Can you still be considered a "vegan" if....?

Question

you don't consume ANY animal products and yet, my running shoes still contain leather? I recently made the transition from lacto-ovo-vegetarian to vegan, but I haven't replaced all my leather items, am I still considered a vegan?

Answer 1

You could consider yourself "in transition" since you're almost there. Make sure you replace your leather items as soon as you can. If you can't do it at one time, I would take a couple of them and search online for their alternative. Buy those, and when you have a little more money, you can go for another item in your closet and replace that. I'm also in transition and my shoes are made of leather (yuck, I know!), so I know how you're feeling. When you don't have a choice, you can't complain. Just look for a new pair as soon as you can and don't stop looking until you found a pair or two. Good luck with your searches.

Answer 2

You eat vegan, you do not yet live as a vegan :)

Answer 3

You are a good person

I Love You ;)

have a nice day

Answer 4

Not by some, but I consider you one :-)

Answer 5

Yes, you would :]

Because you eat NO meat./ dairy

I was like you once...

but I got unhealthy from veganism so i went back to vegetarian...

but i try to avoid most dairy.

Answer 6

First of all, congratulations on making the transition from vegetarian to vegan!

I would definitely say you're a vegan.  Since many products, such as shoes, belts, etc. can be expensive to replace, especially all at once, many new vegans use them until they wear out and can afford new ones.  

If you're not comfortable with continuing to wear old leather items, you can donate them to an organization that collects clothing for the homeless rather than throw them out.  You aren't continuing the cycle of suffering since they are given to people for free, you're helping people in need, and keeping usable items out of the garbage dumps.  (:

Answer 7

I personally believe you can....you aren't buying new clothes made of leather, still using your old ones...you can't be expected to buy all new clothes etc overnight.  

I'd actually keep using those clothes until they're worn out/you grow out of them, as it is more environmentally friendly then going out and buying all new ones. Or at least give them to charity. Still I wouldn't wear a leather jacket and walk around calling myself a vegan...hmm...

It a tough question. Basically if you're not buying, consuming, using any animal products except for your running shoes, which you are planning to replace... then yes, I think you could still be considered a vegan.

Answer 8

i would still say you not a vegan, but you can be semi vegan

Answer 9

I'd say that you live on a vegan diet, but you haven't adapted the complete vegan lifestyle yet. Don't replace your running shoes until you need to. You don't want to waste them, when they get worn out, then you can go buy leather-free ones.

Good luck! :)

Answer 10

I'm in the exact same boat.  My parents bought me a car for my 16th birthday with leather seats (I'm 21 now) but I can't exactly easily replace a whole car (especially since I'm a poor college student). Its the only thing I have that is leather. Usually, I'll just say I'm a vegan because its easier than explaining "I still have these leather seats in my car though." Technically I'm on a vegan diet but not 100% vegan and it really bothers me. But one day, I'll be able to afford a new car and I will be. :)

Becoming vegan is a transition. As long as you have every intention of replacing those items when you can afford it, I'd call you a vegan.

Answer 11

Yes your a vegan...A new vegan, but a vegan still.  It sometimes takes a little time to acquire all new stuff when you become vegan.  After all we are in the middle of a gas crisis and tons of people's homes are being foreclosed on due to the mortgage crisis.

You need to wear shoes.  If you bought them after you became vegan it would be one thing...but you just haven't bought new shoes yet.

Don't worry.  You are doing an absolutely wonderful thing by making the choice to live as cruelty free as you possibly can.

Good luck and I'll see you around on Y/A!

Answer 12

Depends on if you concider vegan a dietary choice or a lifestyle.

Answer 13

you probablty could, I just becam fully vegan, so Ive still got a bit of shampoo that was tested on animals, but still consider myself vegan

Answer 14

I know many vegans, and I have seen many transitions to veganism, and everyone thinks of things differently.  Most importantly, are you doing the best you can to follow the vegan lifestyle that you are striving for?  The transition to veganism is difficult, as any vegan knows well, and takes time.  It would be wasteful to go and buy new shoes simply because you changed after you bought them, wastefulness is not a characteristic of vegansim.  I think that if you're doing the best you can, and doing everything you can to avoid harmful products, then you should be comfortable calling yourself vegan.  Nobody is perfect, and whatever you feel is best for you is probably the right choice.

Answer 15

Not a vegan

Answer 16

Congrats on going vegan!

Yes, I would consider you a vegan. You're not causing animal suffering by wearing your old clothes! :) Most new vegans don't replace their whole wardrobe overnight.

If you continued to buy leather shoes / clothing, you would not have a vegan lifestyle though.

Answer 17

yeah i would say you're a vegan but a nutritional vegan...

Answer 18

If you bought them before you became a vegan, why throw them away?  It would just be wasteful.  Being vegan is about the lifestyle choices you make from now on, not the ones you made in the past.  It would be wasting leather to get rid of your leather items.  In my opinion, killing an animal and then wasting it is even worse than killing it and then using it.  You're still a vegan.  Keep using your leather items until they wear out and need replacing; then replace them with non-leather items.

Answer 19

I don't think so because to make leather, you need to kill an animal.

so it is the same thing as killing one two eat one.