Why are a lot of people so against the use of fur in coats but fine with leather?

BetterThanThou

While I'm not saying everyone goes by this rule, but I rarely hear of anyone, bar vegans and some vegetarians, who disagree with the use of leather, but I rarely find someone who does condone the use of animal fur in clothing. For instance, my mother, when buying a new sofa, absolutely refused to use fake leather and insisted on real leather, and voiced her displeasure at me for wanting to buy a coat with the hood lined with real fur.
I understand that animals raised for fur aren't treated too well, but neither are animals raised for leather, so why aren't many people against the use of leather?

Red Crow

I wouldn't say I condone it but I don't really care about it either tbh. Maybe if I knew more about it I'd be opposed to it but I know it's worth a few million to our economy.

Also I hate mink

fergiesfolly

I'd presume that the hides used to make leather comes as a side product of animals slaughtered for their meat( which I have no problem with), where as furs are taken from animals specifically bred for their fur( which I have a massive problem with)

Mr. Tom

A bird in the leather, is worth TWO in the leather.

The Dom

Well, without getting in the whole China debate and how it was discovered that dog fur was being mislabeled so that it could enter Europe, Cattle tend to be treated reasonable well in comparison to animals on fur farms and are also a by product as someone else has already stated.

Here is a video also that might go some way to answering your question.

Rosy Posy

I wouldn't buy new fur but I have a few items of vintage fur that I think are fine- it's been dead a long time, may as well use it. I felt similarly about diamonds, I feel much better about having an antique engagement ring instead of possibly a blood diamond.

Pat Mustard

Mr. Tom wrote: »

A bird in the leather, is worth TWO in the leather.

Goodnight Mister Tom.

kneemos

The Dom wrote: »

Well, without getting in the whole China debate and how it was discovered that dog fur was being mislabeled so that it could enter Europe, Cattle tend to be treated reasonable well in comparison to animals on fur farms and are also a by product as someone else has already stated.

Here is a video also that might go some way to answering your question.

Fake Ugg Boots apparently have dog fur,which are skinned alive in China...so that's not pretty.

wandatowell

I love my leather gloves.


An ultimate fashion accessory imo.

gctest50

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sasmdYzinp8

Ruu

Is that you, Giant?

Dynamo Roller

gctest50 wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sasmdYzinp8

man thats rough

gctest50

gctest50 wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sasmdYzinp8

omg i hate those people

BetterThanThou

Alright, I forgot to account for Chinese fur farms, what about the humane, regulated ones, such as the ones in Ireland?

ardle1

fergiesfolly wrote: »

I'd presume that the hides used to make leather comes as a side product of animals slaughtered for their meat( which I have no problem with), where as furs are taken from animals specifically bred for their fur( which I have a massive problem with)

Huh, yeah but we specifically breed the animals where the hides come from,so we can eat them, ahhhhhh now I get it, we should also eat the furry providers just saying like......

ardle1

ardle1 wrote: »

Huh, yeah but we specifically breed the animals where the hides come from,so we can eat them, ahhhhhh now I get it, we should also eat the furry providers just saying like......

The thing with fur is they skin them alive so the fur stays intact. They are much smaller animals than cows whose skin would be processed into leather after they have been turned into steaks

Skill Magill

Why choose one type of leather over another?

"Welcome to Human Leather. We are specialists in producing exquisite and exclusive products for an extremely discerning clientele"

poeticseraphim

The issues are usually that animals which produce the best fur are not suitable for captivity in comparison to species that have been captive for thousands of years. Also herd animals that graze seem to be able to deal with it better. Carnivores like mink , fox and bear cannot be eaten as it might pollute the food chain and are not suitable as human food sources due to contamination concerns. Also predators tend to be fewer in number than prey and many are protected species. Fox, mink and and rabbit are quite nervous animals and generally thought not to be suited to large scale farming.

Very few animals that produce good meat will produce good fur. If you have a very warm coat you need less fat/meat etc. And larger furry animals might over heat or be difficult to care for.

Fur farming is a weird culture, dogs are farmed for fur in China. And the conditions are awful.


Most fur farmed animals are meant to hunt and have sharp teeth and keen senses and are much more troublesome than cows etc and therefore there is generally more discipline to keeping them.

I saw footage of a Dog being slaughtered for fur in China it was awful. Seal was a popular fur at one point even though I think it is protected.

There are cheaper modern alternatives to fur for insulation and whilst I don't harbor resentment towards ancient hunting tribes yada yada there is no excuse for the mass industry that exists.

The ones in Ireland are some of the worst in my opinion.

We are also the puppy farm capital of Europe by the way. And our horse markets such as Smithfield are a disgrace and I speak with some experience with horses. I also used to volunteer for the DSPCA.


Fur farming uses animals that have little meat and are not suited to farming and uses next to nothing of the animal.


Cows etc do not have suitable hides etc. I think most species bred for farming are bred to get rid of a lot of fur. I think it is easier to keep them.

poeticseraphim

Deleted User wrote: »

The thing with fur is they skin them alive so the fur stays intact. They are much smaller animals than cows whose skin would be processed into leather after they have been turned into steaks

Yup it is a barbaric practice and it is a national disgrace that it is done here.

Hungryjack

Because its easier for the animal rights activists to go after a fur coat wearing old lady, rather than the local leather clad bikers

Wibbs

Never mind fur V leather, there's all sorts of weird disconnects with regard to our environment and our impact on it, animal, plant and human. Take cotton. No animals were harmed, blood free etc, however it has a disastrous impact on the environment and resources. It takes around 5000 gallons(not a typo) to grow enough to make a pair of jeans and a tee shirt and requires oceans of pesticides.