are calfskin and lambskin cruel?

[bellsbells]

Good points everyone! It's definitely a difficult topic. The problem with the animal industry is that there is a lot of mistreatment everywhere. But I suppose as long as I'm going to eat meat, it's the same if I also buy calfskin or lambskin, right? If I want to go vegetarian, then I will also have to stop buying leather products too, if it's all about animal welfare. Then again, as someone posted above, becoming completely vegan in today's world is just about impossible.

 

[PsyDocJoanne]

As for leather, I doubt there are many animals raised just for their skins and the meat not used. At least that's what I prefer to think.

I don't know if this is true, but let's assume for a moment that it is. The OP stated, "I have always worn leather and lambskin because I assumed they came from animals slaughtered for their meat", implying that the hides were simply the byproduct of the slaughter and that made it OK (e.g. the hides would be thrown away or wasted if not used).

What you mention above, and others have as well, is the notion that animals are raised for their hide (which definitely happens) and the meat becomes the byproduct, which is an entirely different concept (as I see it).

In scenario #1, the animal is killed to provide food (which seems like a worthy kind of thing to do, at least to me) and the hide is just a leftover part of the slaughtered animal. In secenario #2, the animal is killed to provide fine leather goods, and the meat is incidental; I could see folks having problems with this.

As I mentioned earlier, I'm pro-meat and pro-leather so it's all OK to me...

 

[doreenjoy]

What you mention above, and others have as well, is the notion that animals are raised for their hide (which definitely happens) and the meat becomes the byproduct, which is an entirely different concept (as I see it).

In scenario #1, the animal is killed to provide food (which seems like a worthy kind of thing to do, at least to me) and the hide is just a leftover part of the slaughtered animal. In secenario #2, the animal is killed to provide fine leather goods, and the meat is incidental; I could see folks having problems with this.

This is definitely true. I used to live in cattle country.

 

[momhappy]

^I don't distinguish between the two (primary use and byproduct). If any animal is killed for food, clothing, glue, etc. then the end result is much the same. Since I eat meat, I have no issue wearing leather.

 

[emcosmo1639]

I'm a vegetarian and part time vegan (vegan at home). I've been a lifelong animal activist and have worked in animal welfare organizations for many years. But even I have a hard time coming up with a firm answer on this. I own a few leather handbags/goods and even have leather boots etc. I did fall in love with Stella McCartney so now most of my bags are "vegan," but as another poster pointed out, even alternative materials can be questionable given how they are sourced (perhaps not cruel to animals, but not the best for the environment). Another issue I struggle with is down items. I refuse to wear fur and am limiting my leather, but I purchased a down coat and vest and have a down comforter (pretty cruel in most cases). I have since stopped buying down and am only using down alternatives now, but those are questionable too in their sources. I guess it just comes down to your own values--for me, I won't wear fur, won't do down anymore, and am limiting my leather to vintage/consigned items (so essentially recycling it). But at the end of the day you can't escape this--electronics and general items come from terrible factories, cars have leather, alternatives may be questionable, even diamonds pose problems--you just have to pick what issues you feel strongest about and stick to those (at least that's how I look at it).

 

[catsinthebag]

I'm a vegetarian and part time vegan (vegan at home). I've been a lifelong animal activist and have worked in animal welfare organizations for many years. But even I have a hard time coming up with a firm answer on this. I own a few leather handbags/goods and even have leather boots etc. I did fall in love with Stella McCartney so now most of my bags are "vegan," but as another poster pointed out, even alternative materials can be questionable given how they are sourced (perhaps not cruel to animals, but not the best for the environment). Another issue I struggle with is down items. I refuse to wear fur and am limiting my leather, but I purchased a down coat and vest and have a down comforter (pretty cruel in most cases). I have since stopped buying down and am only using down alternatives now, but those are questionable too in their sources. I guess it just comes down to your own values--for me, I won't wear fur, won't do down anymore, and am limiting my leather to vintage/consigned items (so essentially recycling it). But at the end of the day you can't escape this--electronics and general items come from terrible factories, cars have leather, alternatives may be questionable, even diamonds pose problems--you just have to pick what issues you feel strongest about and stick to those (at least that's how I look at it).

This. Everyone has to make their own personal choices and decide where their own personal line in the sand is. Personally, I have more of an issue with animal cruelty than I do with eating meat or using animal byproducts. I just want as much information as I can get so I can make informed choices.

 

[No Cute]

Look to designers that show concern for how the hides are sourced (and how the animals are treated during their lives). I can't think of who right now, but those designers are out there.

 

[mllev]

I'm a vegetarian and part time vegan (vegan at home). I've been a lifelong animal activist and have worked in animal welfare organizations for many years. But even I have a hard time coming up with a firm answer on this. I own a few leather handbags/goods and even have leather boots etc. I did fall in love with Stella McCartney so now most of my bags are "vegan," but as another poster pointed out, even alternative materials can be questionable given how they are sourced (perhaps not cruel to animals, but not the best for the environment). Another issue I struggle with is down items. I refuse to wear fur and am limiting my leather, but I purchased a down coat and vest and have a down comforter (pretty cruel in most cases). I have since stopped buying down and am only using down alternatives now, but those are questionable too in their sources. I guess it just comes down to your own values--for me, I won't wear fur, won't do down anymore, and am limiting my leather to vintage/consigned items (so essentially recycling it). But at the end of the day you can't escape this--electronics and general items come from terrible factories, cars have leather, alternatives may be questionable, even diamonds pose problems--you just have to pick what issues you feel strongest about and stick to those (at least that's how I look at it).

