Belt Auction

What are the alternatives to using leather shoes and belts as Im a vegetarian?

Hi, I feel guilty about using animal products. All answers appreciated Thanks Eshlin

Public Comments

1. Leather shoes and belts are OK as long as you dont eat them. So stop eating them
2. fabric belts, canvas shoes, there are also many products made from synthetic leather, read the labels. there are also specialized vegetarian shoes but those are a rip off.
3. Cotton, canvas, hemp, recycled materials from old tyres and bike tubes or even electronic equipment. Plus there are man made products using polymer fibres. Not all man made fibres are bad for the environment, they can be made from a gas produced from plants called ethylene. But for the most part, if you see imitation leather it is made from materials produced during oil refining and hence there may be some nasty environmental impacts in its production. Up to you if you want to pay for that kind of thing. http://www.rawganique.com/footwear.htm http://inhabitat.com/olsenhaus-eco-chic-vegan-shoes-made-from-recycled-tvs/ http://www.theroadwelltravelled.com.au/buy_belts.php
4. I usually wear Birkis (there are vegan ones; look for Birko-Flor uppers) or canvas shoes, and there are a lot of faux leather PVC-options, but keep in mind that PVC is pretty hideous for the environment, the workers who produce it, and your health as well-- so this is one I generally avoid. You an also find cloth/canvas belts at most stores too. Another idea that I embrace (as well as many other vegans/vegetarians I know) is that anything recycled doesn't count. I will buy leather shoes from second-hand thrift stores -- although my preference is non-PVC, non-toxic vegan ones. One of my favorites is a store that gives all its proceeds to a no-kill shelter for domestic and farm animals. The way I look at it, no matter what you buy, if you're not buying new you're doing a good thing for our planet and all animal life, including humans. I don't think anything could embrace the veg*n philosophy more aptly than avoiding contributing to for-profit consumerism whenever possible.
5. Vegetarians just don't eat meat. They can wear leather. Vegans say they don't wear leather. The alternative is to leather is plastic. It's much worse for the environment than leather because it takes it so much longer to break down in the landfills. Wearing leather doesn't result in the deaths of animals. It's a byproduct of meat production, just like the byproducts in the streets you drive on, the tires in your car, glues in your book bindings and wooden furniture, in the transmission of electricity, etc. If you use those things, why would you not wear leather?