Vegans do you consider it ethical to wear unwanted/second hand leather clothing?

Question

If your brother/sister had bought a new leather jacket and was about to throw their old (perfectly good one) into the refuse as a Vegan would you consider it ethical to wear that leather jacket?

What about if they passed it on to a second hand store or charity shop? If you personally don't believe it is ethical to wear the leather jacket is it ethical to pass it on to somebody else to wear?

Answer 1

There's a term for this called freegan. Some believe that the  damage is already done by whoever purchased the leather jacket from the store. The idea in being vegan is for consumers to show suppliers that there isn't a demand for leather products.

Many vegans are also freegans, but some still won't. It's a personal choice. Many don't understand there isn't rules to being vegetarian or vegan... just do what you feel is right for you.

Answer 2

i think if you give it to a second hand store then you are letting people make their own choice about the matter. that’s a better alternative then throwing it out or wearing it for the sake of wearing it. after all vegan or not people need coats! giving it to a charity certainly wouldn’t hurt , its not like you are promoting it?  but im not a vegan. so.

Answer 3

I think it's fine.  But I'm a huge recycle buff.  I have a friend who is grossed out by leather products, knowing the horrible treatment animals undergo for their meat and skins.  Its worse to simply throw the clothing away, I believe its like wearing it so the death wasn;t in vain.

Answer 4

I personally hate leather and when I see someone wearing leather I want to throttle them so no...

Answer 5

i don't think taking something seconhand (and for free) would be wrong, but i would feel weird about wearing it.  it's hard to explain to others your values as a vegan if you're walking around looking like a harley davidson rider.

i definitely think it's fine to pass it along to others, but you may want to think about donating it to a shelter instead of taking it to a consignment shop.  anyway, i really don't see any problem with passing it along, in fact.....throwing it out would be wasteful and i would have more of an argument with that than i do with recycling it.

Answer 6

i think tahts a double edged sword. I am all about recyling and doesnt matter what it is i try to keep things out of the landfills.

However I also bike ride and try finding non leather bike chaps, ect. However  I dont own any leather, and ahve been riding for years and have found alternatives to wear instead. but again same with biking boots..there all leather.

So i guess it up to the person

My stand is no, i still cant do it. recyled or not i can not wear it, i would give it to someone else

Answer 7

the animal was killed, and worn by someone else, so someone that wants a leather jacket getting an used one would prevent another animal's death, i guess.

so i guess technically ethical. i don't know im not a vegan, just a vegetarian

Answer 8

I would donate it...there are many homeless shelters that need good quality clothing.  It's better to help those in need then throw something into the landfill.

Answer 9

there are some people that will wear leather no matter what.

by you donating a leather jacket to a store, someone who may have intended to buy a brand new leather jacket, might instead buy the one you've donated.

the native americans used to make use of every part of the animals they killed. It is more respectful to the animals to make use of what's already there than create a need for something unnecessary--the slaughtering of yet one other innocent animal.

Do not feel guilty. You're not condoning anything, just accepting the harsh reality...some people will always eat meat and wear leather. you're making an ethical statement by NOT wearing it yourself.

Answer 10

Well, I wouldn't wear it, but I would make sure it got to a good thrift store or secondhand shop. It is always better for a product to get reused before sent to a landfill, even if that product isn't animal friendly.

I recently found out that Arm & Hammer Baking Soda isn't animal friendly (A&H Tests on Animals). Rather than throwing it out, I'm using the rest of it before getting a new brand. Ideally, though, I'd like to find someone to give it to.

R&R&R

Answer 11

Personally, I don't see how a person could justify talking the talk without walking the walk... if you're opposed to the exploitation of animals for food/clothing/etc, why would you want to own a product of that exploitation?  How can you ever expect to be respected as a vegan when you're sporting dead animal skin for fashion?

I don't think it's ethical of anyone to wear leather, but the world doesn't live by my ethics now, do they?  So if there's someone out there who wants my leather jacket, then by all means they can have it.

Answer 12

As a vegetarian, I wouldn't wear it because it would send the message to others that I think its okay to wear the flesh of another creature. But I have little problems with someone giving it to the homeless or a second hand store because it keeps it out of the landfill and may fulfill the needs of someone less fortunate. There are plenty of cloth jackets out there to go around, but I'd rather see it keep being used instead of just being tossed. If this person was someone I knew, however, I would first try to talk them out of buying a new one and keep wearing the older, perfectly good jacket until it needed to be replaced. Then I would see if they would consider alternative fibers for a new jacket.

As for fur products, if someone was going to give it to a second hand store I would advise them to donate it to the Humane Society or PETA where it would be used to warm orphaned baby animals instead. There is just something completely unacceptable to me about seeing fur (even faux fur) on products used for fashion, even second hand.

Answer 13

I think it's fine.  As long as you don't contribute to the demand for it.