~ Deforestation ~ Fishing ~ Fur ~ Leather ~ Vegetarianism & Veganism ~ War ~
As most people know, leather is generally made out of cow skin. Yes, cow skin. It sounds gross, doesn't it? Well, evidently not, since a large percentage of the world's population still buy it.
Arguments
Pro
*no alternatives
*cheap & durable
*fashionable
Anti
*no guarantee that the leather is from a cow - could be made from cats or dogs because products are rarely labelled
*tanneries are harmful to the environment and the people working in them
*if you buy leather you are supporting the meat trade
*millions of cows, sheep and goats are slaughtered for their skin every year
*animals feel pain
What I think
I do not wear leather in any state, whether clothes, shoes or bags. If something has the slightest speck of leather, then I don't buy it because I think it is important to do something wholeheartedly. Athletes don't reach Olympics standard by being fast and strong; they have to be passionate and determined too.
The alternatives to leather are in fact quite good. Nowadays, you can buy fake leather shoes, gloves, jackets, briefcases or bags which are made out of a special non-animal material. You can also buy cars which don't have leather interiors or you can simply avoid shops which sell leather goods.
The alternatives are also as cheap as leather and as durable, plus, they don't smell awful.
We find it repulsive to think of wearing human skin. Why cow skin? It may be fashionable to wear leather, but it was once fashionable to wear fur. A lot of people now deplore the use of fur as they have realised that it is a brutal and pointless practice. One day the same will happen with leather.
*********************************************************************************
Links:
General information
Cows Are Cool
List of companies that sell alternatives to leather
Ethical Wares
Moo Shoes
P.E.T.A.
Vegetarian Shoes
Vegetarian Shoes & Bags