Should Vegans Discard Leather Clothes?

by Virginia
(Saugus, Massachusetts)

This may sound silly, but I just found out that FELT is a no-no to the Vegan life. But I don't know why.

Also, what do I do with my leather clothes & shoes that I have from my Pre-Vegan days?

I consider myself a "Practicing Vegan" because of bad ingredient labeling and I'm learning every day. I'd like to be Vegan someday soon! Help!

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Should Vegans Discard Leather Clothes?

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Feb 03, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		No, but... :-)
by: AKM

First, felt would be a vegan no-no because it's made from wool. As far as ditching all non-vegan clothing and products, I feel that it's perfectly acceptable to be as vegan as you can be "midstream" and continue to use what you might have previous purchased that's not vegan, such as leather boots or cosmetics tested on animals. All of us are learning as we go! Of course, if you really want to go for it and be a true vegan warrior, you can donate these items to Goodwill or another charity. The important thing is not to be wasteful and merely throw the item away. Use it up, give it away, and vow to not buy animal products again from this day forward.

Next is the fun part! Do your research and find out what awesome companies make and sell vegan products. Love shoes? Type in "vegan shoes" in a search engine and you'll spend hours looking at stylish cruelty-free footwear! A quick search for "not tested on animals" will reveal many mainstream and not-so-mainstream companies that make body and skin care products that don't hurt our feathered/finny/furry friends. The Internet is really your friend in this quest! Join online vegan groups and organizations for more information and support.

Being vegan really is a journey and since it's impossible to live in a bubble and be COMPLETELY vegan, all we can do is be mindful and compassionate and do the best that we can. Educate yourself and you will soon remember without even thinking which companies and products are compassionate and which aren't. We have a lot of power as consumers to put our money where our hearts are!
Feb 03, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Don't waste a life!
by: JenniferA

I agree with the above. To simply discard an item of clothing made from an animal, especially if it is still in good shape, disrespects the life that that animal gave. If you personally don't feel comfortable wearing it donate it to a thrift store or other charity. To throw it in a garbage bin would not only contribute to the destruction of the earth but mean that the animal gave its life for nothing.
Feb 04, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		yes they should
by: Anonymous

Buying leather can definitely be avoided. I have only been vegan for a little while, but when I was vegetarian I hardly thought about what shoes or a bag was made out of – I brought them without thinking! If we actually make a conscious effort it is very easy to avoid these things. Now, as a vegan, I do not want to be surrounded by leather bags and shoes, woolen clothes, or silk rugs…I feel like that is just being too hypocritical. I think getting this stuff out of your living space and daily life will be a positive change.

On the one hand it might be considered wrong to chuck things out – in this case give them to a friend or charity. However, if you really think about it – leather is skin that has come from a living being – you can see the pores in it! These animals do not exist for us to pull apart – now imagine if someone made a wallet out of human skin, from a person who had a life and personality, thoughts and feelings…wouldn’t it be disrespectful to use that wallet everyday? You wouldn’t go and dig up relative’s bones from the grave yard to make into tools and if someone did that, I don’t think I would be able to just say, oh well it would be a waste not to use it – rather I would want to bury it back into the ground. Maybe this is an extreme view, but I have seen so many people buy leather products just because they think it is classy and cool to have something that says “genuine leather!” ive seen vegetarians do this and not give a second thought! It disgusts me so i guess thats why ive been thinking about this in a more extreme way than most people would
Feb 04, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Yes!
by: Anonymous

And wool, and silk, and fur...You're not a vegan if you don't:)
Feb 04, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Yes! (cont'd.)
by: Anonymous

If you're vegan, you don't want to be a walking silk/wool/leather/fur advertisement, now, do you?
Feb 04, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		I MUST give them away...
by: Faye

I simply cannot wrap the skin of a cow, deer, etc. around me any more then I could wear the skin of a dog or cat and feel comfortable. I also refuse to purchase a car with leather seats and will sit on the floor at someones house before I sit on their leather furniture. When I see leather, I see pain.
Feb 05, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Thank you all!
by: Virginia

Hi, and thank you all so much for your great advice and caring about animals. This has really made me think hard about "What was I thinking wearing their skin???"

