Vegan and cruelty-free winter third step: why not wear leather?

For a vegan or a vegetarian, the choice not to eat an animal is a choice that generally comes after the choice not to wear it. If in fact many, to the idea of leather and leather associate the idea of quality and craftsmanship, for those who have made a choice of respect for animals, the leather and skin with which shoes, bags, jackets are made, belts and straps it is very clear that it comes from animals killed for their meat (and therefore a direct product of the slaughtering industry) or from the slaughter of cows that are no longer able to produce milk ... can certainly continue to wear them!

Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerous

For a vegan or a vegetarian, the choice not to eat an animal is a choice that generally comes after choosing not to wear it. If in fact many, to the idea of leather and skin associate the idea of quality and craftsmanship, for those who have made a choice of respect for animals, the leather and skin with which shoes, bags, jackets, belts and straps are made, it is clear that it comes from animals killed for their meat (and therefore a direct product of the slaughtering industry) or from the slaughter of cows that are no longer able to produce milk ... so to say "animal lovers" you certainly cannot continue to wear them!

But that's not all: there is also on the market reptile skin such as that of serpente or crocodile that to be "taken" from the body of the animal is directly torn from the animal itself nailed to a tree by the head, but still the kangaroo leather used for the production of some basketball shoes.

If the cruelty to these animals it is not enough to shiver you, just think that tanning involves the use of a series of chemical substances highly toxic and polluting, such as the chrome, very harmful to both human health and the environment as they are highly polluting of water and land.

But what are the possible ALTERNATIVES then? oltrelaspecie.org lists the most qualitative on the market such as:

- Vegetan Bucky a microfiber that looks like old leather;

- Vegetan Micro a microfiber material resistant to both wear and water used by Vegetarian Shoes and which has exceptional performance as the best quality leather.

- Vegetan Uppers a standard material used for the uppers, it is fine to be worn on a daily basis, it is also breathable, water resistant and biodegradable up to 80%.

- Vegetan Suede very soft material, similar to suede and able to make the shoe very comfortable. Breathable but not water resistant.

- Suedette it is a light material but neither breathable nor water resistant.

- Lorica a synthetic material, inexpensive and less polluting than leather, but has the same characteristics as leather: breathability, water repellency, water vapor permeability, resistance to tearing, tearing, scratching, rubbing and atmospheric agents. It is hypoallergenic, removes stains easily, can be washed in the washing machine, is flame retardant and has excellent color fastness to light.

Here you will also find some addresses where buy cruelty-free and vegan clothing items!

But let's not forget that the key to making smart, responsible, aware and cruelty-free purchases is always to DO NOT BUY without having read the labels affixed to the product!

Le product labels are basic: most of cruelty-free products they are available everywhere and are usually even cheaper than those made with animal raw materials, furthermore a little advice derived from experience is not to blindly rely on the trader as generally the majority of people are looking for their own skin and hide, so if you ask a trader not exactly transparent, if a certain product is made of leather or not, his answer will almost certainly be affirmative even if in reality it is not really so!

As I do? I rely on observation and smell ... as well as reading the labels ... leather and suede always have a pungent and particular smell, synthetic material does not and has a very recognizable texture similar to rubber or fabric!

Seeing is believing!

Kia - Carmela Giambrone