If you're a vegetarian - do you wear/use leather?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. I have lots of things that are made from leather (boots, shoes, bags, etc). I’m a vegetarian because I think it’s a healthier way to live and not necessarily because of animal rights. I mean I don’t want to see animals suffer unnecessarily but it wasn’t my motivation. Plus I never really liked meat. Bacon is the only thing I miss.

This. It depends why you’re a vegetarian. If it is for animal rights then of course you shouldn’t buy leather or any animal product. If it’s for any other reason (like health or preference) then it doesn’t matter.

Here’s the rub tho: if you’re a vegetarian for ecology and saving the planet, used leather goods create less waste than new cloth or manmade fabrics do so your better off with vintage leather.

That's true even from an animal welfare perspective. Used leather causes no additional harm to animals.

I've been vegetarian since I was a little kids - so going on 40 years now. I wear and use some leather but try to be conscientious about it. I do wear leather shoes because I haven't found great alternatives, though I expect as cruelty-free leather improves I will stop even wearing leather shoes. I don't wear leather jackets. I used to wear some (used) leather skirts - but, again, I didn't buy them new; I don't have a problem with secondhand leather. Same with our leather couch - it holds up to pets better than cloth, and we got it used, so I am fine with that.

I do not wear fur. I try to avoid wool, too, though I do wear wool socks because I haven't found a good alternative yet. Essentially I am doing my best to meet my own needs and limit my harm. I do the same with animal products in food - I am not vegan but try to be conscientious and limit the animal products I consume. Where I buy animal products, I try to get the version that causes the least harm (the $$$$$ eggs from pasture-raised chickens - I know that even there, the industry is horribly cruel, but this is better and I feel ok putting my $ into showing farmers there is a market for more humanely raised animals).

Another vegetarian. I don't get your post. Wool is no big deal as they are just giving the sheep a hair cut. There are tons of shoe options now. 2nd hand makes zero sense either.

The treatment of sheep raised for wool is notoriously cruel. It's not just whether the animal dies - it's how they are treated while they are alive.

And it doesn't matter how you feel about my reasoning - the beautiful thing is we all get to make our own decisions and decide which harms and cruelty are acceptable to us, and which we are willing to participate in.

[Anonymous]

Leather doesn’t harm the animal as it hasn’t been killed for the production of leather. Nor does wool. I have been vegetarian for almost 20 years and I wear leather. My husband is a lifelong vegetarian and avoids leather. Just depends on how you feel about it.