My first year anniversary of going Vegan was Feb. 3rd. I'm learning more every day with that one exception of my leather wearables.

In the beginning, I thought I'd give the skins a proper burial. After all, those animals died a horrible death in order to clothe me in 'fashionable' style. (ugg!)

Then, my next thought was "how wasteful."

After reading your stories and advice, I started thinking about the options and contemplated on the pros & con's of each. Yes, all my 'pre-Vegan' items are still sitting in a box in the attic.

I don't have lot's of money. I shop for most of my clothes, etc. at second hand stores, thrift shops, Goodwill ... and I get a lot of 'cast-offs' too.

So, the leathers and suedes that I have upstairs have already been 'recycled'! They've done their job, so to speak, and now I think I will give them a proper burial. That way, I've taken both sides of the view and put them to use.

I'm not Native American but I do like to follow their path. And I think they would go along with this idea. It will be a spiritual burial to give the animals the respect they deserve, and let them finally "Rest In Peace."

I've made my decision. I'm hoping this will please everyone involved, especially the animals. The ground is still frozen, so I'll have to wait for the thaw. So if you have anything to add, please feel free. I'd actually like to know your opinion.

Again, thank you all so much.
Blessings ~
Virginia

Feb 05, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Hurray to Virginia!
by: Faye

Good for you Virginia! I applaud your decision to give what's left of these poor creatures a proper burial.
Feb 06, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		One other thing ...
by: Anonymous

My boyfriend bought me a car. Not new, but it purrs like a kitten! I told him thank you, but no thank you.

It has leather seats.

Now, he's not even vegetarian. But he respects my opinions and actions. As good as he is to me, I just could NOT tell him why I didn't want the car. I think telling him would have pushed him over the edge!

So, he's going to fine tune my little Ford Escort and sell the other car. As crappy as my car is, it's mine and I love it. It's been good to me all these years. AND ... it was RECYCLED! : ) My beautiful niece gave it to me.

So, my car goes into the garage tomorrow. He's a mechanic and he's going to work on it on his own time at work.

Ya know ... I'm truly blessed! I hope all of you are blessed as well.

Oh, I want to add one last thing. The Native American's use all of the animal and let none go to waste. While I'd rather not use an animal now for any reason, I was told that it was an honorable thing to do, burying the leather wearables. They've served their purpose many times over, so now let them rest in peace.

Thank you for your posts. That box would probably sit up in the attic forever.

Peace ~
Virginia ~
Feb 07, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Do Not Throw Out
by: Maggie

I agree with the other posts. I definitely would not throw anything away. I would either use it and if you are not comfortable using them anymore, definitely recycle them or donate them. It is more wasteful just to throw them away. I think most of us were in the same boat as you when first turning vegan or vegetarian. Best of luck to you.
Feb 14, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Wool should be a no no for vegans????
by: Anonymous

I must ask this one......why in the world would wool be considered a vegan no no? The animal is not killed, nor harmed. It gets a hair cut, and grows another coat. Don't we get our hair cut? Doesn't our hair grow back? Please, someone explain this to me :-)
Feb 21, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		can vegans discard their past wrongs?
by: sXevegan

I kept and rarely wear my old leather shoes. I only ever had 2 pairs and I can't afford new shoes for the rainy season (gum boots can only be that much comfortable). If I had money and had to choose between getting new shoes online and donating to an animal rights group, I'd do the latter without a flinch. I do my best not to wear old non-vegan stuff while doing activism, but people know I wear old leather/wool and criticize me all the time.

