Fur has been a hot discussion topic in the fashion world for ages – but what about leather? How much do leather-wearers really know about the animals on their backs? Most of us who have ever worn leather (and most of us have) assumed it was cow, but with no regulations around labelling, that really isn’t a given.
As vegans, we know that it makes no difference what animal you’re wearing – but our leather-wearing friends might find it difficult to stomach that their jacket or gloves are crafted from the skin of a cat or dog. And there is no way of knowing for sure whose skin you’re in – which is what PETA want to highlight with their new video, in collaboration with Catsnake video agency. We follow the journey of eight-year-old Rebecca, who sets out to learn more about where leather comes from, and what she will find is rather shocking – a true indication of the lack of transparency in the leather industry.
Virtually every type of animal will, somewhere in the world, be killed for their skins. Dogs are bludgeoned to death in China to make leather gloves and other accessories that are sold in the West. Baby goats can be boiled alive for kid gloves. And many endangered animals are illegally hunted and killed for their skins. But does it matter? All that matters is that they suffered – and that you can help stop it from happening, just by saying no to leather and choosing cruelty-free fashion.
And dressing cruelty-free has never been this easy. From faux-leather shoes to wool-free coats, vegan fashion is on the rise, breaking ground with new innovative processes and advanced materials. So when you think about it, what reason is there really to wear any animal?
Photo by Will Langenberg via Unsplash
Great article, although it’s quite a harrowing tale to tell! I’ve been anti-leather since turning vegetarian, however I’m more lenient on wool when I know it’s been ethically sourced. Wool can be sheared from a live animal without pain, but leather is just as bad as eating meat.
Besma | Curiously Conscious
True words. Nice article. Terrible to even think about what is done to those Souls. I NEVER buy anything from China (and that’ isn’t only because of the meat/fur/dog issue). I try to stay as local as possible. You may call me lucky, but since childhood, I have always loved natural materials, so it comes easy to me to go shopping, be it for food or clothing 🙂