Is ostrich leather ever ethical? If so, what brands?

[MidlifeFashionPrincess]

Greetings all. I'd like to get educated on this issue. I know some brands no longer use exotics, and other (Gucci) are dedicated to ethical exotics, and I'd like to learn more about ostrich as a leather.

I have had some exotics pieces that I have loved a lot and not loved so much. I have a pair of western boots (sea turtle that are pre-ban from the 60s) that I am about to sell because I just cannot wear them and not feel terrible about it. Beautiful boots, but they've got to go.

I never know what to think about ostrich (okay, I also have a pair of ostrich boots that are the most comfortable things I've ever put on my feet.) PETA (who I think has great intentions but sometimes goes too far) has all the top videos, and I'm sure there is a lot of ugly ostrich farming that has happened, but what is going on today?

There is an American ostrich farmer couple that seem to disagree with what PETA says. Maybe PETA is right with regard to some farms, but not others (that's what I suspect). I feel like I am mostly getting one side of the story. Maybe that's all there is to it. I am open minded and want to learn.

What got me looking is a Celine ostrich bag that I saw somewhere. I'm not sure if I think it's beautiful or weird. But I want to look at it with educated eyes.

Is ostrich ever ethical? Or, who does ostrich ethically?

Thanks for your insights.

 

[MidlifeFashionPrincess]

I think I might have posted this in the wrong forum. If so, please feel free to move it.

 

[A bottle of Red]

This is a very interesting topic, but why be concerned about ostrich over a different exotic leather? Are ostriches treated worse?
Not being argumentative, i am truly curious because i wonder about it too.
Like snakeskin bags- are those farmed? Or something else?

 

[MidlifeFashionPrincess]

Because I've been looking at an ostrich Celine.

I know about Gucci because I've talked to employees at the boutique and they were very proud of the position Gucci has taken (only using ethical sources).

I welcome the broadening of this topic to include other leathers. I am pretty sure snake is only farmed for its leather, but I could be wrong. That bothers me, but I'll admit I have some snake boots (I guess I have most of my exotics in boots) that I am going to sell because I'm afraid I will ruin them (humidity) and I'd rather someone else use them.

My very first exotic was a pair of elephant boots (boots, again?). They kind of freaked me out. They were also very manly looking to me. Had to sell them. But elephant is humanly harvested somehow.

I've had a purple snake bag that I loved until my local cobbler ruined it and then yelled at me for raising concerns (now I drive across town because he will never get another dime out of me).

So yeah, sure, I am interested in all kinds of exotics and who uses ethical sources (couldn't give a hooey about Hermes personally, because there is no way an exotic Hermes will ever be in the budget...but maybe I'm curious to know).

But yeah. I was being tunnel visioned. I saw a Celine bag that I had mixed feelings about, but was curious to learn more.

 

[MidlifeFashionPrincess]

Oh, and when I did a search, I found all these PETA horror stories about ostrich, like, getting plucked and skinned alive. I have no idea if that is true or not. I don't know how to find the truth, but that's what I want.

 

[floatinglili]

I will be following this thread with interest, I do know in the case of crocodile leather that there are certainly ethical suppliers of crocodile leather (certified Australian farms) I have visited some of these farms myself.
I also have heard stories of animals (rabbits) being skinned alive and that has put me off rabbit fur items but I can’t understand why these products can’t be farmed ethically and humanely. I have chosen artificial fur recently but with the valid concerns regarding micro plastics kind of feel caught between a rock and a hard place.
Elephants and turtles - ugh - bridge too far for me also haha. The only creature that looks beautiful in elephant leather has to be an elephant surely heh

 

[QuelleFromage]

Because I've been looking at an ostrich Celine.

I know about Gucci because I've talked to employees at the boutique and they were very proud of the position Gucci has taken (only using ethical sources).

I welcome the broadening of this topic to include other leathers. I am pretty sure snake is only farmed for its leather, but I could be wrong. That bothers me, but I'll admit I have some snake boots (I guess I have most of my exotics in boots) that I am going to sell because I'm afraid I will ruin them (humidity) and I'd rather someone else use them.

My very first exotic was a pair of elephant boots (boots, again?). They kind of freaked me out. They were also very manly looking to me. Had to sell them. But elephant is humanly harvested somehow.

I've had a purple snake bag that I loved until my local cobbler ruined it and then yelled at me for raising concerns (now I drive across town because he will never get another dime out of me).

So yeah, sure, I am interested in all kinds of exotics and who uses ethical sources (couldn't give a hooey about Hermes personally, because there is no way an exotic Hermes will ever be in the budget...but maybe I'm curious to know).

But yeah. I was being tunnel visioned. I saw a Celine bag that I had mixed feelings about, but was curious to learn more.

Elephant hide is legal (African elephants only) but humanely harvested? Elephant hunting only has to adhere to CITES like all exotics, and in practice it's pretty indiscriminate. Importing any elephant product is illegal in my state anyway, and honestly I'm really glad about that.

 

[Nibb]

I’m not a fan of PETA, I feel what Peta has done with animal rescue is anything but ethical.
I live in California where exotic hides are banned I’m not sure if ostrich has been banned but ostrich is and has been raised for meat and sold in certain grocery store chains just like beef, pork, and poultry for about 20 years. I have 2 Ostrich bags purchased secondhand they are between 5-10 years old, I have no intention of ever tossing or rehoming those bags. Excluding endangered species I don’t see how one animal is more important than another, some poor calves are raised strictly for a perfect hide not for food. How animals are treated depends on the people who care for them. To me tossing aside what has previously been produced and in circulation doesn’t make any sense. The way I see it if you purchase a secondhand bag it is a form of recycling where no additional animals died. Sorry if I sound like a lunatic and good luck with your ethical voyage.

