What did you do with non-vegan clothing...?

[Emiloid]

So, I've been vegan for just over a year. I've been good, but I'm still using up the last of my honey, and I still have all of my non-vegan clothing (leather shoes and belts, wool sweaters, silk shirt, pearl jewelry, etc.). My plan is to replace what I have with vegan options as they wear out, but so far nothing has worn out. Well, maybe one pair of shoes. I feel it's best to give these items a full life, so when I can afford to replace them, I will donate these items to a non-profit thrift store. (Oddly enough, I threw away most of my non-vegan food when I went vegan because it didn't seem right to give it away and encourage someone else to eat the unhealthy, disgusting excuses for food. But somehow clothes seem different....)

I'm concerned that by wearing such items, I'm promoting their use. On the other hand, if I were wearing faux-leather, people wouldn't know the difference (unless I told them), and I think in general no one even notices whether a shirt is silk or cotton. I already have a few sweaters that look and feel like very soft wool, but are some kind of acrylic blend. Bascially, I don't feel like I'm making an impression either way. Also, I can't afford to replace most of my clothes right now, especially my shoes.

To get to the point, I was wondering... what have other people done with their non-vegan clothing and accessories? Did anyone go all out and sell or give everything away immediately? Phase it out like I am? Phase it out fairly quickly? Burn it? I'm just curious and would like to hear some thoughts about this.

[gladcow]

I have kept all of my non-vegan clothing, etc. Some have sentimental value (pearl rings given by my mother, old wool army blanket from by g-pa), but most of it I just don't want to waste. I have some leather clogs that are very comfy, but I feel weird wearing them. My husband has kept his leather jacket, but never wears it. I think we will probably keep things for awhile, but I predict that I will eventually donate most of my leather, etc from lack of use.

[Dandelion]

i phased out my items fairly quickly with nonleather alternatives. all my animal stuff was old and falling apart anyway so i just tossed it. I have come to the same conclusions as you Emiloid about not wanting to promote animal products by wearing them but all my faux leather items look just as real. I have a faux biker jacket which looks like leather and i make sure to put my "fake for the animals sake" badge on but is it obvious enough? My para boots are spot on leather looking and feeling. the last guy i kicked in the head with these steel toe kickers said he couldn't tell they weren't leather.
I do actually have a leather cop jacket still in my closet that has alotta sentimental value but i never wear it. i think i'm gonna bury it. in fact it's always been a little plan of mine to have a funeral party for animals goods vegans haven't given up yet.
i do know that no matter what or where an animal item is from i won't wear it cause i'd rather err on the vegan side.
represent!

[jenbizagogo]

When I went vegan I immediately rid my home of all non-vegan clothing/accessories/shoes. I think I had three big garbage bags full. I donated all of it to PETA and let them do what the wanted with it (I know they donate a lot of clothing items to homeless shelters; use some of the stuff for demos; etc).

[misanthropy]

I stopped wearing leather stuff pretty much right away with the exception of a very very old pair of boots (they were almost 15 years old which I replaced this year (had to save up to replace them).

I had SEVERAL leather jackets. But I am really weird with jackets. I have so many so I had lots of non-leather/non-animal ones to wear. The leather ones basically sat in my closet for a few years because I was going to donate or sell them but never really got around to it (plus ebay sucks when you try to sell without a history). Finally I just gave away almost all of it. I have 2 more items but they will be given away in the next few weeks.

It's hard though when you don't have alternatives already and can't afford to replace what you have yet. My boyfriend did only own two usable jackets/coats - both of which are leather. They made him feel gross and he felt like everyone was staring at him. We finally had enough $$ to be able to replace them recently (like last week!).

If we had had the money before, we would have replaced everything right away and given away our non-vegan items.

[iamtheqbu]

Some went to good will, some I stil have. I just don't buy it anymore. Wearing it is OK, you can always tell people that it's fake even if it isn't (I've done that! ).

[shedonteatmeat]

This was really hard for me.... leather and stuff grosses me out and I definetly don't want to encourage anyone else to wear it...BUT I have/had trouble rationalizing between just wearing them till they wear out or I don't like them anymore *or* just donating/selling them. Of course I KNOW that I should get rid of it all and I know I'd feel better about that....but I use the excuses that I've already spent so much money on the bags and shoes, why waste them? I don't techinically /need/ them as I know I have too many... but I don't want to not have them. Agh. Dilemmas.

