To Wear or Not to Wear- Fur and Leather
I have to admit that the topic that I’m going to bring up in this post is very sensitive. Don’t worry I’m not going to try and change you – I have no intention of doing that, but my goal here is to get you to start thinking, asking questions and being more aware of your actions and the consequences they bring. After all, it’s quite clear that most of us just want to ignore the fact that we use animal products for personal pleasure, because it’s an easy way out. If we are not the ones killing the animals, we shouldn’t be responsible. Right?
But the truth is : We are VERY much responsible. As long as there is demand, which is created by us wearing (and eating) animal products, there will be supply – the animals have to be killed and their fur/skin, etc will be used to make clothes, accessories, countless products for us. If we look deeper in the history we all know that Change happens with one person, with ONE decision…if you do the right thing you are bound to inspire others to do the same and that will create a viral effect.
I have not been eating meat for the last 5 years and being a vegetarian is a huge responsibility to my body. I have to always watch what I eat and that I’m getting enough iron, protein through natural food sources, but it’s the only option that feels right in my heart. I’m not going to lie, up un until last year I used to wear real fur, but I gave it all away and refuse to buy even the vintage furs, because that’s self deception. As long as you are wearing it – vintage or not – you are promoting it.
But how is leather better than fur? It’s just as bad if not worse, but somehow we are all addicted to it. I still wear leather, because it’s so hard not to! Everything is made of leather – practically everything – watch straps, phone cases, obviously SHOES, BAGS and millions of other products. However, I’m seriously thinking of challenging myself to stop using any more leather products and I’m not only talking about clothes and accessories – I’m talking about everything.
Why? A recent interview with fashion designer Stella McCartney really stirred up some emotions in me. Here is a quote from the book: “The Teen Vogue Handbook”
“ I don’t understand why beautiful creatures should have to die for someone’s coat – it’s medival and barbaric. More than a billion animals are killed every year, 25 million of them for the sake of fashion. That’s a lot and it has a big impact on the environment. I will never use leather or fur, ever! For me, it’s the principle. There are plenty of alternatives.”
What’s your view on the topic? Do you wear leather and fur? Please share…
Mimi, what then is the alternative we can use for leather? I mean fur is much easier to give up and is far more in your face, however, leather is subtle and so common that we don’t even pay attention to the fact that their is a back story to our shoes or belts… so tell me what could the alternatives Stella McCartney is referring to?
*… what could the alternatives Stella McCartney is referring to be?
I think this is a wonderful post. Personal and important. I don’t wear real fur, but I do eat meat. I guess I am mixed on it.
Hi Kaya,
Thank you for your interesting question…
There are definitely lots of alternatives in the stores around the world. Many of us buy them unintentionally ( just like leather). We like the shoes and we buy them- but in this case the label will say 100% synthetic – all man made materials. Here is a great article that will answer your question: http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/leather.htm
I don’t wear fur but i do wear leather. I think fur is a direct representation of the animal that’s why some of us can’t wear them, where leather u don’t necessarily relate to any particular animal. Therefore wearing leather shoes, belts or jackets are easier on some level.
Honestly, I think there are also very good faux fur or faux leather clothes, shoes… so why should you spend lots of money on real fur/leather… especially if animals have to suffer a cruel death..
but on the other hand I think it’s totally weird to take care of what you’re wearing if you still eat meat or anything like that..
well, it’s very difficult and an absolutely ambivalent question..
thanks for bringing this up and trying to raise awareness among bloggers! I’ve been vegetarian for several years (and feeling great), I never buy leather (it is totally unnecessary since there are so many great alternatives today) and I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing real fur. I don’t want animals to suffer for my “pleasure” (?!) and I certainly don’t want parts of dead bodies in or on my body!
I am extremely torn on this subject.. It is very sensitive to me… Because I love animals, and am absolutely against the cruel death they have to suffer to provide us the goods… But I feel like a hypocrite, because I do eat meat, and I do have a leather jacket.. So, I am completely torn.. But I think I will eventually arrive at a point, where I will refuse all animal products…
Thank you for brining up this very important subject, to at least make us more aware of what’s going on…
My dear Mimi, what a post!!!! I have no words to tell you how proud I am of you for being so brave and talk about this issue.
As a fellow vegetarian and against fur and leather I couldn’t agree more.
