I would like to get something off my chest – that something is the general public attitude towards leather, fur and bones used in fashion and other accessories like homewares.
Generally speaking I don’t like fur. Nor do I like wearing necklaces and bracelets made from bone. I do wear leather boots though – so there! First obstacle.
I am not vega. I am not vegetarian. I just thought I couln’t use anything made from fur or bone. The mere thought of it – repulsive!
But then I started reading up about how fur and bones – and leather – can help very poor people in so-called underdevelopped countries. And I am not talking about the inhumae breeding and killing of cute, fury, little animals. I am talking about animals that have been introduced into countries by early – white – settlers. I am talking about stable food for poor people such as goat and sheep. Because – other people have to live you know! They need protein and who are we to dictate to them what to eat and what not to eat? Sure – dolphines and whales and the Japanese attitude to these “animals” is appalling. But then – these are not pests and they are not domesticated animals.
Howl! I can hear you. All animals have a right to live. Sure. But what if these animals start to breed uncontrollably and become a major issue in say the deforestation and are responsible for causing an ecological disaster in say New Zealand? Such as the possum… Introduced into new Zealand donkeys years ago, they are now a real and serious threat to New Zealand’s native species and the rainforests. Read on here : http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/04/0425_060425_possum.html.
On to the use of horn in say jewellery and homewares. Nope I hear you say. Never, yuk! Well – I looked into this and I changed my attitude. Look – people have to eat. And if you are not a vegan or a vegetarian you need protein and you get that from – cows, sheep, camels, goats… The bones are then discarded and guess what? They don’t break down that easily in a landfill site. Hence – it is better to collect the bones and make something useful from it than chuck it into the landscape and have it pile up. Apart from the diseases that these sites breed, bones smell (when there is still flesh and marrow bone on/in them) and they attract pests….
And I found some very nice examples of what skilled craftsmen can do with bones:
Leather – that is a by product of the food industry and I personally don’t like to see waste. Chuck it in the skip and have done with it? No. Neither do I support nasty dyes and child labour (obviously) but rather eco friendly production methods and people friendly work conditions. And here is an example of a very nice leather product:
Incidentally I shall be selling those lovely coasters soon… Made from softest goat skin and under fair trade conditions in Nigeria. High quality and gives a steady income to some disadvantaged village people.
I support fairtrade and I am eco friendly. I despise animal cruelty and child labour. But I am not an “activist” and I respect other cultures and peoples’ needs. So – next time you feel you are being brain washed by some so-called rights organisation – think. What do they know about other cultures and what is their agenda? And do you really just want to jump onto a band waggon without at least trying to do your own research and come to your own conclusion – a conclusion that makes you feel comfortable with what you do, what you believe in and how you live your life.
