Vegan who buys leather bags and shoes....am I still vegan?

Question

I became vegan about 5 months ago after being vegetarian for four years. I love nike and creative creation shoes so I still buy them. A lot of the shoes are made from leather.

The thing is I do not buy them brand new. I buy used leather goods. I usually get my shoes off of ebay or from resale shops and they are never recently made. The shoe is usually from five years back or further.

There is a store here in Texas that takes your old leather goods and makes them into new things for you so its like recycled leather. Would I stil be considered vegan. I think so. I stil l consider myself vegan because a cow or calf is not killed everytime I buy leather.

Your opinions please!

Please keep hateful comments to yourself.

Answer 1

vegans dont deal with anything that has to do with an animal dieing for your needs, even milk is bad to drink and they dont even kill the cow,so i would say that the shoes are pushing it but everyone has their own meanings and their own standards  .

Answer 2

I think that a vegan should not buy leather at all, regardless if its recycled or used. They do not buy anything that once came from an animal or eats anything that was once and animal. That means no leather, skin, or dairy. Thats what I think on the subject.

Answer 3

You are still a vegetarian if your going to consume or buy ANYTHING using or made from animals. Period. as for the recycled leather thing, its still leather non the less or use to be at one time so I'd stay away from that as well as the comfy shoes and bags if you REALLY want to be a vegan. You might want to check were you can buy vegan things, I know some stores sell just that and some that specify on their labels. Anyways hope that helped!

Answer 4

sure you can still be called vegan, unless your eating the shoes and stuff

Answer 5

No, you're a vegetarian.

Vegan don't use anything which is made from an animal. That it is obtained from an animal is the only thing which matters.

Answer 6

you would be a very strict vegitarian. im sure you know what a vegan is.  but they also dont eat honey and wont but a car with leather interior. i was 1st a pecesitarian  then a vegitarian then a vegan. *btw just because of my age dont think i dont know what im talking about* i slowly weaned my self off meat and animal products. if your a little disappointed do what i did and slowly wean yourself off ugg boots, leather shoes and coats and when you see them in the store and it disgusts you then you can finally call yourself a vegan.

good luck :]

Answer 7

I think "vegan" is commonly used two different ways:

-A person who does not consume animal products

-A person who does not use animal products.

You are a vegan on the first definition, and not one on the second.

From an animal rights perspective, it would certainly be better to use only used leather products. If you are only using "recycled" leather, then it is hard to see what harm you are doing (assuming the process of recycling does not use other leather or animal products.) Still, though, you would not, strictly speaking, be living a vegan lifestyle. But if what you are doing doesn't harm any animals (presumably the reason why you are interested in veganism), it doesn't matter. It is, after all, only a label. You would be vegan in spirit, just not in name.

One final note, if you ever talk to others about animal rights, though, you should seriously think about giving up the recycled leather. It has been my experience that when talking to others about moral issues they disagree with, the first tactic usually is to look for any hypocrisy. This is completely irrational (since being hypocritical is a flaw in people, not in the argument itself), but people usually are swayed for irrational reasons. Seeing leather on your feet while you defend your belief that killing cows is wrong is going to discredit you in the eyes of many, no matter how well you present your case or defend your beliefs.

winenut: What do you do to help that 13 year old? Are you involved in non-profits that work to end global poverty or child labor? How much do you donate to UNICEF?

I find that people are quick to criticize those who are concerned about animals actually do nothing themselves to help their fellow humans. They generally spend their money on themselves and work at a standard job which doesn't really do anything to address the pressing issues the world faces today. If this describes you, you need to seriously think about your own priorities. If by devoting effort, money and time to help animals, she is prioritzing animal welfare ahead of child slaves, then the person who spends their money, effort and time on making money to buy luxuries (you?) is prioritizing their big screen TV's, fancy clothes, etc. above starving children. That seems far worse.

Answer 8

You are worried about the leather (which is most likely imitation anyway) on your running shoes, but you aren't concerned a 13 year-old works 70 hours a week for $5 a month to make them?

Priorities.

Answer 9

In my opinion you're still vegan, but only YOUR opinion matters.  I still wear an old leather jacket I inherited from my brother, and I've been vegan for twenty years.  

Disregard winenut's response- if you only buy items secondhand your money isn't making it into the corporate coffers, and you need not feel guilty about the origin of the shoes.

Never let anyone discourage you from doing SOMETHING.

It all makes a difference.

Answer 10

This is really a personal call.  Lots of vegans would consider you a strict vegetarian instead because you're still purchasing animal products.  On the one hand, buying used leather is not creating a market demand for dead cows.  On the other hand, wearing leather is still sending the message to the world that wearing dead animals is desirable and fashionable.  It sounds like you're looking for validation, but you're not likely to get it from the vegan community as a whole.  I can't judge you for it; I'm still wearing leather that I owned prior to going vegan and for the most part, I intend to "use it up" before replacing it with vegan options.  But I wouldn't buy more leather or wool, even used.

Answer 11

Sorry but I wouldn't consider you a vegan.

Just think... if someone bought tins of meat and then didn't finish them, you bought some of these tins 5 years later and ate them.... would you still be a vegetarian? No, because you still ate meat. Likewise, if you wear leather, you can't logically be a vegan. You're still wearing a dead animal, no matter how you try and justify it. Vegans do not see animals as 'things' to be worn... at least in my opinion anyway.

Answer 12

no, bust out the burgers

Answer 13

No you would be considered a vegitarian. Vegans don't use leather products no matter what

Answer 14

um sorry darling that is still using products made from animals..

an animal still had to die for those shoes to be made..

if you want to bet a real vegan you must give up all leather products, all fur products and anything that is animal made