Buying and Wearing Vegan Shoes or Coats ? Whats your view

[snaffler]

I have been reading lots lately on vegans and there views on Vegan alternatives, be it biker coats made from pleather, boots, shoes and the many other products made sold and produced by the likes of Vegetarian Shoes, Moo Shoes and Earth Shoes.

Some have a real hang up with the fakes other think they are the best thing since sliced bread, other have very mixed views. Some don't give a s**t what others think as long as no suffering was involved all is good.

Personally I fall in the best thing since sliced bread, I own vegan boots made Madfish, some boots made by vegetarian shoes and both have outlasted cheap plastic looking ones and I am in the process of looking at getting a jacket from Vegetarian Shoes.

I do not thing these products promote the real thing at all as I have read others say, when questioned on footware I say it is so easy to buy cruelty free alternatives that are well made, there is no reason to the real thing anymore.

Proud vegan and proud that we can have alternatives, wondering what folks on here felt about this sticky subject in the vegan community as everyone has a different take on it.

Cheers

Jase

[Oracl]

I have a fabulous vegan wallet that looks like leather. It is very well made and came from Vegan Wares (http://www.veganwares.com/) in Melbourne. I often point out that it is not leather and people are amazed at the look and feel of it. I use it to show that you don't need to kill animals to be able to have a quality, long-lasting, leather-look product. :)

So, overall, I think the fakes are excellent. :thumbsup:

[Pob]

Depends what is being faked I think.

Leather looks nothing like an animal product to start with, because it's so processed. I wouldn't buy fake leather jacket, gloves or wallet, though, but that's just personal taste.

I do think that fake fur products, especially fake rabbit skin boots and trims aren't good, though.

[snaffler]

Having said that I have a fake suede looking jacket which is lovely and warm, but when we went on a SPEAK demo last year and it was freezing, I really didnt want to wear it as it looks so realistic and the thought that everyone would think that I would wear suede was a bit worrying, so no, I wouldnt wear any clothes that look like leather, but I would wear shoes that look like leather.
Hang on.....I do wear fake Ugs.:rolleyes:

But Suede is a form of leather so, in a sense it does look like leather, but that is in the eyes of the main stream as a vegan who does not wear leather I would refer to it as a coat made from synthetics and fabrics.

I would never think a person at any form of AR venue / gig / demo would wear the real thing and therefore I would never even question, assume or allow the thought to enter my mind. But saying that sadly there are some self righteous, self important vegans who feel they have the right to start questioning and challenging people in the vegan movement just to be argumentative and not take time to take a logical and realistic approach.

Like I said in my first post why can it not be assumed it is fabric and or PVC based so not at promoting leather, that is just a misconception in my view and leather has been around longer.

I have scene many punks at AR demos wearing the Vegetarian Shoes biker jackets and not one single person batted an eyelid, it was obvious by enthusiasm for the demo (a factory farming one) they were not wearing leather, that style of jacket has been worn in the punk and metal scene for years and made from cotton, cloth, pvc and other fabrics as well as the original leather design but who to say it can not change.

[thevegantwins]

I've met vegans who are wearing leather from their pregan days. They chose to wear the clothing until it wears out rather than throw it out or give it away to someone else who might enjoy wearing it and keep using it. I gave away any animal-based clothing I had once I went vegetarian but everyone is different. I only had one leather coat I had bought in Turkey. Personally, I don't like the way leather, suede or fur looks so I wouldn't want to wear fake stuff.

[snaffler]

Yeah, but sometimes when you are leafletting, some tw*t walks by and says "I bet your shoes are leather" and by the time youve woken up enough to shout back at him, hes walked off thinking you wear leather.

Tabitha they are not even worth the time of day those people I have found it is more effort than your compassionate strength is worth that to argue with those types.

[Gliondrach]

I like leather-look shoes. I am not a trainers type of person. I would like a leather-look flying jacket and flying helmet so I could pretend I was Biggles.

