As a vegetarian or whatever, do you still wear leather?

Question

I do, but I see leather as a by-product of animal slaughter. I mean, nobody kills cows for their leather, right? They kill 'em for food, and the leather is either wasted or turned in to jackets. What do you think?

Answer 1

You have to ask yourself if you're okay with having the hide of a dead cow on your foot, sofa etc. If you continue to buy leather products, you are supporting the meat industry b/c slaughterhouses can earn up to 50% of their income from the leather industry. If we all stop eating meat, how will the slaughter of animals stop if we still want our leather couches? They might not be raised solely for leather as of yet, but that IS a part of the reason and it may be the main reason in the future. It was tough for me to stop buying leather products when I was a teenager, but that was before we had a lot of alternatives. If you stop now, you shouldn't have too much trouble finding similar items and you also won't have to deal with accusations from meat eaters and vegetarians that you're a hypocrite. Give it a try! I think you'll feel better about the whole thing.

http://www.lcanimal.org/cmpgn/cmpgn_017.htm

http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=58

Answer 2

Good Q vegetarians don't eat meat or animal products because it course the killing of the animal but I have seen a lot of vegetarians that wear real leather , like my one friend she worse leather shoes jackets ex

Answer 3

I'm vegan and I only buy synthetic leather shoes with my own money,but if my parents or friend or family buys leather or suede shoes I'll wear them because it was a gift and I'd feel bad for not wearing them or taking them back,plus I don't think thats as bad as wearing fur coats or an all leather jacket.As long as my own money wasn't spent to support the use of animals.

Answer 4

I don't eat meat or gelatin, but I do own a leather belt and one pair of leather boots. I could never wear a leather or suede coat because they smell awful to me. Though I choose not to eat flesh, and not to buy additional leather garments, it is ultimately up to the individual to decide. There is no "rule" that you have to stay within, for anything.

It is surprising how many meat-eaters will get all worked up and start firing questions about how "true" or "strict" a vegetarian you are. Just do what you feel comfortable with, and to hell with everyone else's judgements.

Answer 5

It is only hypocritical for a vegetarian to wear leather if their conformance to the vegetarian diet was done on grounds related to preventing cruelty to animals. However, many vegetarians that I know become vegetarians or vegans for the health benefits, or because they don’t like the flavor of meat. Since there is no ideological reasoning behind their vegetarianism, they are free to wear leather coats and shoes.

Answer 6

I don't wear real leather or pleather. i think it is just cruel to wear a animal around you and disgusting, no matter if they cleaned it really well or not. It is wrong. Would you like it if all of a sudden the cows started to wear human skin as a jacket, not that that is going to happen in the near future.

Answer 7

I stopped eating meat for health reasons, instead of animal cruelty reasons, so I still get leather shoes sometimes. If a non-leather alternative is available, then I buy that.
My fiance has been vegetarian for over 20 years for ethical reasons, and doesn't buy leather. Sometimes she has a hard time finding shoes or belts.

Answer 8

A good point!!!

i have a friend who is vegetarian, but he wears leather jacket and leather shoes!!!!!The only reason he is a vegan is good for his health, he said he is enough with those meat~ well, i never thought that a vegetarian shouldn't wear leather stuff since their purposes for quitting meat might different. not all of them are supporters for protecting animals

Answer 9

The one exception I make is for athletic shoes. Yes, there are a lot of vegan shoes out there, but none of the athletic/sport shoes available that I have tried feel good on my diabetic feet (the reason I went vegan in the first place, incidentally).

I do try to buy my running shoes in styles that contain more canvas and less leather, however. Luckily, they make many such styles. I'd rather do that than get the sore feet, legs and back I get when I don't wear them (obviously, exercise is vitally important for diabetics, so I can't forego that). When a good, solid vegan company decides to make athletic shoes as comfy and supportive as my Nikes, I will buy them.

Answer 10

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of not eating meat? Your still condoning the killing and slaughter or animals. Your not a vegetarian are you? Because even if it is a by-product one is still encouraging animal (cow) slaughter. I don't wear anything made from an animal because I'm vegetarian, if I did i would be a hipocrit (?).