​A diet change isn’t the finish line to living a more vegan lifestyle. It extends to a mindset of compassion towards all living things, a commitment to sustainability and a conscious effort to make ethical choices in all aspects of life. But the right thing to do isn’t always in black and white.

A particularly murky grey area is fashion. What is clear is that the industry has relied on animal products such as leather, fur and wool for years which have contributed to animal cruelty. These practices also lead to environmental degradation—the leather industry alone relies on intensive farming practices and the use of toxic chemicals in production. 

So, we’re all agreed: leather = bad. 

But you’ve had that leather jacket, belt or pair of shoes for years and now they are staring at you every time you open your wardrobe like a shining reminder of your contribution to the problem. What do you do? 
 
Throw it away 
PETA says: “If you can do so, we recommend throwing the shoes away or donating them to PETA (for use in protests) and replacing them with leather-free products.” 

Apart from being quite vague about how they use the items in protests, there are also problems with just throwing old leather away. For starters, doing so contributes to environmental pollution and waste accumulation as leather takes a long time to decompose and may release harmful chemicals into the environment as it breaks down. 

Also, the unfortunate truth is that what’s been done has been done and the leather items you have already exist. Wouldn’t throwing them away render the sacrificed animal’s life even more worthless? 
 
OK, so keep it 
You decide to honour the animal by holding on to the product and taking care of it until it is no longer usable. You’re back to looking cool in that leather jacket, strutting your stuff and turning heads. But are you also sending a silent message of approval for the cruel treatment of animals by wearing it? Now, you could wear your leather jacket with a giant badge that says ‘I don’t approve of this’ to highlight that you don’t condone and that you’re not a hypocrite for wearing it, but that might be a fashion statement with its own statement about your sanity.

Also, with your understanding of the leather industry’s exploitation of animals and disregard for the environment, can you wear them and feel truly comfortable? 
 
So give it away 
One of the simplest ways to give old leather products a new lease on life is by donating or selling them. There are plenty of individuals who may still appreciate and use leather goods, and by passing them on, you’re extending their lifespan and reducing waste. Charity shops are great places to consider and giving them away means that you are not exploiting the animal that died for it for profit. 

Phew, that’s that then. Finally, a solution.  

​Hang on… by giving it away aren’t you just encouraging more people to purchase leather? What if the person that gets it loves it so much that they go out looking for more leather products? 
 
Every turn 
I don’t know about you but I’m exhausted. It feels like every road you look down presents a new moral quandary.
Perhaps the key lies not in finding the right answer but in continually questioning our choices, striving to minimise harm, and being open to evolving our perspectives as we learn and grow. Even the smallest glimmers of enlightenment on the subject will spark widespread change in the industry. And raising awareness about cruelty-free fashion and the impact of leather production is essential for driving systemic change within the industry. By supporting brands that prioritise ethical and sustainable practices, consumers can influence market trends and encourage the adoption of cruelty-free alternatives. 

By Essam Aljaedy