I find that it is all too easy for vegans to get rid of their old cruelwear and get all uppity about veganism with those who don't. Is it really justified? If we calculate the non-vegan bits used in the production of vegan products we would replace our old cruelwear with, would that not make it more ethical to sit with our past sins than consume? I don't enjoy my old cruelwear, it constantly reminds me of what a heartless and ignorant person I once was. That is a good thing and even after I give the shoes away one day, I'll make sure I remember that I was once selfish, cruel and blind.
Feb 21, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		Why in the world would wool be considered a vegan no no?
by: Virginia

Re: I must ask this one......why in the world would wool be considered a vegan no no? The animal is not killed, nor harmed. It gets a hair cut, and grows another coat. Don't we get our hair cut? Doesn't our hair grow back? Please, someone explain this to me :-)
---------------
Hi! While I'm no expert on this, from what I've found out by asking and reading is that Sheep (and other sheared animals) are MORE than very often in the same situation as other Mass Farming Animals.
They are kept in unsanitary, cramped stalls, unable to roam, shaved so quickly that they are often cut and nicked without medical attention. This is a business after all - as shameless as it is. They are practically on a production belt. Just like any living being, an unprotected cut can lead to infection. Do the Sheep farmers care? No. Too many Sheep suffer and/or die from this as their living conditions are filthy and bug-ridden.
Some part of their body is actually cut off (I can't remember which.) The reason is that it's easily cut during the 'shave' and gets infected.
Although there are some 'Mom & Poppers' who raise sheep in a kind and caring manner for shearing, we just can't tell if the wool product is from their farms.
Like I said, I no expert. So if anyone wants to correct or add to what I put here, please do.
I hope this has helped you.


Feb 24, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		why wool is considered a no no.
by: Anonymous

Dear Virginia.......

Thank you so much for your reply to my question about not understanding the need to not use wool as a vegan, and compassionate consumer. I hadn't taken into account the possibility of the animals being mistreated in order to gather their wool. I think many of us have a dream image of these sweet animals roaming outside on green grassy hills, being called in to have their wool sheared (hopefully caringly), then to be put back out to graze. as an animal lover I do tend to live in a bubble, not believing that humans could be so cruel........I appreciate your help on enlightening me about the subject.

Thank You again, M. annon
Feb 24, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		You're welcome, "M"
by: Virginia

You're welcome, M.

Many people have the same dream image as you. I had it too. What a wake up call for me when I saw a documentary on the internet about shearing! It sickened me.

I think it's a natural instinct for the majority of people to want to believe in humanity. With age comes wisdom. With exposure comes truth. Over time, more and more, we're finally exposing the truth about animal abuse and what we can do personally and as groups to end it.

The bubbles we live in are busted now. Our eyes are wide open. We do what we can to help our fellow beings, the animals.

It's been wonderful talking with you.
Blessings ~
Virginia
Jan 10, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		sheep
by: Melissa

The reason wool isn't vegan is because it's using an animal like bees for honey. A process called "mulesing"is used with sheep wool. the clipper/shaver person shaves the sheep's rear so the sheep doesn't get flystrike. The skin is sensitive and it's done very fast, like someone said above. The process is painful and is done over and over during the sheep's life. I've seen flystrike in rabbits, it's hideous. Maggots live in their fur then burrow into the skin and kill the rabbit/sheep with toxins. It's horrific. I've seen a half dead rabbit and it scarred me for life. Go veg!
Donate your leather, fur or wool if you want. It may save someone from buying fur from a furrier. It may save someone from buying new leather or wool. Sometimes people donate furs to animal shelters so frightened animals sleep on the fur if they are too upset, it comforts them unlike most other material.


Good luck

Jan 11, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		TY!
by: Anonymous

Thank you, Melissa.

People have been giving me THEIR leather, fur & wool clothes! Which is good, I suppose. They don't want to wear an animals skin anymore so they must be listening to me. Now I feel like a 'rescue' for these skins. I have to say, it would be a sin not to give them to the needy. The horrible deed was done. I hope the souls of these animals warm the people who receive them with love.

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