vegetarians with leather bags?

[labelwhore04]

I think it's a tad hypocritical if you're a veg for moral reasons. The animals were killed the same way whether it was for food or clothing. In MY opinion, wearing leather is worse than eating meat because you're doing it for vanity purposes where as eating meat is something that would be needed for survival if you were living in the caveman days. Again, just my opinion, to each their own.

 

[indiaink]

...but then we have to consider that if the animal skin isn't used for something, isn't it wasting what otherwise might have been used? If an animal was killed for the meat and not the hide, then how is it wrong to use the hide? Or by not using the hide are vegans making a statement?

This argument could go on and on and on, ad infinitum, ad nauseum and in the end is up to the individual. You can find a plethora of information online: Veg sites will offer arguments to use no animal products (and cite many many reasons why) and non-veg site will do that same.

 

[Black Elite]

I think it's a tad hypocritical if you're a veg for moral reasons. The animals were killed the same way whether it was for food or clothing. In MY opinion, wearing leather is worse than eating meat because you're doing it for vanity purposes where as eating meat is something that would be needed for survival if you were living in the caveman days. Again, just my opinion, to each their own.

I agree with LabelWhore (and can I say I giggle a bit when reading your name )

But people who eat meat will often use nutrition or sustenance as their justification for eating meat while wearing a handbag provides no nutritional value at all.

 

[vhdos]

so i know it makes me seem like a hypocrite but i'm a vegetarian and still buy leather bags and shoes.
am i the only one? i really hope not. i feel terrible for using leather but sometimes i just can't resist. :[

Are you vegetarian for ethical reasons? If the answer yes, then IMO you are absolutely a hypocrite.

 

[denim53]

dkstout, you're not the only one. I don't eat meat and I don't feel bad about buying leather bags and shoes. I don't care if I'm called a hypocrite, either. What one eats or buys, is no one else's business.

 

[queennadine]

I stopped eating meat for health reasons at first, but I also cite ethical reasons now as well. I do have leather shoes and belts, but haven't bought any in years (before I stopped eating meat).

I think we all have certain thresholds or boundaries where we draw the line. No one is perfect and even the strictest of vegans/vegetarians will come into contact with animal products. I have LV bags, mainly Mono and Damier so the leather on them is minimal.

I try to do as much as I can on a regular basis. When I go to replace things now (like makeup, household cleaners, etc.) I try to find products that weren't tested on animals. Just like I try to buy products made in the US. I'm not perfect by any means, but try to be mroe conscious of stuff like that little by little, as much as I can. No one should be ridiculed for trying to change for the better, however long it takes.

Just because I can't do everything, doesn't mean I should do nothing.

 

[platinum_girly]

I am a vegetarian (used to be a vegan) and whilst i was vegan i would eat no animal products or by-products, wear no leather, suede, wool, fur, etc and would not use any products that had been tested on animals.
Now that i am a vegetarian i still don't eat meat (i just can't stand the thought of it TBH) but i buy leather bags (and i own one suede bag).
Honestly though i was sick of buying PU bags and them breaking on me VERY quickly (and let's face it, most of them LOOK so cheap) and we are just not in a position to be throwing money away so i figure that if i invest in good quality leather bags that will last then it works out better for us. Everytime i buy a new leather bag i donate money to an animal charity that i am a member/supporter of. I figure that it kinda evens things out a bit if i do that.
It is completely up to the individual what they believe in, i wouldn't EVER buy (or even touch) real fur as the very thought of the animals being skinned alive for the sake of a coat or whatever repulses me, plus i think faux fur nowadays is so realistic and good quality that why on earth should people need to buy real...? The same goes for exotic skins.
I do eat honey, but i wonder why people seem to be against that, how on earth is that hurting the bees..? They are not killed for the honey to be obtained, so this just puzzles me
Just wondering if all the folks that claim to be against animal cruelty are A, checking the packs of the sweets that they buy to check if they contain gelatine (marshmallows are completely a no-go for TRUE vegetarians/vegans) and B, making sure that the cosmetics and beauty products that they buy/use are from companies that don't believe in animal testing...? I ask the second part because this is something that i have done from the get go, right down to household cleaning products, nothing will enter my home if it has been tested on animals, but yet i read the other day a girl stating that she doesn't use animal tested products but yet uses Chanel and Dior, erm doesn't she realise that both these companies test their products on animals

 

[vhdos]

dkstout, you're not the only one. I don't eat meat and I don't feel bad about buying leather bags and shoes. I don't care if I'm called a hypocrite, either. What one eats or buys, is no one else's business.

Your right, it is no one else's business. However, OP made it everyone else's business when she started this thread.

 

[chloehandbags]

...but then we have to consider that if the animal skin isn't used for something, isn't it wasting what otherwise might have been used? If an animal was killed for the meat and not the hide, then how is it wrong to use the hide? Or by not using the hide are vegans making a statement?

This argument could go on and on and on, ad infinitum, ad nauseum and in the end is up to the individual. You can find a plethora of information online: Veg sites will offer arguments to use no animal products (and cite many many reasons why) and non-veg site will do that same.

The generally accepted logic, is that it is not hypocritical, as long as you don't buy anything where the animal was killed, primarily, for its skin and/or was killed in an especially cruel way, to preserve its skin.

 

[baglover90]

I'v been vegetarian for seven years now. I was not brought up that way, therefore
I always had leather shoes and whatnot...untill just now (reading the thread) i dident realized he harm the tannery does... but honestly I still loveeeeee leather products...I donno...I'm prob a hypocrite...but at the end of the day I'm all for whatever makes people happy...and being a vegetarian makes me just as happy as my leather bags and shoes...

