I’ve always loved and cared about animals, and that connection led to impact early. I started engaging in animal welfare work in 5th grade and it hasn’t stopped ever since. Over time, what began as simple acts of care grew into a deeper awareness and a lot of questions. I noticed how animal cruelty is often overlooked so from a 5th grade project to fundraising at YODA to volunteering at WSD, I’ve always tried to help in any way I can. At the same time, my interest in economics made me curious about the reasons behind systems overlooking animal cruelty, why certain practices continue and what drives them.
Cosmetics of Capitalism is where those two things meet. The mix of concern and curiosity is what led me to start this project.
The zine explored the ethical and economic costs of animal testing in the cosmetics industry. I chose this topic partly because it felt overlooked, especially in India where conversations concerning cruelty free are still finding their footing, and partly because I wanted to show that this isn’t just an animal welfare issue. It’s a business one. The beauty industry is a multi-billion dollar market and animal testing isn’t an accident of history. It’s a choice that gets made because the industry is profit driven and profit structures allow it.
The data I found told a more interesting story, the cruelty free cosmetics market is growing fast. Consumer awareness and ethical demand are beginning to reshape industries. This reflects a key idea I wanted to communicate: that individual choices, when aggregated, can influence markets, policies and ultimately, lives.
A significant part of this project was the creative process. Every illustration from visuals of an animal protest to data driven infographics was done by me using digital art tools. I intentionally used visual storytelling to make complex economic and ethical ideas more accessible and engaging. Naming specific brands was a deliberate call. A risky one but I included a disclaimer because vague awareness without connecting it to the real world doesn’t change behaviour. People need to know which brands test on animals and which don’t.
When I stopped having art as a subject, I didn’t want to just let that go quiet. This zine became the answer to that. It’s also the most honest thing I’ve made, it sits right at the intersection of everything I care about: animals, economics and my belief that creativity can actually be used for something.
This is NOT a rejection of beauty. It’s an investigation into what it costs, and a small attempt to speak for the ones who can’t.
Vipanshi Agarwal, Grade 11
