To ask that people consider giving up leather?

[Breadandwine]

I’ve been a vegan for 13 years. My concerns are animal welfare and global warming, plus I feel it's good for my health.

With regard to animal welfare, I have issues with every aspect of animal husbandry - but I have to be honest, until now, I haven’t given much thought to leather. I avoid it, certainly - it took several years of delicate negotiations before I persuaded my wife to accept a faux leather suite instead of the leather one she wanted - but I’ve always thought leather to be a by-product of the dairy industry.

Not so. An article by Lucy Siegle in this morning’s Observer Magazine brought me up short.

Leather production seems to be worse than other forms of animal cruelty in that humans are suffering too:

"Finally the animals are skinned (in front of each other) in the back streets of Dhaka. The skins are processed in makeshift tanneries with workers, including children, knee deep in toxic chemicals."

I think both burgers and leather are so far removed from the animal in most people's mind it's not a battle that's going to change the world. And a leather sofa? Who would snuggle down if they actually thought about the fact they were resting on a dead animal after a long day at work? If people like me don't want to eat meat it's up to us but I wouldn't expect anyone else to join in. I've always thought that's weird. I have strong animal welfare beliefs but I still take medicine and sit on other people's sofas (and just realised my beautiful car is floor to ceiling leather

Oh shit. After all I have said on here I am now going to have to check it's not made of dog leather.

The thought of reclining on a dead animal really doesn't bother me though I would prefer the system would be more humane. I bought some reindeer fur once and I feel quite fine with that as I know they live a good life, mostly running about free. Would be nicer if it was the same for all leather and fur.

Agreed. I would eat venison for the same reason if it wasn't so red and meaty.

A vegan, a cross fitter and an atheist walk into a bar

How do I know? They told everyone in under 2 minutes

I fucking love venison betsy and I have a chunk of dried reindeer meat in my fridge right now, think I might go eat some

I wish I did. I do try just to show my support.

CoteDAzur did you leave the child exploitation off your list deliberately or by accident, I wonder?

"How else am I supposed to carry around my wallet, phone, keys, Kindle, lipstick, headphones, tissues, and tampons (to name a few articles in my bag)"

I'm 40 and have never owned a handbag. Can't stand the things.

I use pockets most of the time, or cloth bags occasionally.

Why would the thought of resting on animal hide bother me? It's dead and treated so won't have fleas on it.

Do you go all eeewwwwww when you remember that the wool in your sweater is animal fur?

What child exploitation? That term has a sexual meaning AFAIK.

If you are referring to child labour: Because OP found a link talking about a leather producer in Bengladesh where there were some child workers, we are now to believe all leather use makes up complicit in child abuse. Come off it.

In some places, children are unfortunately made to work in all sorts of industries, including clothes factories and coal mines. Is the answer stopping purchases in all of those industries around the world, most of which do NOT use child labour?

Hi breadandwine thanks for sharing the article. It was worth reading.

Like some other posters, I'm using up my old leather shoes and transitioning to non leather when they wear out. There really are great alternatives these days. I think the article also makes an important point about our consumer culture and how disposable things have become. Tbh I think cheap leather has become as disposable as anything else, which is a double shame when there was a life involved.

I will not stop wearing leather. I love my leather jackets, more than 10 years old and still looking fantastic. Try that with fake leather.
A colleague of mine is a vegan. After one discussion I admit I took pleasure in pointing out that his Hugo Boss label on his jeans is, surprise, leather!

Why is wine not vegan?

Just checked my "leather" shoes from Next. Turns out they're synthetic leather.... If Accessorize handbags are also non leather I imagine a lot of other common brands are and many people in this thread may own pretend leather or partly pretend leather items and not know it.

YANBU OP if you're actually just asking everyone to consider the moral implications of buying leather.

I agree this issue lies somewhere on a spectrum and there is no perfect choice, however I think harming animals for the sake of vanity (inc animal testing for cosmetics) is basically wrong.... I'd hope that reprocessed leather, which I was told about by someone in manufacturing becomes more common as it may be ethically preferable to petrochemical pleathers??

You can ask all you like.

I could even give up all animal products and join your veganism.

I couldn't give up my epilepsy medication which contains beef gelatin.

It would all be a bit pointless then wouldn't it?

@Palcum: wine often has all sorts of other odd residues in it, fish especially IIRC.

How can wine possibly have fish in it? How would a fish even get in a vineyard, let alone the vats?

I thought vegans' problem with wine was the yeast used in wine production.

If you can find me a substitute for leather that is warm, waterproof, hard wearing and moulds comfortably to my poor knackered old feet, also allowing them to breathe and not looking crap, then I will gladly wear it.

You can ask, but I can answer, no fucking way.

"you don't really need a bag at all"

Yeah, I do, actually.

How can wine possibly have fish in it?

Its used to clarify the wine (fish bladders I think)

Cote, I have to say, with every post, you're revealing more and more about yourself. I'll leave it up to you to decide whether that's a good thing or not.

Hiya Trenz, thanks. Hope you're well!

Thank you for bringing the issue up. I don't think people think about it much till it is brought to their attention that the leather trade is actually very cruel.

Go back to tumblr OP. You may have more success, for a week anyway.