Yes, this! I'm a vegetarian too, trying to be as vegan as possible but I still have a few leather bags and shoes. I try to think that's it's better for the environment if I have just a few good quality leather items than buying a lot of faux leather which doesn't last long, especially where I live: the winters are long and cold which makes faux leather awful-looking quickly. I would never wear fur, but I do feel like a hypocrite sometimes when carrying my leather bags as I don't know where the leather is coming from. But then I've never understood the sort of "all or nothing" -thinking, it's always important to try and do something good.

 

[tiggycat]

Look to designers that show concern for how the hides are sourced (and how the animals are treated during their lives). I can't think of who right now, but those designers are out there.

Agree. On a road trip across North America a few years back my husband was appalled at the cattle 'feed lots' we drove past and ever since then he will only buy 'free range' meat.

I personally don't buy fur because the animals are raised only for their fur, but I don't have a problem with leather since the whole animal is used. I tend to buy coated canvas bags (mainly because they are lighter weight) and less leather is used for them - but I love my UGG boots!

 

[Love4H]

What about make up, skin care?

Are you ladies also careful about that? I know L'Oreal and all it's brands are animal tested. I use Lancôme, Estée Lauder, Kiehls, Urban Decay, and other L'Oreal brands, and they all are tested.

I'm not going even ask about medicine testing and etc...

 

[emcosmo1639]

What about make up, skin care?

Are you ladies also careful about that? I know L'Oreal and all it's brands are animal tested. I use Lancôme, Estée Lauder, Kiehls, Urban Decay, and other L'Oreal brands, and they all are tested.

I'm not going even ask about medicine testing and etc...

I focus on using products (hair, skin, etc) that are not tested on animals. It gets hard sometimes and I am sure a few slip through each year, but I've gotten close to almost all of mine being cruelty free/vegan. As for medical, not much I can do about that. I've eliminated a few prescriptions, but cannot go off one for now and I can only imagine the cruelty involved to get that med approved. But once again, this goes back to making your own choices on how much you are willing to change. For me, changing products, limiting leather, not eating meat etc are changes I am capable of to limit my consumption and contribution to animal cruelty. Am I going as far as living in a tree, growing my own food and making my own clothes, no, but I will do what I can.

 

[Molly0]

Let your conscience be your guide. Each person must decide for themself.

 

[Love4H]

I focus on using products (hair, skin, etc) that are not tested on animals. It gets hard sometimes and I am sure a few slip through each year, but I've gotten close to almost all of mine being cruelty free/vegan. As for medical, not much I can do about that. I've eliminated a few prescriptions, but cannot go off one for now and I can only imagine the cruelty involved to get that med approved. But once again, this goes back to making your own choices on how much you are willing to change. For me, changing products, limiting leather, not eating meat etc are changes I am capable of to limit my consumption and contribution to animal cruelty. Am I going as far as living in a tree, growing my own food and making my own clothes, no, but I will do what I can.

Do you research the brand you use? I personally didn't know about the animal tests of some cosmetic companies until recently. They moved production to Asian countries and can proceed with testing there. It disturbs me because I know that the animal testing for cosmetics is just a cheap way to go, and it makes me doubt I'd purchase from those brands now on.

With meat and leather thou I feel like I need to eat meat and fish, my body requires it. I tried to be vegan long time ago, it dint work out for me. I don't eat veal but I eat lamb. And leather is a sub product.

I agree with animal testing of medicine just because it is health concerns, and there's no other way. But animal testing of cosmetics I don't want to support, there's no reason for cutting costs by torture.

 

[HauteMama]

Something to keep in mind with many cosmetics that are not tested on animals is that a lot of them still use ingredients already known as safe. And how are those ingredients known as safe? Other companies tested on animals in the past. Now, I am not saying that there are not products that contain no ingredients that were ever tested on animals because there probably are. But most "cruelty-free" products are coasting by on a technicality that OTHER companies did the animal testing to prove the ingredients safe, so they don't have to reinvent the wheel. It is very likely that most of the products not tested on animals out there would not exist had animal testing never been done in the past.

 

[Flowerpetals]

I am and have been a vegetarian all my life (my mom was vegetarian when she was pregnant and I'm 17) I plan to be vegetarian or hopefully vegan for the rest of my life but I am addicted to bags :'(

Almost all my bags are leather of some sort and I also have some furs that my aunt gave to me (which I haven't worn yet) I try not to think about it...even if they weren't killed just for their skin I still feel so bad so I don't think about it which is so sad but I don't know what else to do...pleather bags, even matt&nat are just not my style...im not even into coated canvas. Chanel caviars and balenciaga and other buttery soft leathers are just so irresistible.
My solution is to live in denial.

I am such a hypocrite.