Do vegans avoid wearing leather and wool because of cruelty to animals? What about silk?

Question

Is it cruel to the silkworms to have to weave all that silk for clothes?

Answer 1

Okay guys, here's a shock for you. In order to obtain silk from a silk worm the manufacturers boil them alive. That's why vegans avoid buying and wearing silk. That's why it's cruel, not because they have to weave it, but because huge numbers of them have to die to produce even the smallest amount of silk.

To be a vegan (which I am by the way) you have to avoid all things which exploit, harm or destroy animal life so that includes leather, wool, silk, honey etc.

It seems mad people go around with the assumption that "Oh, silk's okay because that's what silk worms do" being boiled alive, oh yeah, that's something you just do isn't it?

Answer 2

Yes vegans don't use silk as well. Like what H mentioned, they are boiled alive while they are in their cocoons. If they take the cocoon after the worm becomes a moth, the silk would be broken, that's why they boil them alive to avoid breaking the silk strand. I have seen the process in a silk factory in china. It's very cruel and they will dig out the corpse of the worm and throw it into a bin like commodities. Silk may be considered high class material, but it takes lots of lives to make 1 silk material, and I don't find that exchange worth it.

Answer 3

Vegans avoid using everything produced with animal products for multiple reasons.

I've never heard of silk but I suppose that would stand to follow that it is cruel to silk worms. I once saw a documentary which showed silk-making in Thailand...they actually boil the worms to make them release the silk strands...so, yea that would be cruel.

Answer 4

I am a vegetarian who avoids:
Leather, suede, wool, silk, down, fur and all that fun stuff.
The only thing that is ever difficult for me is buying a winter coat... it takes a while to find the corduroy ones.

I wear vegan Doc Martin's I found on the web.

Vegans avoid silk and honey etc. because they consider it somewhat of a slavery of animals. I am not exactly sure what they do to silk worms, but I know they smoke bees out of their hives, create great stress and kill many of them to get honey. Another (sillier) reason to avoid silk because who wants to wear anything that came out of a worm anyway?

Even though I am not vegan, if I have a choice that involves torturing an animal and not torturing an animal, I try to choose the latter.

But that is just how I lead my life. Hope this helps.
:)

Answer 5

I think it's more about exploitation. If you wear leather or wool, you're indirectly contributing money to the meat trade. Not sure about silk, but presumably the worms aren't treated that well, just used to produce as much silk as possible in the least time.

Answer 6

i'm not vegan, but vegetarian - i don't wear leather or wool, or silk, or down feathers, etc.

i hate the arguement of 'but what about ___" like yes, obviously film and computers and cars and pretty much everything is bad for the environment and/or contains animal products. myself, i try to do what i can with reasonable limits. unfortunately, it's not feasible for me to live in an earthship house (off the grid sustainable house) but i guess that's the ideal....we all have to do the best that we can, what we are able to live with.

Answer 7

i have seen leather prcocessing.If cruelty to animals is the reason for taking veg food there is as much logic for not using leather or silk in any form.You have to see the slaughter of animals-buffalo,goat,sheep,cow etc which go into making leather products.same thing applies to silk worms.in non veg food you can openly see meat but in leather or silk they are finished products so you do not feel that much or your conscience is not stirred

Answer 8

I believe vegans also avoid wearing pure silk.

Answer 9

Vegans do not consume or use anything that comes from another living form (except plants). That means, no silk, beeswax, leather, fur, etc. . . If it comes from another animal, insect or anything else that's not a plant, vegans don't use it.

Answer 10

Correct, to call yourself a vegan you have to avoid silk.