I like fur, I like leather, but I wear faux fur and pleather (well, about leather sometimes it’s not easy to find what we want). Nowadays there are many products man made that simply seems fur anad leather without the killing and suffering from animals. And I see that from year to year they are improved.
You’re wright “…Change happens with one person, with ONE decision…”
Love you gorgeous!!!!
Hope you’re feeling great.
xoxo
OH, by the way, thank you so much for your kind words on Solodon.com.
It was a surprise to me
xoxo
Great topic…!!!
this is a great post. You have me a little curious about being a vegetarian. I hate eating meat, but don’t really know of any other way of cooking so feel stuck with eating meat. So what do you eat??
I have never considered leather an animal product and this kinda disturbs me. Do you wear faux fur?? And what about feathers?? Where do you buy shoes that aren’t made of animals?
I do feel bad for those poor creatures but I havent arrived at a point where I can stop eating meat or not wear leather. I dont own a lot of leather or fur products to begin with. Only 2 things made with fur and come to think of it, about the same would go for leather; so I think thats a good start.
Hi Namine,
here is a great website about vegetarian cooking: http://www.vegcooking.com/
I personally eat a lot of veggies, beans, chickpeas, red lentils, etc. They are all rich in protein, iron and vitamins. I would also recommend for you to check out http://www.peta.com They have a lot of info on how leather products are made. You have to watch the videos and then I doubt you will ever want to wear another leather product.
You can buy non leather shoes pretty much in any department stores. Just look inside of the shoe to make sure it says – All man made materials, as opposed to Leather.
Let me know if you have any other questions…
xoxo
Mimi
Cool post. This is very important for so many people nowadays. Very informative, and i like it. Thanks for sharing this topic Mimi. You are awesome! =D
Summer
A Writers Den
Brown Mestizo
Wow. So this a super touchy subject. I honestly have huge turmoil about this. I eat meat, I wear fur and I wear leather. On the other hand, I am a bitch about responsible pet ownership (yes, sometimes that offends friends who ‘don’t have time’ for their pet anymore) and I love animals. I definately think I close my eyes to some of the realities of the industry because it’s easier. However, to a certain extent I also think that there is a natural order in life and I think it is fine to use animal products. Animals kill each other too… I do not think many cultures could have survived without the use of animal products.
Also a big personal question I have is the enviromental impact of non-leather products vs. leather products. I realize that curing and tanning must have impact but so does the production of the plastics used. Leather shoes will also break down in a landfill while plastics will take much longer.
Ideally we, as a culture, would buy less (needs vs. wants) and be more aware of where our products come from which could lead to better standards. Is that going to happen?
AND this is officially the longest comment I have ever made on a blog… now my head is swirling with thoughts…
this is a really good post, Mimi, and i’m really glad that you’ve decided to tackle this subject. i have recently turned vegetarian and it’s been really good! i’m really glad that i’ve finally made this decision (bf who is vegetarian played big factor, i had kept putting it off)and i feel a lot better because the living conditions that animals on huge commercial farms are exposed too are absolutely horrific, not to mention the hormones and things..
i will never wear real fur, beucause one just imagines dead bloody animals all cut up and dying on a person who’s wearing that ‘lovely’ fur coat. i totally agree with what you said about vintage fur and that fuelling demand for the fur industry.
leather’s a bit of a conundrum. i buy bags rarely, so that’s not such a big thing, perhaps. leather shoes are a bit harder, because i feel that the the quality of leather shoes is much better (and vegan leather shoes are sort of expensive and hard to get). however, i will not wear leather jackets and other things that don’t necessarily to be made of leather, quality/ durability-wise.
people should start looking for alternatives for fur. But I always support PETA’s cause
don’t wear fur
honestly i don’t think anyone has the right to tell another person what to wear or not wear based on moral reasons. When it comes to Fur and Leather arguments, i hate the ‘holier than thou moral superiority’ that most people seem to always come from. How is wearing fur any different than people who eat meat? Unless you are a Vegan or vegetarian, then how are you any different.I hate that people want to impose their own reservations on others without focusing on their own life. If i can be brutally honest, i care more about the children dying of starvation at this very moment from not having food to eat than who is wearing real or fur faux. we all have different beliefs/ ethics and motivations , you are not a better person because you don’t wear real fur or real leather,instead of condemning others, assess your own life choices and do the best that you can by the world , that’s the only thing anyone has control over….
