s sweater coat was by far the best pick when considering style, cost, being cruelty-free, and environmental sustainable. The coat is made of polyester fleece instead of wool, and does not have a down stuffing interior. It has a soft fleece inner lining, which increases warmth of the coat. It comes in black, white, or burgundy and is dyed with a low-impact process that is environmentally sustainable. The coat is a fair trade sewing product and contains no animal product whatsoever. To boot, it is on sale for $89. Patagonia has several eco-friendly and cruelty-free jacket options and the prices are the most affordable out of any of the environmental conscious coats available in Toronto.

Hoodlam Hemp Ladies Parka Jacket, $484.95.
Hoodlam Hemp Ladies Parka Jacket, $484.95.

Hemp Hoodlamb Ladies Parka jacket

This parka jacket is can be found at the Hemp Store on Yonge St. in Toronto. This jacket is available in black and has a vegan faux fur collar. It is made from hemp and organic cotton, and costs $484.95. It is fair-trade and is well-made, which means it this jacket should last years. There are several more options available online if the parka jacket isn’t the right fit, and all the available jackets are eco-friendly and vegan-approved.

Doe Parka Jacket from Wully Outerwear, $699.
Doe Parka Jacket from Wully Outerwear, $699.

Mammoth Outerwear Doe Parka

The Doe Parka is made from a poly-cotton water resistant shell and has Primaloft insulation. Primaloft is a vegan replacement for down and is made from recycled fibres. It is one of the best down replacements in the eco-fashion market and is sought after by sustainable jacket companies. Wully Outerwear (formerly Mammoth Outerwear) is a Toronto-based, animal-free jacket company. Wully Outerwear donates $10 of each purchase to the Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals. The Doe Parka is $699, but is the top quality animal-friendly jacket that is made and sold locally.

Belden Future Vaute Couture Coat, $371.
Belden Future Vaute Couture Coat, $371.

The Belden Future Vaute Couture Coat

The Belden Future coat by Vaute Couture is a trendy dress jacket that will make heads turn on Yonge St. The jacket is available online and ships to Canada with no extra fees. Vaute Couture is one of the largest vegan jacket producers and is based out of New York. The company uses primaloft lining and organic moleskin on the exterior. This is a cruelty-free product and is water resistant. Vaute Couture are trend-setters in eco-fashion and no other dress coat comes close. The Belden Future is on sale for $371.50.

Lady Lane Fur Collar Jacket, $298.
Lady Lane Fur Collar Jacket, $298.

Free People Faux-fur coat

Free People produce some of the most trendy fashion items at affordable prices. The company also has a line of faux fur and vegan jackets that are funky and environmentally conscious. These jackets deviate from the norm, and don’t follow the traditional look of a winter coat. They are fashion-forward and are reminiscent of coats from the 60’s and 70’s. There are several jacket options ranging from $300 to $600. The Lady Lane Fur Collar Jacket is $298, making it one of the more affordable Free People jackets and eco-friendly.

Do you wear vegan-friendly winter wear? If so, let us know where you got it from in the comments below!

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Recipe

RECIPE: Mouth-watering savoury vegan cookie

Are you tired of only having sweet vegan baked goods?

Chef Katherine Kooks is breaking new ground in the vegan cookie market by choosing to create a savoury baked good instead of a sweet cookie. Using several healthy ingredients, her savoury vegan cookie is a protein power punch that has distinct garlic and onion flavours, but maintains the chewy texture of a cookie. It is unlike any baked good I have found in a vegan bakery.

Savoury Onion Garlic Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup oats

1 cup quinoa flakes

¼ cup chia seeds

¼ cup flax seeds

¼ cup hemp seeds

1 small Spanish onion

2 cloves of garlic

1/3 bunch thyme

Pinch of sea salt

Instructions:

  1. Soak the chia and flax seeds in ½ cup of water for 20 minutes until a paste is formed.
  2. Combine dry ingredients and flax/chia seed combination. Mix well and let stand for five minutes.
  3. Saute garlic and onion and remove from heat.
  4. Roll out dough with a pin and use a cookie cutter to make uniform cookie shapes.
  5. Place in the dehydrator at 145 degrees for one hour.
  6. Unplug and flip the cookies. Reduce temperature to 115 degrees and let run for 10 to 12 hours.

Katherine Kooks has started selling her cookies at markets in Toronto, and following her on Instagram will give you a heads up on where this ingenious gluten-free and soy-free snack is headed next!

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