So, About 8 months ago, I bought a leather jacket. I wasn't a veggie at the time and I had always wanted one.

The problem is, even though I am not eating meat, I still love that jacket. I think it fits well and looks good on me. Plus I spent a lot of money at the time on it and I really don't want to throw it out. It is in storage right now because it is summer, but when cooler weather roles around, I am going to want that jacket.

What do I do?

You already bought the jacket so its not like getting rid of it is going to save the cow, y'know? I'd say wear it until its threadbare, then get a new non-leather jacket. If you're going to use animal products, at least don't be wasteful about it. Or if you really can't stand having it around, give it away to someone who could use it.

:yes: what rabid said.

Most people here will agree that you should go ahead and wear it. However, if people know you're a vegetarian they're going to bring it up so just be sure you're ready with a response.

What Michael and Rabid said. I can't see the point in throwing it out, but don't go buying a new one. Be prepared for people to question you on it though!

By all means, wear it until it falls apart and then replace it.

and here's an answer to the question that works:

i bought this before i was veggie, and since it's still in good condition i'll wear it until it wears out. I don't want to be wasteful.

When it gets cold, wear it.

One should never "throw" anything out, there are always those less fortunate that could use it. Even ratty shirts, towels, linens can be used by animal shelters.

Agreed. (all previous posts)

One should never "throw" anything out, there are always those less fortunate that could use it. Even ratty shirts, towels, linens can be used by animal shelters.

Not too ratty actually, for towels etc... for animal shelters. If they have holes or they're getting to where strings are coming off, they're not appropriate for animal bedding because the animals can get limbs/necks caught up in the strings, and it can choke them or cut off circulation.

Not too ratty actually, for towels etc... for animal shelters. If they have holes or they're getting to where strings are coming off, they're not appropriate for animal bedding because the animals can get limbs/necks caught up in the strings, and it can choke them or cut off circulation.

Towels in such poor condition that they're not even appropriate as pet bedding can still be used as rags for hard-to-clean substances such as grease and grime. Two or three uses and washings, and they're ready for the trash. My mother used to tear up my father's holey and ratty undershirts and use them as cleaning rags.

Sorry to get OT. I still get comments about my wearing leather shoes that I bought in the last ten years, even though I haven't been veg that long and obviously didn't make an ethical connection between diet + clothing until very recently. People will always relish the opportunity to "catch" us in a hypocrisy or double standard, but they don't know the full story. If you choose to continue wearing the leather jacket and people bring it up, simply tell them that you understand what you're wearing, you no longer choose to buy clothing made from animals, but that you don't believe in waste. And then put THEM on the spot. if they're omnis, ask them what THEY'RE doing for the animals, if they're so danged concerned. :D

<< look at the avatar ..... real leather
bought it two years ago and this picture was taken last fall when i was already vegetarian. i still wear it and love it but i'm not buying anymore leather jackets ....

I wouldn't worry about it. You might as well wear it for the reasons everyone else has posted- besides, leather is a byproduct of the meat industry and cattle aren't killed for their skins. (I do make a point of repairing and wearing my leather shoes out completely, though)

Not too ratty actually, for towels etc... for animal shelters. If they have holes or they're getting to where strings are coming off, they're not appropriate for animal bedding because the animals can get limbs/necks caught up in the strings, and it can choke them or cut off circulation.

I would never suggest donating something in such poor condition. You'd would be surprised at how people throw away perfectly good items.
I know most cats would go nuts over the strings! Although not good for any animal chewing/eating it though.

I agree with everyone else. I still wear leather shoes that I've had for years before I went vegetarian - people love to smirk and try to point out your "hypocrisy". Don't let it get to you. Just point out that it isn't a double standard once, and let it go. They might not agree with you but who cares about their opinion then anyway.

You already bought the jacket so its not like getting rid of it is going to save the cow, y'know? I'd say wear it until its threadbare, then get a new non-leather jacket. If you're going to use animal products, at least don't be wasteful about it. Or if you really can't stand having it around, give it away to someone who could use it.

:up: Good advice.

It may not be entirely true that leather is a by-product. I've found some links about this in the past, so if someone wants to search it, they can.

Non-leather shoes that fit well can be difficult for some people to find. Shoes are for most people a very utilitarian item. However, a leather jacket (unless you're using it for riding a motorcycle) is a fashion item. You can find inexpensive non-leather coats that look fine and are equally as warm - and thrift store/second-hand coats are not the same as thrift store shoes - they can be washed.

