Deer Control Suit & Jil Sander Suit

A lot of you guys ask about wool-free suits. Jil Sander surprised us with a few cruelty-free options recently, featured on GILT Groupe. The wool-free suit below features textured woven cotton on a single breasted two button jacket with notch lapel, a center vent at back and non-functional button cuffs. Fully lined in cupro with three pockets.

Textured Woven Cotton SuitTextured Woven Cotton Suit

Jil Sander‘s Nylon Marble Blazer and Cupro/Nylon Iridescent Blazer are also cruelty free and quite stunning.

Nylon Marble BlazerCrinkled Iridescent Blazer

GILT is an invite only site (click here to join). They do often feature organic brands like Loomstate and Edun, but also occasionally feature designers who continue to use fur, so take a moment to kindly ask them to stop featuring these items from designers like Michael Kors and tell them we want more cruelty-free stuff.

Our pals at Friends of Animals and CARE have a suit of their own. They are suing to stop National Park Service deer control plans. Deer “control” is always a tumultuous topic, and this case really highlights the opposing forces. I always find it amusing that it is the wildlife that is the problem, as opposed to our ever-expanding, ever-”developing” of wild areas:
Photo of white-tailed deer doe in the snow

“The deer are not responsible for the park’s manicured lawns, for deliberate removals of natural vegetation over the years and the planting of non-native foliage, for a lack of respect for the animals comprising the park’s natural food web, for paved areas and buildings, for more than a million visitors per year, vehicle exhaust, or for the constant presence of (often speeding) cars. These factors must be addressed directly to address the pressure on the deer, Friends of Animals and CARE have urged.”  – FOA

What do you think about deer “control” and other ideas we have about “pests”?

Eco Tuxedo

I recently received a letter from reader Beau:

Hey DB,

I’m definitely in need of some help here in California! Here’s what’s up: I really beauwasn’t planning on going to my prom this year… that is until one of my good friends came out of nowhere and asked if I’d go with her as pals. Anyway, now I’m sort of freaking out about what the hell to wear in terms of a non-wool tux. I think I can handle the bow-tie (thanks for that post) and non-leather shoes. So maybe you could help me out in finding a fashionable, sustainable, vegan tux, or a good company that makes them?

Thank you for all that you do- you’re such an inspiration and The Discerning Brute is such a valuable resource.

Beau Broughton
Hey Beau,

Finding a non-wool, cruelty-free tuxedo or suit for a prom or a wedding is definitely a challenge. And finding an eco-friendly and cruelty free tux is next to impossible. If you’ve got money, I’d suggest having a tux custom tailored from organic cotton, or any other eco-friendly fabric.

There are a few expensive designer options. The first Versace jacket below isn’t a tux, per se, but you can dress it up with a bow tie:

Eco-Vegan Bamboo Sportcoat from Versace. $895 at Nordstrom:

Versace Collection Organic Two Button Sportcoat

This tuxdo is another really pricey option, but it’s green and cruelty free. Eco Vegan Bamboo/Cotton Velvet Tux from Peak Lapel. $1,661.95 at Sierra Trading Post (includes bamboo/cotton pants):

Isaia Velvet Tuxedo - Peak Lapel (For Men)

A more affordable option is Rawganique‘s organic, hemp, fair-trade ‘Wedding Jacket’ with matching slacks. $437 at Rawganique.com

organic hemp dress jacket

There are even more affordable options from After Six, with a 100% poly (not as eco-friendly, but cruelty-free) Tux in white, bone, ivory, and black.

The white coat is shown with matching white formal trousers (100NN), Clover Aries vest (637MXO) and tie(637SLNU).

FOR RENT! Men’s Warehouse offers some poly options for rent, including a tailcoat:

Product Close Up Product Close UpProduct Close Up

Hope this helps, and have fun at prom!

Don’t forget to check out Jannj for the best silk-free ties, ascots, and bowties!

DB