Recently vegan with leather shoes and handbags?

What to do? I, like many women, have collected an expensive and extensive collection of leather handbags and shoes. Two months ago, I decided to become vegan. I orginally thought I would continue to use the leather shoes and bags I had but not acquire any new ones. But recently, I have been feeling kinda like a fraud carrying my leather bags.





Also, related, I am all about being a vegan except for the cheese thing. You don't have to hurt cows to get cheese. Why should we not eat cheese?

Recently vegan with leather shoes and handbags?
To begin, I think it may be best at this point to simply refer to yourself as a vegetarian and not a vegan... mostly because that is what you are if you are eating cheese.


:)





Vegans do not use or exploit animals for what their bodies provide. You do not get to pick and choose what aspects to follow based on how you feel. Much like there is no such thing as a fish-eating vegetarian, there is no such thing as a cheese-eating vegan.





It is ok. Being a vegetarian is a great place to be on the path to becoming a vegan, and maybe then you wouldn't feel so weird about wearing your old purses.


If you would like to know a bit about the dairy industry, you can go here


http://www.milksucks.com


http://www.notmilk.com/


http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/Prefs.asp?...


http://www.veganoutreach.org/starterpack...








As far as the bags go, I can't really answer that for you. I know there was a band who went vegan (Conflict) and announced that they would wear the leather coats they already owned until they worn through because to pitch them would be a "double-waste of life." But those are just a few vegans, and I am not sure how that stands in the world of veganism.





I know I wore a pair of leather boots after I became vegetarian, but I could no longer do it and I gave them to Goodwill.





Here are some leather alternatives.


http://www.veganstore.com


http://www.mooshoes.com


http://www.alternativeoutfitters.com/Veg...





Good luck.
Reply:Thanks, and good luck with everything.


:) Report It

Reply:How about selling your handbags and shoes and giving the money you get for them to a charity that you feel best supports your views?
Reply:It all depends on why you are a vegan. Is it because you have a moral problem with killing and exploiting animals because you consider them valuable and worthy of your respect? Or are you a vegan for health or trendy reasons? If it's a moral thing then you should feel bad about the leather, since animals were killed to make your shoes and bags. If you are a vegan for your own health benefits, then it shouldn't matter that you have leather.





People who are hard-core vegans have a problem with any sort of animal exploitation. They don't think that we have the right to keep animals captive and force them to produce things (like milk to make cheese) for our convenience and comfort. So that's why vegans don't eat cheese or honey or anything, even though animals are not exactly being damaged for these things.
Reply:Before I was a Vegan, I was a Ova-lacto vegetarian, So I thought nothing of wearing my leather belts and wool hats. When I became a vegan I was in the same situation as you, I thought, "Well I already have these things so I'll just wear them and not buy anymore". But like you I felt like a hippocrit after about a week of calling myself a "vegan" but wearing leather. I justified it with the fact that I can't go out and buy all new animal friendly things, I just can't afford it, ya know?


It took about a week or two for me to make this decision. but I decieded that If I was going to be a vegan I'm gonna go all the way, And I gave up all my animal made things. It just felt right. I gave my things away to my family and whoever wanted it, but you could sell the things that are worth money and go out and buy some animal friendly bags and shoes, If you wanted to.





The fact is that the cows are being hurt in the process of making milk and cheese. These animals (even the milking cows)are being held captive, and forced to live a life of horrible imprisonment. The meat and dairy industry are motivated by only one thing, and that is MONEY. It's cheaper to subject these cows to awful, unsanitary, cramped conditions. There are alot of websites that have videos and info about the awful things that are allowed to go on in the dairy industry. Here are some websites:


www.milksucks.com


www.goveg.com


www.nomilk.com


There are alot more website with information on dairy products, but they are just a few.
Reply:I still have a pair of leather shoes, in fact I have them on right now. I bought them in May of last year and I went Vegan shortly after. Unfortunately these are some of the best shoes I have ever owned and they are only now finally worn out, so I'm getting Vegan ones any day now. Whats my point? That if your comfortable with it there is no problem with using your leather stuff until it falls apart, just don't buy new leather stuff. If you are not comfortable with this then donate what you have to Goodwill or something.