I am still trying to find a nice pair of non-leather lederhosen for my next trip to the Munich Beer Festival. I even drink fake beer when I am there. I only go for the face slapping contests.

[snaffler]

LMAO - Gliondrach that is a cracker, steady now we are on the verge of getting the Gimp mask owners to put there hands up.

Have you got the handle bar mustache and pipe to go with the Biggles get up.
Chocks Away old boy WOT WOT ;-)

[Gliondrach]

Have you got the handle bar mustache and pipe to go with the Biggles get up.
Chocks Away old boy WOT WOT ;-)

I only have half a handlebar left - after an accident whilst lighting my pipe.

[Gliondrach]

Never be scared of a man wearing goggles as his vision may be bad due to the mud flown up into his face and covering his eyes.:)

As any Biggles afficianado could tell you, the goggles protect you from all the oil that a Sopwith Camel sprays all over the place.

[Bowwowmeow]

Personally I fall in the best thing since sliced bread, I own vegan boots made Madfish, some boots made by vegetarian shoes and both have outlasted cheap plastic looking ones and I am in the process of looking at getting a jacket from Vegetarian Shoes.


I just bought myself some hiking boots from Vegetarian Shoes. I wanted something vegan to hike in, that will last, protect my feet (especially my broken ankle), and be easy to clean and care for. They do look like leather, as do many of my shoes, but I often get complements on my footwear, and never lose the opportunity to advertise that they are not, which usually impresses people.
Its almost impossible, in a way, to make a good winter shoe out of something manmade that doesn't resemble leather. What else would it look like? I do wear lots of canvas shoes like espadrilles, with rope soles, in the summer, as those are a classic style that does not imitate an animal product, but its hard for me to imagine what a winter shoe material would look like if it didn't slightly resemble an animal skin in durability and ease of cleaning. I can see the need for reproducing the strength of leather in work clothes and motorcycle clothing too.

Fur is another story though, since its mostly a luxury item. I do have a brown corduroy coat with a fake lambswool lining which is very warm and comfy. I doubt it passes for real lambswool as far as people go, but the dogs love it because it reminds them of the fake lambswool they make dog toys out of, and they try to play tug of war with me because I look like a giant dog toy I guess. Which is great fun for me! As long as they don't wreck the coat, which hasn't happened yet. :)

[Bowwowmeow]

I didnt know you broke your ankle BWM?. when did you do that and how is it now?.
Just a little over two years ago. It gets fatigued more easily when I hike, if I don't wear ankle-high boots. It took quite a long time to get back to normal, and its only been in the last six months or so that I feel the stiffness has finally left.

[snaffler]

Vegetarian shoes hiking boots A1 they are great I got some :0)

I always say we know they are vegan, I am to long in the tooth to worry what others think any more and like you say most people are very surprised to find out something is vegan it makes them impressed as a whole and I have never faced any hassle for wearing leather alternatives.

To be perfectly honest most of the (very few I am glad to say) vegans who get all wound up about alternatives are far to militant for there own good and do the vegan movement more harm them good, they are often the same bunch who bitch at vegetarians for being vegetarian, not in my opinion a positive thing either, very damaging to the vegan movement. We want to encourage people over to veganism not scare them off and act all elitist and self important about things, be it food, footware or coats, we want the alternatives to look attractive.

I would love to see a nation in vegetarian shoes clothing or a nation being vegetarian its a step closer to veganism and far better for the animals, people take time to adjust so you need to make it seem attractive for them to adjust. Its always good to remember we all once ate meat (with an exceptions of a few) wore leather and bought animal tested products and it was the alternatives that made changing my lifestyle attractive.

Personally I still stand strong and firm that the products sold by the likes of vegetarians shoes, ethical wares and all the rest of them are amazing and like Bowwowmeow said in her post what would we wear in the winter months.