I would not feel comfortable wearing a piece of tortured animal skin on my back for the sake of fashion, anymore than I would feel comfortable wearing a fur coat.

BTW, congratulations on becoming a veg*n!

Veg*ns should be worried about contributing to demand now, not what happened in the past. IMO throwing out the jacket now would be counter-productive. On the other hand, I try to avoid playing "gotcha" with omnis. If you don't want to wear it you could put a big ugly red X on it and give it to a homeless person so it doesn't contribute to fashion demand.

It may not be entirely true that leather is a by-product. I've found some links about this in the past, so if someone wants to search it, they can.

Non-leather shoes that fit well can be difficult for some people to find. Shoes are for most people a very utilitarian item. However, a leather jacket (unless you're using it for riding a motorcycle) is a fashion item. You can find inexpensive non-leather coats that look fine and are equally as warm - and thrift store/second-hand coats are not the same as thrift store shoes - they can be washed.


Irizary, do you remember off-hand what search terms you used, or how you found the links? I really don't buy any leather other than shoes, but I would search for alternatives if I thought it was a good idea.

I do remember reading that leather accounts for about 50% of the value of a steer's inedible body parts (that sounds so callous, even being written by someone who's veg like me). But I would think that bones and guts have very little value, so the hide still may not amount to much profit for the meat industry. I'm thinking that the price of most leather items is primarily labor, not materials. But I'm willing to change my view.

Another vote for wearing it. Don't worry... A lot of us came into this with animal items. A lot of us choose not to buy any more.

Quick search...

http://www.cowsarecool.com/indianLeather.asp
Leather Is Not Merely a Byproduct

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, which operates under the Indian Ministry of Agriculture, says that hides and skins in recent years have been considered a "co-product of the slaughtered animal rather than an inedible by-product ." Budget India 2000 revealed that out of the total exports in the livestock sector (including meat, dairy products, etc.), leather and leather products accounted for 54 percent.

more...

(investigation into) complaints received from caring Indian citizens about the treatment of cows, buffaloes, and other animals killed to meet the demand for leather in the West, particularly in the United States and the European Union... What the team found would disturb the most hard-hearted.

...Manfred Karremann, a German photo-journalist who documented gentle old Indian bulls and other animals being goaded onto trucks designed for fewer than half their numbers. The team saw that the animals' legs were often broken and their necks painfully twisted to make more room inside the vehicles. Animals inadvertently smothered one another and gouged and blinded each other with their horns. Live animals struggled under the dead and dying for hours during long, hot journeys to the slaughterhouse. Some animals were made to walk between trucking points and were beaten and forced to move forward, even when totally exhausted, by having chili seeds rubbed into their eyes and by having their tails broken by handlers. At most slaughterhouses, animals who survived transport were dragged inside, where they were able to see others dying before they themselves were cut, skinned, and dismembered, often while still conscious.

::

(not really sure that half is a correct figure - I've seen lesser numbers - but it is substantial regardless)
http://www.veganline.com/why.htm#why-vegan
Leather & the 'By-Product' Myth

Vegatarians boycot the animal industry and vote with their wallets to have less cruelty and waste in the world. Leather might make half a slaughterhouse's profit and it's good to try and boycott some of that half as well as the meat half. We do not have clear figures for the amount of money that companies make from meat or hides, because they do not need to tell their shareholders. Money-in is money-in, whether it is from selling a hide to a tanner or some flesh to a butcher.

::

http://www.peta.org/living/clothingguide.asp

Leather is not simply a slaughterhouse byproduct—it’s a booming industry. The meat industry relies on skin sales to stay in business because the skin represents the most economically important byproduct of the meat-packing industry, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

You already bought the jacket so its not like getting rid of it is going to save the cow, y'know? I'd say wear it until its threadbare, then get a new non-leather jacket. If you're going to use animal products, at least don't be wasteful about it....

What rabid (and so many others) have said...

I have down comforters on my bed, leather shoes, and a leather jacket - I wouldn't buy these items now - but I'll use these until they fall apart.

Thanks, Irizary.

I would have done a Google or Yahoo search myself, but there are a few things I'm searching for already and it's tough going. I enter keywords and get about a jillion websites that really have nothing to do with what I'm trying to find out. Grrr. Argh.

Thanks again. I'll bookmark these.

I agree with eveyone else. I have a leather jacket that I love and it does cause people to ask questions. I just tell that the cow is already dead and that throwing it away would be waste of the cow's life. A further waste in my new revised opinon but I leave that part unsaid. I just love how people are so smug when they point it out as if I was unaware that I was wearing leather and that they have now enlightened me.