As for the cheese thing... In order for the dairy industry to exist their must be a Veal industry. Cheese consumption directly funds and supports the veal industry. The idea that cows are not killed for milk is, factually just wrong. Once the cows stop producing milk at the levels demanded they are sent to slaughter. A common "catch phrase" in Vegan circles is "there is more suffering in a glass of milk then a pound of steak." When you think about it, it becomes apparent why this is so. Dairy cow's live for about 2-3 years in poor conditions, they have at least 2 if not 3 calf's taken from then during this time within 24 hours of being born which is very traumatic for the cow, and the are killed on top of it.





I suggest you take a look at the links below, they have a lot of good information about this issue.





@ princessfly11: Veganism have EVERYTHING to do with what you wear. It's an entire system of how we see the world and not using animals in ways that can be easily avoided (clothing, food, and other consumables) are an integral part of being a Vegan. Someone who eats a Vegan diet is a strict vegetarian, or can say that they eat a Vegan diet, however they are still Not Vegan. For example, that Beebs says that lives a Vegan lifestyle is factually incorrect because she consumes dairy.





@ Jailbreak: What do you think feeds the animals you eat? Uh, maybe the same crops we eat directly. So in an attempt to cause the least harm possible by eating lower on the food chain we still harm way less animals then if we ate meat. Besides, I think the whole argument you propose is a bunch of BS anyways. They idea that small animals cant get away from a big loud machine moving at less than 10 mph is the height of absurdity.
Reply:You feel like a fraud saying your vegan and wearing leather but don't feel like a fraud eating cheese? ? Honey, you are not vegan if you eat cheese.
Reply:I understand your feelings. First, if you eat milk and cheese, you are vegetarian, not vegan. I practice a vegan lifestyle, but call myself vegetarian, because I use fresh raw milk, straight from the pampered cow, and eggs from happy chickens-I consider them a gift. If you know your milk and cheese comes from well cared for animals, no worries. Also, if the cheese contains "enzymes" or "rennet", unless it is clearly marked vegetarian, it has rennet from the 4th stomach of a slaughtered baby male calf (veal) As for your shoes and handbags, thats a choice you will make when the time is right. Only you can decide, but I don't recommend trying to fit into some tight label, or neat little box. You have made a great decision so far, your concience will guide you with this issue. Good luck
Reply:Check out "The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook" for some excellent cheesy recipes that don't use cheese, and also for some reasons why we should not eat dairy products (health reasons).





As far as your purses go, I think you were right at first. No animals get hurt by you keeping your purses.
Reply:because it comes from an animal and they believe in purity and naturalism





but hey I'll take a bag or three for FREE
Reply:Ok, first of all, not all women collect shoes and handbags.





Secondly, I would have thought the problem with leather was buying it rather than owning it and replacing it just for the sake of keeping up vegan appearances might be the more hypocritical stance.





Thirdly, presumably, as a vegan, you see the problem with the manufacturing of cow's milk. Cheese is made from milk.
Reply:Vegans don't eat cheese mostly because, in order for the dairy cows to keep producing milk, they have to stay pregnant or have recently given birth. These baby cows, if they're males, are killed and turned into veal. If the baby is a girl, she becomes a dairy cow, and it's like a never-ending cycle. So, by purchasing dairy products, you are supporting the veal and meat industry... Not to mention, once the dairy cows are finished getting everything pumped out of them, they can barely walk and often times their legs break on the way to the slaughter house.





And as far as the handbags, it's not bad to give them up. I got rid of my Juicy Coutures when I realized there was rabbit fur on the trim of the hood.
Reply:instead of worrying about your leather shoes and handbags, think about the many more animals you are contributing to killing by being vegan. Every time a tractor plows through a field to cultivate, apply fertilizer and/or pesticide, animals are killed. Crops such as corn and soybeans used in a vegan diet are responsible for killing far more animals of the field than would consuming meat or buying a leather bag. The vegan argument is pointless and useless. It doesn't work. Worry about cleaning your room or doing your homework instead.
Reply:Send them to me. I will make good use of them and you won't feel so bad.
Reply:Being vegan has to do with what you eat. Wearing/owning leather DOES NOT MEAN YOU AREN'T VEGAN.


True, it does not hurt the cow to get cheese. But again, it depends on why you're a vegan. Vegans refrain from eating cheese for health or other reasons, not because they believe it hurts the cow.



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