I've been slowly weeding out shoes by giving them to my sister or goodwill, as I can bare to part with them...and have drastically reduced how many non-vegan ones I own... but the last few expensive/still in great condition/would need to replace that style-whatever- ones I can't bring myself to part with yet. Along with a couple of bags I paid way too much for and just adore. Agh. I don't use them much at all anymore...and feel bad about it when I do, so hopefully I'll suck it up and give them away soon enough.


I was thrilled to find a great fake leather coat for matt that looks dangerously real (for only $20 at Ross! Yay!!).... but only because he wanted a leather one so badly. Kelly won, kelly won!


I wouldn't burn my non-vegan stuff though. Too much people out there that need shoes/coats/whatever and can't afford it...besides what's done is done, and I'd like to see the poor cow's skin at least so a good deed.

[Adams]

There are still a few things that I have that I'm looking to get rid of. I still have leather shoes, a leather belt, a wool jacket and a few wool sweaters. Last month I got myself a non-leather wallet; the first one I've owned since I was a kid.

I'm looking to replace the leather stuff first. For some reason, leather seems more offensive to me than wool. I'm poor, but my shoes won't last the season so when they go I'll do the belt at the same time and that will be that. The wool stuff will have to wait until at least next year.

[spacehippy]

I think I phased leather out over a period of maybe half a year. I did keep one pair of boots, though, that I got the year before I went vegetarian. They were really nice and comfortable and waterproof enough that you could jump in puddles. I ended up using them as workboots at the animal sanctuary I used to volunteer at. It seemed to be the best use for them that I could think of.

[Beanqueen]

Like most of you, I kept them til they wore out (hiking boots, belts etc) but eventually all that was left was my para boots and I just felt too horrid wearing them so gave them to someone else who was thinking of buying some similar boots.

[shade]

The only leather item that I kept was my shoes. I wore them until they wore out (about 6 months after I became vegan. I've been vegan for 6 years now so it was quite awhile back). Everything else I gave to my sister, friends, or donated to good will. I've never owned anything before that was wool or silk so that really wasn't a problem.
Actually, I did have a sheep's skin *shudder* that my grandparents gave me when I was really little and I used it as a carpet. I gave it to my dogs to sleep on (they loved it) until it wore out then I replaced it with a huge fake wool pillow.

[VeganVeronique]

the only animal origin clothing stuff i have left is this woolen cardigan that i got for AUS$5, i dint think it was wool at the time, i mean $5 for a wollen cardi? thats just not possible. i only realized a year later that it was when i stumbled over the wash tag! i think its fake tho, its looks and feel like all my other non animal cardis, i HOPE the tag is fake. and i also have my jazz shoes from 5 years ago, i knew they were leather when i got them, i was new with it all and just didnt have the info i do now. and i will wera them till they fall apart. they have started to rip a bit, and thats me me happy in a sick 'n' sad way coz i know they can be burried soon when there no longer wear able. i will definately burry them, everyone deserves a decent burial/departure!

i say if your financialy able, bury them all.

[georgiemcfly]

I've given away most all my leather but I think (like most it seems) I still have a few things lost somewhere in the closet. I've always thought that a good use for these dead carcasses we find ourselves burdened with would be a formalish burial complete with casket as a media event to draw attention to what a ghastly "product" leather is. So far the perfect opportunity hasn't presented itself and I haven't taken the initiative to make it happen. Maybe it would be a good media event for The Sundance film festival this year.
.
I often find myself reminding people that the book and movie "A Civil Action" are based on a true story which is the rule and not the exception in leather production, citing the statistic from PETA that half of all testicular cancer patients work in tanneries, and that all leather does not come from cows (ever seen pictures of a horse being slaughtered?).

My favorite anti leather button (from Utah Animal Rights Coalition) "Bondage with plastic is fantastic! Give up leather, the sex is better"

[warheart77]

Does anyone else feel weird about selling the things.making a profit off of them? I just sold my old leather watch, but I felt really odd about it. Because although, yes, I did spend the money purchasing it, it seemed like I was being just as bad making money off of it? Meh. Still not sure what to do, either.

[Husky Corn Star]

Gave away or trashed 'em !