Certainly would not catch hiking or mountain biking in cloth slippers ! :uhuh:

Not sure what hikers you bought but I have been well impressed with mine and they get some abuse when I am out mountain biking.

Cheers for now

Jase

[Gliondrach]

I never get any comments. What kind do you get, Tails? Surely they don't condemn you for trying to avoid causing cruelty?

[snaffler]

i can understand what your saying, but the path goes both ways. Yes by all means to be militant is bad for 'the cause'. but the aggro I find is from omni's and the like, being sarky. We vegans do, on the majority, sit back and take the insults and bitchyness from them who eat meat, wear leather etc,.

So there comes a point, I think, to bite our tongues and take it on the chin takes a lot of patience. Are we not allowed to have our opinions as well as those without criticism?.
(not getting at you jase).

Sorry tails I did not mean like that yes by all means stand your ground with the meat eaters at all time when they are being aggressive as often happens. I was talking about friction from other vegans sadly I have witnessed cases of this.

Me and Suzi were at a Vivia fayre in Bath once it was a great day all going well so we thought we would just listen to some random talks just took a chance, happened to walk into one talking about Omega Oils etc and encouraging people fish oils can be gained elsewhere (we eat lots Quinoa brill for the Omega 3,6,9) but I always like to hear old news said in a new way.

Anyhow before we got chance to settle some lady came up and started talking (erm going on one) about vegetarians this that and the other, we had a friend with us who was veggie on the way to vegan and this lady was being insulting a rude about them, then she got all high and mighty asking me oh and how long you been vegan, I said a while :rolleyes: oh new are you she replied ?

I see you wearing leather boots (no actually veggie shoes boots) I pointed out, anyhow the viva guy was trying to start his talk at that stage i had tp shut her up by telling he she offended the whole movement and I have been vegan for 19 years and asked he to piss off. :uhuh:

That was the kind of thing I was trying to explain tails sorry not about the meat eater digging at us, sadly some vegans are damaging towards the vegan movement.

Don't get me wrong I am as militant as the next guy when it comes to the hunting issues you know that from our good chats back in the old days at the VF website, ;)

[snaffler]

This is a good bit of text from alternative souls website

The Big Question? What is unethical about leather & suede shoes?
This is a question we have been getting lately from customers. Really it boils down to the question - why not leather?
Leather is not a nice product, it is bad for the animals, the planet, the workers, our health & energy consumption.

Animal Cruelty - animals are kept for their skins & meat. Often it is stripped off before the poor animal has died during the slaughter. Ouch!!! Leather is not a Bi product, almost half the value of the animal is its skin.

Green Issues - producing leather means massive amount of pollution, toxic sludge, chemicals and gases. Further toxins are used to colour & preserve the skin. It is not bio-degradable or natural.

Health Issues - skin problems & allergies with leather are increasing. Toxins can be absorbed into the skin even with your socks on. Seeing children & adults with sores is becoming very common.


The best argument ever to use non leather synthetics vegan or not :0)

[Fauxmage]

Not sure what hikers you bought but I have been well impressed with mine and they get some abuse when I am out mountain biking.

Cheers for now

Jase
These. (http://www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk/pc-364-14-veggie-trekker-mk4-brown.aspx) They look just like what we used to call "waffle stompers" when I was a little girl. I always wanted a pair of waffle stompers, but only stoners wore them, and my parents did not want me to look like a stoner! Now I finally have a pair of vegan waffle stompers. :p

[thevegantwins]

These. (http://www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk/pc-364-14-veggie-trekker-mk4-brown.aspx) They look just like what we used to call "waffle stompers" when I was a little girl. I always wanted a pair of waffle stompers, but only stoners wore them, and my parents did not want me to look like a stoner! Now I finally have a pair of vegan waffle stompers. :p

I have a pair of those but they are about 6 years old and look slightly differed. Vegetarian Shoes though. Very comfortable. I haven't been hiking in ages but I use them as winter boots in the snow every year.