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New Flirt here with a couple of questions.
Started
by krisk2
on February 26, 2010
For over the past year (thanks to the movie fast food nation) I've been following more of a Lacto-ovo and Flexitarian vegetarianism. Since reading your book I've been more interested in going full vegan. Ever since I began eating more of a vegetarian diet I've started to focus on buying clothes and shoes that are more cruelty free products. But since living a life for so long as a non vegetarian my closest has gather quite a few pair of shoes that are made from leather and I hate to say I spent quite a bit of money when I purchased them.:( I know going vegan means promoting more of a lifestyle that does not include leather and this may sound selfish but would it be so horrible to wear them until I am able to replace them? I'm not looking for an excuse to wear them (most of them are collecting dust in my closest) but I feel torn about just giving them away since I did spend a deal of money on them. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions on how to help make the switch?
thanks for any helpkris
I think it's absolutely fine to wear them. It certainly wouldn't be right to let them go to waste, I think that would just add to the cruelty (not saying you are cruel, but the industry - hopefully you know what I mean!). I would say, don't let them collect dust - either wear them or donate them and get a receipt for a tax deduction. And I think it's perfectly ok to replace those things slowly.
In the video with Alicia on Fora TV she said that she is understanding of her previous choices before she knew all of this, so she just changes her ways moving forward. I've always had one or more pairs of leather boots (to the point my family nickname is Boots!), so I'm going to wear them till they are unwearable and change next time I need to get new ones. Seems more 'eco-friendly' to use what you've got until you NEED to replace them instead of buying new ones.
I have been vegetarian/ vegan for 5 years. Vegan most of it but occasionally I have lost my resolve and eaten cheese again. But my point is that this is exacltly how I handled it ( how you guys have been saying). I COULD not ditch everything and buy all new & I kind of felt like I would be disrespecting the animal that gave its life for the shoes or whatever if I did just ditch the product of their death. Some people talk about it being a bad example but I even get asked if my vegan shoes are leather. Or people will be studying them and i'll tell them they are fake. Before that I just explained that I had them before i went vegan and I didn't want the animal to have died in vain. I also occasionally buy used leather shoes. I don't think there is any bad karma for that.
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