Buying Vegan Clothes

[goldenarias]

Hi, I'm a vegan newbie and I am trying very hard to not buy products from companies that continue to use products like leather. Well, I used to have a pair of Chaco's sandals (before I became vegan) and I really loved them because I have low arches and needed the arch support. They were the most comfortable shoes I'd ever owned, Someone;s dog chewed them up and I have been hesitant to buy more when I realised they use leather in some off their styles. My question is: would you buy a pair of shoes that were vegan even if the company is not? Where do your ethics lie in these situations? I tried finding similar sandals, but Teva are the only ones that seemed to come close and they aren;t vegan, either. I work really hard to make sure everything I do is as ethical as possible. I even make sure my nail salon only uses vegan and cruelty free products when I sometimes treat myself to a pedicure. I have been using only vegan makeup for at least 5 years now, before I adopted it as a full lifestyle. I have been known to contact clothing companies to ensure that none of the products used animal fur. So, I'm just at a loss for what's right for the planet vs. how I can get a need met. And yeah these shoes are a need because I have a lot of foot pain nd knee pain and I need comfortable sandals. It gets really hot where I live! Thanks!

 

[purslane]

Hi, I'm a vegan newbie and I am trying very hard to not buy products from companies that continue to use products like leather. Well, I used to have a pair of Chaco's sandals (before I became vegan) and I really loved them because I have low arches and needed the arch support. They were the most comfortable shoes I'd ever owned, Someone;s dog chewed them up and I have been hesitant to buy more when I realised they use leather in some off their styles. My question is: would you buy a pair of shoes that were vegan even if the company is not? Where do your ethics lie in these situations? I tried finding similar sandals, but Teva are the only ones that seemed to come close and they aren;t vegan, either. I work really hard to make sure everything I do is as ethical as possible. I even make sure my nail salon only uses vegan and cruelty free products when I sometimes treat myself to a pedicure. I have been using only vegan makeup for at least 5 years now, before I adopted it as a full lifestyle. I have been known to contact clothing companies to ensure that none of the products used animal fur. So, I'm just at a loss for what's right for the planet vs. how I can get a need met. And yeah these shoes are a need because I have a lot of foot pain nd knee pain and I need comfortable sandals. It gets really hot where I live! Thanks!

I continue to wear all of the clothing I bought before I adopted veganism, as for me the important thing is using money to encourage makers of belts, shoes, socks, sweaters, hats, and so on to supply a growing vegan market. (The really tough category is pharmaceutical products.) There's no revisiting the past. I would not hesitate to buy vegan shoes from Keen or Adidas.

 

[Lou]

Hi, I'm a vegan newbie and I am trying very hard to not buy products from companies that continue to use products like leather.

Commendable but I'm pretty sure that you are taking that too far.

First off, taking that idea and applying it to food. Should I stop buy Silk Soy milk because the parent company also makes and sells dairy milk. Hell taking it the extremes - I should not go to grocery stores to buy soy milk because they also sell dairy and meat.

Or perhaps I should stop buying Cruelty Free products from companies who also make and sell Non-cruelty free products.

You are also sending the wrong message to the manufacturers when you don't buy their vegan or cruelty free products.

I go thru running shoes pretty quickly. New Balance makes some animal free shoes. Which I buy. (they are also maybe the most ethical of the big shoe companies). They are a little more expensive than many other running shoes. But if people don't buy those styles from NB, then they will stop making them. and you are doing more harm than good.