to wonder why more vegetarians/anti-fur campaigners etc don't have a problem with silk?

[Maebe]

Or have I just missed a boycott of silk?

I'm catching up with some insect program that was on last night and I'd never really thought about how silk was made, or heard about it, but it generally involves boiling the caterpillars alive to get the silk thread from the cocoon.

Now I'll admit I eat meat and wear leather, but personally I wouldn't wear real fur as I'm not a fan of breeding and killing animals for something we just think looks pretty. (Obv I think it's different for people who live where it is freezing and fur is pretty much a necessity to keep warm).

I'm struggling to see how silk is any different from fur. Or is that they are insects, so people are less bothered?

Because furry animals are much cuter than maggoty things.

You can get 'raw' silk, which is made from the silkworm cocoons after they have naturally been vacated. Hence, no harm to the silkworm. :)

at Mad

I thought that too, Mad!

I'm not posting this in a 'let's start a campaign' way I will wear leather and eat steak though possibly not today given the other thread running, I just didn't realise that's how they made it. Poor silk worms.

Vegetarians tend to just avoid anything thats the actual flesh, many still wear leather and silk.

Vegans are the ones who avoid all products made from animals though and every vegan I know doean't wear silk.

*doesn't

DH is veggie and much as I long for silk pillowcases (supposed to be gentler on easily broken hair) we don't have any for the reason outlined in the OP. Same as he won't wear leather shoes - they all come from the vegan Shoe Shop.

vegetarians do have a problem with silk same as leather- I wouldnt buy it and when choosing my wedding dress only looked at nonsilk ones. you can get 'peace silk' which is meant to be more ethical - do i recall that kate Middleton used that for her wedding dress?

Im a vegetarian, i have a problem with silk, its not that hard to avoid though, i am currently, sittingn on a leather sofa, i hate it!

i'm veggie who wears leather etc, don't own any silk, but am having real problems lately feeding mealworms to the birds

i know birds need worms but...

am pulling an actual face even typing this out

How do you know vegetarians don't have a problem with silk though? You've made a pretty huge assumption there...

I'm a vegetarian with a problem with silk. I think you'll find most do, and were well aware of how it is made. Silk is much easier to avoid than leather,so rarely a problem in day to day life.

you can get eco-friendly silk pillowcases where the silk worms are not harmed or killed in the production from www.theethicalsilkcompany.com. The silk is beautiful and everything is ethically tailored

Thankyou evitchka and Empress that's what I was trying to explain/describe. 'Eco-friendly'/'peace' silk sums it up better than my 'raw' terminology.

I'd have no problem using silk from that source. I'm a vegetarian and don't wear fur or leather.

Worth a quick read, re leather, should you care!
oecotextiles.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/leather-furniture-what-are-you-buying/ or www.idausa.org/facts/leatherfacts.html.

Lots of people don't know how silk is made. They think is either all 'peace' silk or that is is shed like a snake skin.

I'm veggie, don't wear silk. Although with my income and lifestyle that is not a pressing problem.

My sticky veggi DSIL isn't keen on silk.

I am vegetarian and have a problem with buying/wearing silk. I have silk clothes that were bought years ago and before i was aware of how silk was made and I have kept those and would wear them if the opportunity arose as I would see it as even worse to bin them.

I feel bad that I didn't know this. None of the veggies I know talk about silk being bad. But you're right, MaryCooper, it isn't exactly a pressing problem for most people