Plant-based wigs for vegan barristers
My learned friends,
My name is Sam, and I am a barrister at 9 King’s Bench Walk in London. I primarily practise criminal and regulatory law, with a specialist practice in animal protection cases and defending allegedly dangerous dogs.
When I was a pupil, I made headlines when I refused to wear a traditional horse hair wig and instead opted to make the first ever plant-based legal wig…from hemp.
As a vegan, I oppose all forms of animal exploitation, from gratuitous cruelty like bull fighting or fox hunting, to the industrial-scale cruelty of factory farming, to more subtle forms of cruelty which nevertheless involve the ownership and commodification of animal bodies.
For me, horse hair is at the latter end. Of course, it is conceivable that there are ways this could be taken without immediate physical pain, but that does not mean it is not exploitation.
I refuse to sponsor exploitation by buying expensive items made from animal products as this adds value to the practice of owning them and selling them for parts.
As news got out about my wig, I was delighted to find out that there were so many other vegans at, or on their way to, the Bar. As a result, I decided to make the wigs available for all.
Any profits from wig sales will ultimately go to causes that use the law to advance animal protection.
“Lighter than its horse hair equivalent, Sam’s wig has offered nothing to the quality of my submissions but definitely makes me perspire less in the face of an unpersuaded judge. And it causes no harm so I’m doubly grateful to Sam for his ingenious invention.”
— Jamie Burton KC
Our wigs are made from European hemp. Our hemp supplier says:
“The Hemp is sourced from a co-operative that combines the crops of small groups of farmers. These farmers produce their hemp crops as naturally as possible with best intentions for the environment.
Everyone involved in the growing and producing of our fabrics are given above average wages for the industry.
Growing hemp is kinder to the planet than for example cotton, it is resilient, adaptable and requires little water or chemical additives.
Hemp fiber has some unique and interesting characteristics, which makes it a suitable replacement for conventional fabrics. Historically, hemp was used to make rope and sails.”