Today I want to share with you my biggest mistake as a vegan: wearing leather.
I wouldn’t wear leather jackets or anything like that, but for some reason I was once able to justify wearing leather shoes.
The thing is, that we all draw lines between right and wrong in different places. When I was wearing leather I gave myself the excuse that it was just too hard to find vegan shoes or they were too expensive. If there were better choices I would make them.
For me and my shoe situation, one day I decided I could no longer be so hypocritical. I hated hypocrites and I didn’t want to be one.
I in no way mean to label anyone else as a hypocrite, I simple felt like one myself and didn’t like it. If I stood for the vegan lifestyle and ate only plant products, then how could I wear leather on my feet?
When you open yourself up to a new idea, resources suddenly appear. There are many places to find vegan shoes. Moo Shoes or Alternative Outfitters are both great options for vegan shoes and faux leather shoes.
Some of their shoes are a bit more that I want to spend and it is very important to me to be able to try my shoes on before I make a purchase. Which is why my new favorite place to get shoes is Pay Less, they are affordable and I have yet to see anything made of leather. They have tons of fabric, faux leather, vegan shoes available in all different styles.
Another good source is Kohl’s. Not all of their shoes are vegan but many are. Just check the label.
Have you struggled with wearing leather as a vegan?
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8 Responses to My Biggest Mistake As A Vegan, Wearing Leather
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I still have my old leather jacket in my closet. I’ve only been vegan 3 months, but I’ll give it away when I get the chance and get a new motorcycle jacket. The non-leather ones are way more comfortable anyway.
That’s awesome, Jeff! Congrats on becoming vegan!
I am still transitioning my life to becoming fully vegan. I have been eating vegan for 9 months now and no longer purchase leather products. I have found a lot of vegan shoe options out there: TUK and Iron Fist are a couple of my favorites. Even Doc Marten has vegan options now.
My struggle is with the leather shoes I already owned before making the switch. Do I give them away? Am I less compassionate by wearing them? I haven’t figured out exactly where my line is yet.
Wow really Doc Marten? That’s really cool! I think that is really up to you, some people yes, I say the damage is done try to get the most of them. I don’t think you less compassionate, honor yourself and do what feels right
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There is no Vegetarian Law. You do what you think is ethical and live by your own laroms.Personally, I don’t eat meat not because I think it’s wrong to eat meat, but because I can’t stand the conditions the animals live in, and how they are slaughtered. I consider it more of a life-time boycott of the industry.So, I would certainly wear leather if it was something that I found in a thrift shop or something. I wouldn’t put my wallet behind supporting the industry or the byproducts of the industry but I also believe that if that animal died regardless I would rather see that all of it is used than just to have it go through that torture only to be thrown away.Anyway you decide what you think is right. It doesn’t matter what I think or what any of these posters think. Consider all opinions, sure, but the bottom line is that you should be able to live with yourself.
Great comment! I think that everyone should make conscious decisions about their lifestyle. Amen1
“When you open yourself up to a new idea, resourses suddenly appear.” – truer words were never spoken!
Target does have some leather shoes, but they also have a lot of man-made options as well. I’ve gotten boots there the past few years.
The only leather I currently have is a pair of non-slip shoes for work. I bought them only a few months after transitioning to vegan, and the store paid for them. The only vegan options in the catalog that the store would pay for were croc-style, which I couldn’t wear in the working conditions I had. My only options were to pay for $100 non slip vegan shoes out of my own pocket, or buy leather. I did write to someone higher up in the company to ask for more options or special conditions for reimbursement for vegan employees. Especially since the company I work for is definitely one that is aware of these societal and lifestyle issues.
Chrissy,
Thank you so much for your awesome comment! Good point about Target, that is another good resource.
I checked out your blog, your story is amazing! I just subscribed. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you with anything.
Thanks!
Eve