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

[LaVisioneer]

Ostrich leather isn't actually a by-product, its the main reason the animals are farmed. Originally they were valuable for feathers, but since about the 1940s they've only been valuable for fashion uses. 80% of the value is in the skin, only about 20% is in the meat, which is the inverse of other animals that are farmed (non-exotics).

Personally I don't consider that ethical, but arguably it all comes down to how the animal lives. The majority of it comes from South Africa, and tbh Im not overly convinced about the industry regulation. I wouldn't buy it from a label, but I might consider it from a smaller brand who could trace the animal back to the farm.

Have any of you heard of this brand?

Handbags

A Collection Of Ethically And Sustainably Made Handbags Made From Byproduct Materials

www.keentu.com

These bags are absolutely gorgeous and on the surface it appears “ethical”.

I personally believe most animals are conscious that they are being held captive for human use or entertainment: lobsters and fish in stores or restaurants, zoo animals, farm cows, etc. I think they develop depression and anxiety from the captivity :/

I have been vegetarian previously and personally think we should all be reducing meat consumption as much as our bodies can tolerate it, both for the planet and the animals.

But I don’t see humans world wide abolishing animal consumption any time soon, so I feel if animals are killed, it’s a disservice to them to not use every last part. (That’s probably how I justify buying leather). Note - I don’t think endangered animals should be hunted or made into bags.

Additionally, I would bet many animals are harmed in both the production and disposal of vegan-leather/pleather bags.

It’s probably impossible in most modern societies to have 0% impact on animals and it’s hard to quantify the impact to make the best choice :/

 

[mistycloud]

Where can I get ostrich leather bags in Singapore besides from the big brands?