 

[BgaHolic]

To each his own should really be the answer! I have a SIL who is a vegetarian. She just started adding chicken broth to her diet and her mother gave her a fur jacket! She wears the same leather Coach bag for years and years. I think she chooses to eat only vegetables and herbs because she can't down food.

 

[purseprincess32]

I've been a vegetarian since I was in 7th grade and I'm 34 and will continue to be a vegetarian for the rest of my life. I was also a vegan for a couple of years too but went back to being a vegetarian. When I was younger & High School I didn't own any leather bags or shoes because I was a strict Vegan but that's a personal choice. No one in my family is vegan or vegetarian and I became a vegetarian & vegan when I was younger for moral reasons due to the animals. Some vegans don't eat honey too. I don't preach to others on being a vegetarian because I don't want to be a hypocrite. I don't eat sea food /fish or any meat.

However, after HS over the years I became less strict on owning leather bags and I do own both leather and vegan friendly bags as well as shoes. There are certain leather bags I won't purchase.. and I would never wear any kind of fur..even faux fur bothers me. It is a personal choice in terms of owning leather products etc ..I don't gripe at my friends who sit and eat a burger or steak in front of me otherwise that would be hypocritical.

 

[ChaChaWeed]

I am a vegetarian (used to be a vegan) and whilst i was vegan i would eat no animal products or by-products, wear no leather, suede, wool, fur, etc and would not use any products that had been tested on animals.
Now that i am a vegetarian i still don't eat meat (i just can't stand the thought of it TBH) but i buy leather bags (and i own one suede bag).
Honestly though i was sick of buying PU bags and them breaking on me VERY quickly (and let's face it, most of them LOOK so cheap) and we are just not in a position to be throwing money away so i figure that if i invest in good quality leather bags that will last then it works out better for us. Everytime i buy a new leather bag i donate money to an animal charity that i am a member/supporter of. I figure that it kinda evens things out a bit if i do that.
It is completely up to the individual what they believe in, i wouldn't EVER buy (or even touch) real fur as the very thought of the animals being skinned alive for the sake of a coat or whatever repulses me, plus i think faux fur nowadays is so realistic and good quality that why on earth should people need to buy real...? The same goes for exotic skins.
I do eat honey, but i wonder why people seem to be against that, how on earth is that hurting the bees..? They are not killed for the honey to be obtained, so this just puzzles me
Just wondering if all the folks that claim to be against animal cruelty are A, checking the packs of the sweets that they buy to check if they contain gelatine (marshmallows are completely a no-go for TRUE vegetarians/vegans) and B, making sure that the cosmetics and beauty products that they buy/use are from companies that don't believe in animal testing...? I ask the second part because this is something that i have done from the get go, right down to household cleaning products, nothing will enter my home if it has been tested on animals, but yet i read the other day a girl stating that she doesn't use animal tested products but yet uses Chanel and Dior, erm doesn't she realise that both these companies test their products on animals

These are all good points, Platinum. I am vegetarian and tried going vegan but frankly found it almost impossible to be a purist. I checked tons of websites to try to keep in line with pure veganism and it is really tough--like how do you fix something if you need glue? Or tape? Or shoes? (I know you can find some but...). Or, for that matter--horses. Sorry, I grew up on a farm and love riding and a number of sites told me I was exploiting the horses.

I basically decided, (Second) OP, that if I limited myself to a handful of leather bags I could live with it. I try not to use other animal products or animal-tested products (including cosmetics--except perfume, trying to give that up).

Again, it's hard. We live in a world where we have to make use of the things in front of us. I probably will go back to feeling bad again
and sell all the leather. Again.

I think it just comes down to living with yourself. People can throw around all kinds of words and labels but their opinions are meaningless. Figure out what works for you and what you can live with and try to do as little harm as possible.

 

[queennadine]

These are all good points, Platinum. I am vegetarian and tried going vegan but frankly found it almost impossible to be a purist. I checked tons of websites to try to keep in line with pure veganism and it is really tough--like how do you fix something if you need glue? Or tape? Or shoes? (I know you can find some but...). Or, for that matter--horses. Sorry, I grew up on a farm and love riding and a number of sites told me I was exploiting the horses.

I basically decided, (Second) OP, that if I limited myself to a handful of leather bags I could live with it. I try not to use other animal products or animal-tested products (including cosmetics--except perfume, trying to give that up).

Again, it's hard. We live in a world where we have to make use of the things in front of us. I probably will go back to feeling bad again
and sell all the leather. Again.

I think it just comes down to living with yourself. People can throw around all kinds of words and labels but their opinions are meaningless. Figure out what works for you and what you can live with and try to do as little harm as possible.

This sums it up perfectly!

 

[pinklepurr]

Interesting...as a non-vegetarian, I thought being a vegetarian was an all or nothing kind of thing. If you carry leather bags/wear leather shoes, then by definition you can't be a vegetarian. That's just my understanding though.

I love animals, I do, and I understand that they suffer for the hamburger and chicken I eat (I feel bad about it, I really do)...and I imagine that leather obtained from cows wasn't attained by very humane means either In that respect, I would think that would go against a vegetarian's way of thinking.

PETA has their headquarters down the street from me and I heard that in order to work there and be "accepted" as a true animal activist, you have to be a bona fide vegetarian - no meat, no leather.