leather-wearing veggies?

I don't but leather stuff myself, but they are given as gifts....but don't you think it would be better to keep leather gifts, than throw them away? I thought so....I try to be very good about this stuff, but sooo much stuff is mis-labled these days, its easy to make slip-ups

Oh....do second hand leather things count? I mean, the first person who bought it could be perceived as the real "muderer" or would buying a second hand leather coat or something be just as bad?

 

Now, I may very well be wrong in what I saw below since it's based on assumptions and not facts. I am not a vegan or anything. I eat meat and wear lots of leather. Anyway.

Cows are being killed anyway, for meat. If people would stop using leather products, the cows would still be killed for meat, but their hides would be thrown away. Why not just use the leather, like the native americans did? It's not like wearing mink coats or anything. A single cow has enough skin to make many leather jackets.

 

I love my ecolutions.(hemp shoes)

 

Anything leather i own, was my dads (which has extreme sentimental value), or is something i picked stuff up at a thrift store, where i know my money isn't directly supporting the leather industry.

 

This is how I see things:

Killing a cow for leather is as bad as killing it for meat.
If you kill a cow for meat, you should use its skin to make leather, at the LEAST.
Vice versa for killing cows for leather (I presume this is very rarely done).

Wearing leather, even if it is a byproduct of cow slaughter for meat, is a lot like dressing up in meat clothes, or clothes that just kind of seem to yell out, "death" and "murder."

Since I advocate being PRACTICAL, because this world is already so f***ed up that we can't possibly lead a perfectly moral life, there are some things which are ONLY made in leather, and many things that have substitutes. For the things that have substitutes, I will always buy the substitute (I have a nice little fake leather overshirt made out of 100% polyester, for example). For the things without substitutes (studded belts, the grip on my bamboo sword, etc.), I would not buy the product unless it was critical to my existance as myself (i.e. I wouldn't buy the studded belt, I'd settle for a regular belt or none at all, but I would probably buy a shinai (bamboo sword) or a replacement shinai grip, because I require a shinai to practice kendo with, and they sadly don't make non-leather replacements, though if they ever did, I'd buy each part of a shinai individually to avoid having to buy a leather handle with a full shinai, and then assemble the shinai using the replacement). Phew, that was a lot there, in the parenthesis'. =P

As for gifts ... I will not accept a gift if it is given in the spirit of moral ignorance (as most gifts are ...) and happens to be ignorant of my morals (i.e. I won't accept a gift of a studded leather belt), unless it is critical to my existance as myself (naturally, "kendo" being a part of myself as it is), and there are no replacements. This includes hand-me-downs.

For things that I have already bought that contain leather or other animal products ... It is my burden to use those products until their life expires and I would need to buy a new one, in which case I would buy a leather replacement unless (as I say again) it is critical to my existance as myself. Or, I could also entrust the thing that I have bought to another person who will use it (as I have already done with my previous studded belt), to ensure that it DOES get used until its life expires.

Er, so yeah, there.

 

I think that since a lot more meat is needed than leather, it only makes sense to take the leather from cows that are already being slaughtered for meat. I'm not sure if this is what's being done, but logic says that it is, since farmers would want to maximize their profits and it would make no sense to throw the skins away when they can be sold.

 

I'm so sorry, I forget who it was that was wondering where to find a good alternative to leather belts, etc? I think if you go to PETA's website they have a link to sites that sell shoes, belts, etc that look like leather but are made from recycled bike tires or something.


I try not to judge people who *seem* like they have conflicting ideals. I'm a vegetarian, becoming vegan, but I have leather seats in my car. I hate it, but my parents gave us the car and I am extremely thankful. We do not have the option of trading it in and getting another car, because we really can't afford the car payments. I know some people judge me w/out knowing the whole story, but oh well. Plus, like a previous person said, some people can not afford the non-leather, vegan shoes, or have special needs that require them to buy something that might not be vegan.


I do have some leather shoes that I got pre-veggie days, but they will probably last a long time so I'm going to wear them until they fall apart. Other than that, I don't buy anymore leather. When my hubbie needed a new wallet, I got him a hemp one (along w/my fav purse), and we just got new sandals (on clearance! woohoo!), but non-leather ones. They are Chacos and they don't use any glues in their shoes and their soles are replacable. They are really comfy.

 

im not a vegetarian, but i dont eat meat... i dont proclaim myself a vegetarian because i wear leather boots (gotta love my ULUs) and birks. i do read peta newsletters, and im disgusted by meat, ive just had waaaay too many vegs tell me im not a really one cuz i wont give up my shoes... sorry, i just really love them and i guess im just in the minority and do it because 1)i cant eat grade D meat that my cafeteria serves 2) im disgusted by the way animals are treated and penned together.. that thought makes me soooo sick. but i believe in what i like so ill just continue not to eat meat.
peace

 

Some people just have a holier than thou attitude. Don't listen to them. It's just a label, anyways.

 

i have better things to do than worry about whether people care if i own leather shoes or not, i'm sure you do too

 

Yeah... I consider myself vegitarian. I don't use products tested on animals, I don't use animal skins or leathers, but I do eat fish, only if I catch it. That is the only animal I eat.

 

Some of you may know that I hiked the Appalachian Trail. From what I have observed those Pleather hiking boots don't breathe well and they don't last very long at all. You'd be lucky to get 100 miles out of em. When it comes to hiking I'll take my leather boots or trail runners over that pleather crap anyday.btw: fabric hiking boots/trail runners won't cut it since they lack foot support. Since I'm a Seventh-day Adventist I was raised vegetarian and know lots of hardcore vegetarians. The majority of them have no qualms about leather foot wear but your not likely to see them wearing leather coats or fur. I don't see a need for a leather jacket if you're not a biker.