Do you think of shearling the same as fur?

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ladybug333

ladybug333

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May 6, 2019
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#1
I was just looking at a shearling bag online -- I've noticed myself feeling drawn to how cozy they look! However, I'd never purchase a bag made with fear (yes, I do see the hypocrisy for owning leather bags! But for some reason, fur feels different to me). Do you think of shearling in the same way as fur? Is the process of acquiring shearling a humane process, or is it basically the same exact process as how fur is obtained?

Would love to hear your thoughts! And hoping for a non-judgmental discussion. :) Thank you!
 
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#2
I'm not sure on the exact process of acquiring shearling but I do know it is basically a fur even though it's referred to as shearling. I personally don't mind wearing fur (i think i just love the feel, look and warmth too much especially living in a really cold country I appreciate it) but I do know many vegan and vegetarian friends of mine would stay FAR AWAY from shearling. If you are considering getting a shearling coat (and not just a bag) you could always consider second hand/pre-loved? I know there's still a lot of controversy surrounding second hand fur but I do think it's much better than new from the store where you directly contribute to an increase in demand. I'd definitely feel better buying second hand fur and what's even better is fur never really holds its value, even really good quality NAFA furs (SAGA, Kopenhagen etc.) so you would also be saving a lot!
 
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#3
All leather is basically hairless/fleece-less skin.

Fleece grows long (sometimes curly) and then falls off in patches in the summer.

Fur sometimes grows longer (or changes colour) in the Winter and then falls out by moulting.

Lamb (leather) is skin without fleece

Caviar (leather - from calf) is skin without fur.
 
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#7
Yes and no. Shearling is essentially fur, so it's skin + hair. However, since young sheep/lamb is consumed, shearling can be a coproduct of the lamb industry, just like some bovine leather is for beef and veal. Most furry animals (mink, fox, coyote, chinchilla) are either farmed or trapped for their fur. There are some cultures that eat the farmed animals though, but the amount they would eat doesn't come close to the amount of fur that's produced. Basically, shearling is fur, but lambs and sheepling aren't necessarily killed just for their fur.

Winters can get really cold where I live, so I prefer down and real fur to polyester fill and faux fur. Down and real fur is a lot warmer and better at blocking wind, even if the fur is just lining your hood and face. I don't make it my mission to collect down and fur coats. I just make sure to have one, and only one, heavy duty winter coat at a time.

If the ethics regarding shearling are concerning to you, go on google and make your own research and judgement. Try to stay away from biased sites, like PETA.

Personally, I wouldn't get real fur/shearling for anything that isn't supposed to keep me warm, but I wouldn't judge someone or question their morality for having a shearling bag. If you decide shearling is ok with you, get the bag that makes you happy.
 
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#10
daisy913 said:
Yes and no. Shearling is essentially fur, so it's skin + hair. However, since young sheep/lamb is consumed, shearling can be a coproduct of the lamb industry, just like some bovine leather is for beef and veal. Most furry animals (mink, fox, coyote, chinchilla) are either farmed or trapped for their fur. There are some cultures that eat the farmed animals though, but the amount they would eat doesn't come close to the amount of fur that's produced. Basically, shearling is fur, but lambs and sheepling aren't necessarily killed just for their fur.

Winters can get really cold where I live, so I prefer down and real fur to polyester fill and faux fur. Down and real fur is a lot warmer and better at blocking wind, even if the fur is just lining your hood and face. I don't make it my mission to collect down and fur coats. I just make sure to have one, and only one, heavy duty winter coat at a time.

If the ethics regarding shearling are concerning to you, go on google and make your own research and judgement. Try to stay away from biased sites, like PETA.

Personally, I wouldn't get real fur/shearling for anything that isn't supposed to keep me warm, but I wouldn't judge someone or question their morality for having a shearling bag. If you decide shearling is ok with you, get the bag that makes you happy.
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This was very informative! Thank you for the thoughtful response. I live in a warm climate and am only attracted to shearling because I think it's cute, so your comment helped me decide that it's not something I would want for a bag.
 
#11
Now this thread has got me thinking of some other commonplace things that use shearling, like Ugg boots and sheepskin rugs. The conversation around fur is quite interesting, eh? It seems like fur made from animals like rabbits and chinchillas "seems" worse to more people because it has been branded as cruel. But leather and sheepskin, for whatever reason, have largely flown below the radar, at least for the general public. I'm sure the reason is quite nuanced, but do you think part of it is that people can sympathize with a cute animal more than a cow or sheep?
 
#13
In the UK, it is (or was) the Selfridges’ (department store) policy not to sell products with real fur. However, they did sell shearling items, which made me think that shearling wasn’t as bad as fur. I personally don’t, and never have worn, real fur for ethical reasons, but then I have owned shearling items in the past, and obviously leather, so I know I am a complete hypocrite! I just feel like fur is a lot worse than shearling or leather, which I’m guessing (or hoping!) are more like by-products.
 
#14
Shearling is a (finished) byproduct, i.e., never the reason a sheep/lamb is slaughtered. All parts of a slaughtered sheep have commercial uses. Also, the strict use of "shearling" to apply to only a lamb vs. an adult animal is not firm, esp. since the age that an animal is considered still a lamb is culturally determined.
 
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