British lawyer ditches horsehair wig for hemp wig

A young British lawyer is overturning the age-old tradition of lawyers wearing wigs made from white horsehair. He has launched vegan court wigs made from hemp and began selling them to fellow lawyers for £600 each.

The traditional wigs worn by solicitors in England and Wales date back to the 17th century and have been made from white horsehair since 1822. Samuel March, the brains behind these biodegradable, eco-friendly wigs, offers an alternative to traditional headdresses.

A closer look at the world's first plant-based barrister's wig, swapping horsehair for hemp... pic.twitter.com/jMK8WDuEMa

- Samuel March (@Sam_Oscar_March) March 6, 2021

«As a vegan, I oppose all forms of animal exploitation, from gratuitous cruelty like bullfighting or foxhunting, to the industrial-scale cruelty of factory farming, to more subtle forms of cruelty that nonetheless involve the ownership and commodification of animal bodies,» Samuel commented.

«For me, horsehair is at the very end of the spectrum. Of course, it's conceivable that there are ways to harvest it without immediate physical pain, but that doesn't mean it isn't exploitative. I refuse to sponsor the exploitation of horses by purchasing expensive items made from animal products, as this adds value to the practice of owning them and selling them in parts.»

«That's why I decided to make wigs accessible to everyone».

Within 48 hours of unveiling his idea, he had received over 30 order requests. All proceeds from the wigs will go to causes that advance animal protection.