[rmdevotion]

I've been successfully a vegetarian for almost 4 wks now. The only animal product I eat is dairy. But somehow everything seems in vain when I still have leather or wool products in my wardrobe. Not a lot but still... I've always been a fashionable person (I'm gay, duh) and shoes are particularly difficult. No top designer wants to touch fake leather because it comes off cheap. I realize some designers have created many faux fur outfits, but what about shoes? I don't find them anywhere. Am I just looking in the wrong places? Why doesn't addidas or puma run a design line made of pleather? I'm sure there's a huge market for it.

My reasons for not eating meat is purely based on compassion, not health. The health part is just an added bonus for me. I was once vegetarian for 10 yrs but this time I feel even more compelled to not be the result of any animals suffering, anywhere. Fashion is the most difficult for me, particularly shoes. i'm a performer so I have to look good. I realize this all sounds like vanity and not at all that critical, but it's extremely frustrating to someone that's attempting to be more "animal" conscious and still remain "fashionable". I know there are alternative out there and I've been looking at the websites, i'm just not a fan of most of it. Maybe I should just begin my own clothing line.......

 

[Starleen]

I cant help you on the clothing issue (my gay uncle has the same problem)

but I think that someone with some good fashion sense should start a clothing line! Some of the clothes out there are just plain ugly! So.. I think that is a awesome idea! Congrats on going veggie!

 

[Irizary]

http://www.zappos.com has a vegetarian section for shoes. What's great about them is that there is free shipping both ways (in case the shoes don't fit).

Yay for you for going veg. If you're concerned with animal cruelty, look more deeply into dairy - that industry is even more cruel than the beef industry. Every calf on a dairy farm (even the less cruel ones) is forcefully removed from his or her mother within days of birth (they can cry and search for each other for months). Boys generally are sent off to become veal, girls just replace their mothers in a cycle of yearly preganancies until they are used up at about five years old and sent to slaughter.

 

[mybleedingheart]

fluevog has a couple non-leather shoes.. nice design

if you don't mind the shipping from the UK, try here

and MooShoes is pretty great (gibsons are cool for men and women both!)

 

[rmdevotion]

Thank you for the feedback. I've decided to create my own high end footwear line. I've already begun research and contacting investors!

Irizary - Yes, I am working my way towards vegan. I'm actually grossed out by most dairy and am lactose intolerant (like every other human).

Although I don't agree with your stance that eating dairy is more cruel than eating meat. Although I feel that being separated from your mother is cruel, I believe being murdered is far worse. My ultimate goal is to be completely free of any animal product.

 

[Spirit Wolf]

Um...wool doesn't harm animals, they just sheer it off so why would wool bother you?

 

[froggythefrog]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spirit Wolf

Um...wool doesn't harm animals, they just sheer it off so why would wool bother you?

A lot of vegetarians and vegans feel that wool still exploits the animal and there are a lot of issues surrounding wool. Some sheep have been bred to have wrinkly skin, which produces more wool. Problem is, the wrinkles in the skin cause the sheep to retain moisture and infections develop. Also, some places, rather than sheering the sheep actually cut the skin off the sheep's back. For most vegans, it comes down to a philosophy of not using animals for our own gain under any circumstance (which I am lax on due to the fact that I own a couple of dogs and a couple of cats own me) and simply that being vegan means you avoid the use of animal products whenever possible.

 

[rmdevotion]

Ever since I watched the video on Peta's site about wool (narrated by Pink) I can't wear it anymore. Mostly Australian wool is the worst. They do not simply just sheer the wool off their backs. They breed the sheep to have more folds in their skin so they will produce more wool. Most of the excess skin gets infected and is then cut out of their backs (no painkillers involved). Then the sheep are transported overseas in cramped living spaces to be slaughtered in China. There is much more involved than you think. I cried when I watched the video, it's pretty horrific. You can buy non-Australian wool but you still never know if you are really getting what you paid for.

 

[rmdevotion]

Ever since I watched the video on Peta's site about wool (narrated by Pink) I can't wear it anymore.

Like Froggythefrog said - They do not simply just sheer the wool off their backs. They breed the sheep to have more folds in their skin so they will produce more wool. Most of the excess skin gets infected and is then cut out of their backs (no painkillers involved). Then the sheep are transported overseas in cramped living spaces to be slaughtered in China. There is much more involved than you think. I cried when I watched the video, it's pretty horrific. You can buy non-Australian wool but you still never know if you are really getting what you paid for.

 

[GhostUser]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmdevotion

Thank you for the feedback. I've decided to create my own high end footwear line. I've already begun research and contacting investors!

This site might help you with your footwear line:

Fashion Incubator

It's not a veg site but it's veg friendly.