We are going to talk about a sustainable value that should not be underestimated and that characterises many of our brands: animal welfare.

Animal welfare might not be the first thing that comes to mind when we buy something from the fashion industry or other sectors. However, every day, countless animals are exploited to satisfy human needs: they are captured and deprived of their freedom to entertain us; they are confined in tiny cages and mutilated to be eaten; they are poisoned or cut up alive in the name of scientific experimentation; and they are even skinned alive so that people can show off their clothes. Unfortunately, the fashion industry involving the use of animal materials involves horrific cruelty.

In recent years, numerous activists and non-profit organisations have highlighted the ruthless way in which animals are treated and abused in the fashion industry, specifically in the production of leather, wool, cashmere, down and fur. These awareness campaigns have greatly increased the production of alternative materials to those of animal origin, encouraging designers, companies and consumers to use only vegan fabrics. In fact, many of our brands - such as Ecoalf, Lefrik and Lanius - use materials certified by PETA. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the world's largest animal rights organisation, with more than 9 million members and supporters worldwide, and aims to stop animal abuse through public education, events, protest campaigns, legislation and animal rescue.

As mentioned before, Lanius is just one of many brands that use the PETA "Approved Vegan" label. It marks the vegan collection and ensures that the entire item and its manufacture are free of animal ingredients. However, there are other methods to preserve and respect the health of animals, not necessarily by avoiding materials derived from them! In fact, the brand also uses high quality fabrics of animal origin. For example, the wool is sourced from a controlled organic farm and is cruelty-free as it is not dyed or torn. There are other fabrics with this characteristic: alpaca wool comes from Peru from a producer who uses traditional breeding methods, thus giving importance to the welfare of the animals living free in the Andes. Similarly, yak wool comes from a traditionally sustainable community of shepherds in Mongolia.

There are other certificates that ensure animal welfare, not only in the fashion industry. The local cosmetics brand Team dr Joseph is certified by the ICEA seal, which not only ensures that the products meet the most important criteria for organic cosmetics, but also checks companies that have chosen to use cruelty free raw materials, which have not been tested on animals. In the same way, the company Manucurist is committed to producing toxic-free nail polishes, with cruelty free and vegan ingredients.