 

[Fimpagebag]

Greetings all. I'd like to get educated on this issue. I know some brands no longer use exotics, and other (Gucci) are dedicated to ethical exotics, and I'd like to learn more about ostrich as a leather.

I have had some exotics pieces that I have loved a lot and not loved so much. I have a pair of western boots (sea turtle that are pre-ban from the 60s) that I am about to sell because I just cannot wear them and not feel terrible about it. Beautiful boots, but they've got to go.

I never know what to think about ostrich (okay, I also have a pair of ostrich boots that are the most comfortable things I've ever put on my feet.) PETA (who I think has great intentions but sometimes goes too far) has all the top videos, and I'm sure there is a lot of ugly ostrich farming that has happened, but what is going on today?

There is an American ostrich farmer couple that seem to disagree with what PETA says. Maybe PETA is right with regard to some farms, but not others (that's what I suspect). I feel like I am mostly getting one side of the story. Maybe that's all there is to it. I am open minded and want to learn.

What got me looking is a Celine ostrich bag that I saw somewhere. I'm not sure if I think it's beautiful or weird. But I want to look at it with educated eyes.

Is ostrich ever ethical? Or, who does ostrich ethically?

Thanks for your insights.

It all depends on your prospective. A farm raised ostrich is no more unethical than cattle, lamb, goat, or even alligator. Their hides are a by product of any animal principally raised for meat.

So, unless you feel all leather is unethical, then (in my opinion) you shouldn’t feel any more guilt about wearing ostrich than you would wearing any other leather bag.

 

[MidlifeFashionPrincess]

I will be following this thread with interest, I do know in the case of crocodile leather that there are certainly ethical suppliers of crocodile leather (certified Australian farms) I have visited some of these farms myself.
I also have heard stories of animals (rabbits) being skinned alive and that has put me off rabbit fur items but I can’t understand why these products can’t be farmed ethically and humanely. I have chosen artificial fur recently but with the valid concerns regarding micro plastics kind of feel caught between a rock and a hard place.
Elephants and turtles - ugh - bridge too far for me also haha. The only creature that looks beautiful in elephant leather has to be an elephant surely heh

Right, that reminds me. I did have a pair of alligator boots also (wow, I've really gone nuts with the boots). I sold them. They didn't fit and--THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL!!!--but they were just too much. I also have a vintage Suarez alligator handbag. The design is kind of a grandma bag. I love it, but only use so rarely.

I've been told by Mr. Suarez that the use ethical leather (right? Or did I make that up? Don't quote me.)

 

[MidlifeFashionPrincess]

Elephant hide is legal (African elephants only) but humanely harvested? Elephant hunting only has to adhere to CITES like all exotics, and in practice it's pretty indiscriminate. Importing any elephant product is illegal in my state anyway, and honestly I'm really glad about that.

Agree. I bought the boots on a guy from Criagslist and they were 40 bucks. I thought he was pulling my leg. I thought all elephant was illegal. I was managing a longhorn ranch and needed sturdy boots and didn't have much money. Anyhoo, turns out he was right, they were elephant, and I had to get rid of them.

 

[MidlifeFashionPrincess]

I’m not a fan of PETA, I feel what Peta has done with animal rescue is anything but ethical.
I live in California where exotic hides are banned I’m not sure if ostrich has been banned but ostrich is and has been raised for meat and sold in certain grocery store chains just like beef, pork, and poultry for about 20 years. I have 2 Ostrich bags purchased secondhand they are between 5-10 years old, I have no intention of ever tossing or rehoming those bags. Excluding endangered species I don’t see how one animal is more important than another, some poor calves are raised strictly for a perfect hide not for food. How animals are treated depends on the people who care for them. To me tossing aside what has previously been produced and in circulation doesn’t make any sense. The way I see it if you purchase a secondhand bag it is a form of recycling where no additional animals died. Sorry if I sound like a lunatic and good luck with your ethical voyage.

Not a lunatic at all. We have similar values. I've eaten ostrich and it was pretty good. So, why the heck not use the hide? That's why the skinning alive business got me confused. Why skin the ostrich alive. We eat the meat. What's going on? And I do think (I think) PETA has its heart in the right place, but no, a hamburger is not like the holocaust. I'm pretty sure that's what they said the day they lost me.

 

[Nibb]

Agree. I bought the boots on a guy from Criagslist and they were 40 bucks. I thought he was pulling my leg. I thought all elephant was illegal. I was managing a longhorn ranch and needed sturdy boots and didn't have much money. Anyhoo, turns out he was right, they were elephant, and I had to get rid of them.

I worked with a guy who had elephant boots he inherited from his grandfather, they were from the 50s and really creepy.

 

[MidlifeFashionPrincess]

It all depends on your prospective. A farm raised ostrich is no more unethical than cattle, lamb, goat, or even alligator. Their hides are a by product of any animal principally raised for meat.

So, unless you feel all leather is unethical, then (in my opinion) you shouldn’t feel any more guilt about wearing ostrich than you would wearing any other leather bag.

If it's a byproduct, I totally agree with you. Clearly, though, T and E species are on a different rulebook.

 

[Incalifornia7]

I will be following this thread with interest, I do know in the case of crocodile leather that there are certainly ethical suppliers of crocodile leather (certified Australian farms) I have visited some of these farms myself.
I also have heard stories of animals (rabbits) being skinned alive and that has put me off rabbit fur items but I can’t understand why these products can’t be farmed ethically and humanely. I have chosen artificial fur recently but with the valid concerns regarding micro plastics kind of feel caught between a rock and a hard place.
Elephants and turtles - ugh - bridge too far for me also haha. The only creature that looks beautiful in elephant leather has to be an elephant surely heh