Thank you everyone for such personal comments. I appreciate it:)
In return to some of your questions, I can just say that everyone has a right to live their life any way they want. BUT there comes a point where we need to face reality and feel responsible for the way we treat those around us, whether other human beings, animals, natural resources such as water , etc. There is no way around these issues. All of them matter and we are advanced enough to do something about it- we can live a life without animal products. That is the reality that humanity needs to face. Yes, at a certain point in time , we needed animal fur and leather to survive from the cold weather. Do we need it now to survive? OR are we using it as a fun activity for personal pleasure- getting the latest “it bag” which is made out of deer leather, which is going to be siting in your closet with the 20 other bags. It’s ridiculous, but we will all come to it when we are ready. For me it took me five years of being a vegetarian to finally be able to give up leather and fur. I’ve always wanted to buy Chanel bags and Louboutin heels, but now I have bigger dreams…. The bags and shoes are just material things, that give you an instant excitement but don’t bring fulfillment or joy…especially if you know someone had to die for it…
I love wearing fur. It is about the only connection I have with nature while living in a city made of concrete and steel, full of fumes and smoke from coal burning heaters gasoline engines and smoking humans, criss-crossed with all sorts of electromagnetic radiation from cell phones, wireless networks, police radio, and satellite TV.
I don’t find wearing the fur of an animal objectionable, just as I don’t find killing an animal for its fur cruel. True, those images of animals being skinned alive are cruel but we all know it’s PETA propaganda, those Chinese people were bribed by PETA to carry out these horrible acts. Just as it makes no sense for a dentist to drill your teeth without any anesthesia, it makes no sense for a fur farmer to skin an animal while alive.
If the anti-fur campaign succeeds, those lovely fur animals-lynx, fox, bobcat, sable, chinchilla will definitely go extinct. Maybe not this year but surely in 10 or 20 years. Fur farming was alone responsible for saving chinchilla from extinction.
When I wear fur, I am aware that I am carrying the skin of an animal that once lived on the face of this earth. The animal is long gone, but its fur is still with me. I will die one day just like it is, but then, my children will inherit the furs, and they will just live on. It’s life.
This is a good thread as you raise questions about personal responsibilty and action that have consequences. I see you have been a vegetarian for five years but only recently gave up wearing fur. The decision is not to wear fur or leather. However I have been a vegetarian for fifteen years and gave up wearing leather and trying not to knowingly use animal products. (Fur was never an option for me it was always a no no). Until becoming a vegetarian I had enjoyed wearing leather but, I thought that not wearing leather jackets and coats etc gave me a moral consistency with not eating meat. One thing I did not give up was wearing leather shoes as the pleather alternatives were either inadequate or too expensive and not widely available.
However, I was being inconsistent with my own thinking as I was still wearing and using leather, but my friends and colleagues did not challenge this inconsistency. Is this because shoes and boots are an “hidden” leather item whereas jackets and coats are not. Or was it because footwear is seen as essential and not as easy to replace with non leather items like jackets and coats.
To bring the story up to date, five years ago I started biking, and was advised leather was the best protective clothing. At first I resisted but eventually bought a leather biker jacket, leather jeans and leather biker boots. I know there are non-leather alternatives but decided to buy leather. I realised I missed wearing leather and biking gave me an “excuse” to start legitimately wearing it again.
Some friends and colleagues questioned my morals and ethics on still being a vegetarian and openly wearing leather, saying I was inconsistent and hypocritical. The hypocritical position I understand, but do not accept because as leather is the by-product of the meat industry the leather may as well be utilised for clothing etc. This is the distinction between wearing leather and fur.
As to the inconsistency arguement, this could be turned on it’s head, as I had never given up wearing leather products. It was a matter of degree. All I had begun to do was wear more leather than just footwear. So is wearing leather jackets, jeans, gloves and coats seen on a sliding scale of immorality depending how much the garment covers the body. This seems to be a stance taken be vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. As to my own situation I was not being inconsistent as I had not formally given up wearing leather, but the donning of leather to ride a bike provoked this conflict which I cannot resolve.
What I can say on a personal level is I do not and will not eat meat. The wearing of leather is another matter. I have begun to realise I enjoy wearing leather. I like the feel and sight of it. I wear full leather on and off the bike.. It is part of my personality, how I view myself and gives me immense pleasure and enjoyment. I have reconciled my views and conscience to this world view.
I LIKE WEARING LEATHER and am still a vegetarian !
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