[griggsy]

Hello everyone,

I was just after some peoples opinions on wearing leather. Being a vegan there's no way I wuold buy a new pair of leather shoes, but I need some comfortable shoes for work, and only have an old leather pair. What do you think about wearing them. I'm so tempted to give them to a charity shop and buy a new pair, but I am so poor at the moment. Do you think I am being a total hyppocrit if i wear them?

 

[karenlovessnow]

It's personal choice. I don't think you would be a hypocrite. Some people here feel it's ok to wear something animal derived that you already own, especially if your new purchases are animal friendly.

 

[Alli]

I don't think there's anything wrong with it, as long as you don't buy new leather items.

 

[meatless]

I agree with both of the above. The damage is done, and I for one don't consider it inethical to wear old leather items out.

However, you may accosted by the omnivore "vegan police" who thrillseek by trying to find ways in which we are hypocrites. Just have a good answer ready and then ignore them.

And in the meantime, start saving up and keeping an eye out for a replacement pair.

 

[Lani]

I can't afford to replace all of the non-vegan stuff in my house just yet

So I have to wear my old shoes made with leather amongst other things that I really don't want to. Like the others have said, the damage has been done already. Don't feel too guilty

 

[jackie890]

I say wear them out. I've been vegan for lotsa years, and I still have a pair of old leather shoes I occasionally wear. If people ask, I say they're fake leather. How are they going to know the difference?

 

[Laura_I]

First, I agree with everything that everyone else has said. Second, if you want some new shoes, usually the cheaper priced ones are pleather, like Payless. I've noticed that most of the shoes at Hot Topix are pleather too. If you just look around and read labels you'll be surprised by how many are fake. Other than that, there are some websites that are exclusively fake leather shoes, but they're a little more expensive.

I haven't worn leather anything in a loonnnggg time, but my poor husband is in the military and has to wear leather issued combat boots.

I just wouldn't buy anything new if you don't believe in it. Another thing you can do is donate all your old leather things to charity (as opposed to throwing them away), you'll get the money back in a tax write off.

 

[random_feast]

Oh, I totally relate, griggsy. My wonderful mother just bought me a nice pair of shoes for work.

They're imported Italian shoes. All-leather uppers. Oy.

Mom would understand if I didn't wear them, but I'd feel worse about that then I do about wearing them. So I will do what I am doing with my other leather work shoes and the purse my fiance gifted me with for our first dating anniversary--wearing them until they too die an unnatural, work-induced walking-or-carrying death. Then I will bury them in my backyard; I don't care what the landlord says, they deserve a good funeral.

Those who are looking for flaws in my vegan ethics are told the truth, most of the time--that I'm currently broke and these were a gift, that I'm wearing them until they wear out because that seems the kindest thing to do ethically, and if they really insist on being jerks about it, they can kindly go to $bad-place(s). So far there have been no smart-arsed comments from these folks. It's funny what honesty can do, when gently but firmly spoken.