New Vegan, Question about shoes!!!?!
New Vegan, Question about shoes!!!?
I've recently decided to follow a vegan lifestyle, my question though, is what do I do with all my leather shoes? Do I throw them out, give them away or wear them until they wear out? I've been collecting trainers for years and have loads, mostly suede ones, is it a waste to throw them out? I know I can't be completely vegan until I don't wear them but I feel if i've got them, maybe I should wear them until they're done. Thoughts please!!!!
Answers:
I see nothing wrong with wearing these items. Besides, if you have lots of tennis shoes, buying a whole new crop would be expensive. Veganism should never be really hard to do, and having a huge expense like that, buying lots of shoes, is hard to do.
Wear them, no one cares what they're made of. If you don't wanna buy leather goods anymore, wonderful! Wear what you have, and you can abstain from ever buying leather again.
There are plenny other materials to pick from when it comes to belts, wallets, luggage, etc. I use a huge, and I mean HUGE, fanny pack. I sling it over my shoulder like a purse (it's that big!) and it's made of the same stuff that backpacks and duffle bags are made of. You can buy vegan luggage and wallets that are made of pleather, nylon, vinyl, nubuck, canvas, hemp, and other materials I'm not yet familiar with. These things don't *have* to be made of leather.
Btw, my sister is non-veg and a serious runner, and assured me that there are plenty of athletic shoes out there that are not made of leather. She owns a pair herself, and they're pretty darn good.
Here are some sites that can help you find some great shoes, belts, and other vegan accessories, and they all sell athletic shoes too. Hope this helps!
http://www.mooshoes.com/
http://www.veganshoes.us/
http://www.veganessentials.com/...
http://www.vegetarianshoesandbags.com/...
http://www.thevegetariansite.com...
http://www.wideveganshoes.com/
If you're in Southern California, this store is in Pasadena. You can buy in person or online:
http://www.alternativeoutfitters.com/...
For sure, do not throw them out. That would be a waste of the animal's life for that use. Instead, donate them if you feel that wearing them would negate your vegan status. If you really have to, wear them out considerably, because I, personally, would rather not waste an animal's life. If you can donate them to a better caues though, I'd aim for that.
Also check out your wallets, purses, belts, luggage, gloves, furniture, briefcases.
It would seem a colossal waste to throw these things out and some of them are very durable and will last a long time. I think it's sufficient to simply stop purchasing more leather or fur items.
Throwing them out would definitely be a waste, but donating them would not be! If you don't feel comfortable wearing them yourself, now that you're vegan, donating them will ensure that they weren't "created in vain" so to speak; they will be used and worn by someone who needs them. Otherwise, if you do feel comfortable wearing them, wear them until they're totally worn out. Jo Stepaniak's answer to, "What to Do With Nonvegan Items?" might be helpful, and it touches on this among other things too.
No one can really tell you what you should do with your shoes. You have made a conscious decision to become a vegan and follow that lifestyle. You are the only one who knows your real reasoning and feelings behind making this decision. So with this in mind - what do you feel about your shoes? It seems to me that what you want is for people to tell you that its okay to wear them until they are worn out. If you feel okay about wearing them then go ahead and do it. Examine your conscience and it will tell you what to do!! You don't need to follow other peoples advice to do whats right and good for you!
Good luck with your choices!
What about giving them to charity. You can take some shoes to be recycled to some places or take them charity shops.
Keep them, wear them. If anyone cares or questions tell them that you bought them before you went veg and think it would be an insult to the animal to waste them. Don't make any explanations unless the person actually asks, most people don't care. Some vegetarian find it ok to wear leather from thrift stores, or things that are being discarded. You know that you can buy non-leather next time. As a bonus, you can look at your rampant consumerism and say, "Why am I collecting so many shoes?"
It is totally up to you. I was not comfortable wearing leather when I became a vegetarian, so I donated my shoes and bags to my local Red Cross and bought new ones. Admittedly, I did not have that many shoes and bags to begin with, so it was not a great hardship. If you can afford to replace them with vegan shoes right away, go for it. If not, replace them one by one as you can, and if people ask, tell them you are doing the best you can within your resources. I agree that throwing them out would be a waste.
I gave away or donated everything made of leather when I became a vegetarian. (now vegan) I would feel like a hypocrite if I wore leather shoes while leading a veg lifestyle.
Also other people will perceive you that way. An omnivore doesn’t know WHEN you got your leather shoes or bag; they will just pick on you to prove their point. That shouldn’t be the main reason, of course, as wearing a dead animal is simply wrong when you’re a veg*n. New lifestyle requires changes.
But also, you have to understand that whether you like it or not, anywhere you go you will probably be the only vegetarian in the room, and you are representing others. This is why so many omnivores are confused about fish and chicken, because some so called "vegetarians" still eat those animals and preach that it is ok.
Even though I am a vegan for ethical reasons, I keep in mind that I'm a rare vegan example my friends and others actually get to meet, so I make sure that I represent veganism the right way. Unfortunately, we are not seen as individuals because there are not that many of us. If I was wearing my old leather shoes, belts or bags, they would just assume that ALL vegans wear leather and that all of us are hypocrites.
Congratulations on your ethical stance.
Give the shoes to a charity shop, but make sure its not something like Cancer Research who support animal testing. If you recycle them in this way, you may well prevent someone else from buying a new pair of leather shoes.
Definately a donation to charity would be the best choice I think.
Sell them or give them away, replace them with vegan ones!!
I would say wear them out.If wearing them makes you uncomfortable because of your new lifestyle then donate them to a charity.
Don't just throw them away as that would make the death of the animal even more meaningless.
If you decide to wear them out then just replace them with vegan friendly shoes when you need new 1's.Also check to see what other leather things you have-belts,handbags, purses,coats etc.
I would say give them to someone on the market for a new pair of leather shoes. thats the most direct way of reducing further suffering of animals. It'll stop them going out to buy a new pair.
just a thought.
Whatever you do, hope the vegan diet goes well
You could donate them to a charity shop, then they were be reused and not to waste.
being a vegan would mean not eating any dairy foods, or anything but throwing your leather shoes out is mad!
I am a veggie for religious purposes but I do wear shoes because as long as I don't consume a animals life it doesn't matter, what shoe you wear but then again I don't wear leather full stop i'm 22, but its your choice.If someone was a vegan I would defginetly question why is she wearing suede boots and actually not eating meat, ooh and my house does not allow anyone who eats meet we are quite veggie