Moop bags seems fairly trendy and urban. Not sure it's your style. They do a lot of waxed canvas.

bettycrocker - you have your opinion, and I have mine I titled it ethics because for me it IS an ethical decision. I certainly don't expect many others to share my position - but am certainly looking for those that do!

I'm not sure there is a clear solution. I am really looking forward to doing more reading and research on this.

Sorry to chime in again! You are sending me down a rabbit hole! More shoe ideas with some Canadian sources: This is going to be tough for you! To find shoes that are edgy enough, Canadian, and vegan. I admire your resolve and am glad you brought up this topic. https://gingerrrama.wordpress......-of-shoes/

Meredith- thank you! It is a total rabbit hole to go down, I know. I don't expect to go cold turkey here , but where there are options , I'm going to use them. I'm puttering in the kitchen this afternoon with my new favourite cookbook - Thug Kitchen Cookbook - which is vegetarian. It's a lot to think about and I'm happy to have these issues to intellectually participate in .

Hope this article offers a couple of new options http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fas.....cessories/

Good luck with this Lisa and please keep us posted with your finds.

Azirphale - I don't consume beef and using the hide of production cows killed for food isn't ok with me.
I know you personally do not consume beef, but lots of other people do, so there's going to be cow hides that would otherwise be thrown away. But I can see there is a flaw in my logic, because if you don't agree with eating cows, you obviously wish nobody else was doing it, either! I guess I'm just being practical. Beef is an important component of the human diet, and I can't imagine a world in which it's not. Ergo, leftover hides that need using.
I'm doing it, but I really am not happy about it.
If this is the way you feel, the only logical solution is to stop wearing leather altogether, immediately. Don't do something that makes you feel bad. I wish I could provide you with more practical suggestions on where to find faux leather items.
Again, yes, there is a debate over what is causing less damage to the environment . I wish that weren't the point.
Out of curiosity, what do you wish the point was?

I agree with Aziraphale. I would do a closet cleanse and take it from there. You may need to spend your shoe budget on, say, 2 pairs of shoes that fit the bill (or come really close), as opposed to 4 or 5 that are leather.

AZ - as much as I'd like to have a conversation about this - I don't want the forum to be that place. I have a question about how to source footwear and bags that are not made from cow leather. The rest of it gets political and personal, and I haven't got the energy to engage in it right now. I don't have to defend my position, and nor do you ! That's the beauty of freedom of speech I can't' worry about what everyone else is doing, and my mission is not to change the opinions of others. Just because there are hides leftover from the food production line doesn't mean I'm going to use them. I don't want to be an opportunist in that way. Anyways - I do thank you for your thoughts. It's interesting to find out how others think

Lisa, that's a great cookbook! Also, it never ceases to amaze me how quickly this topic leads to such strong opinions -even when you try to diffuse them! I'm not ditching the things I already own, but am trying to avoid leather in future purchases. I'd like to think there's a way to have fun with fashion, feel good about my purchases and show some compassion for animals.

Meredith, me too . Thanks for getting what I'm trying to communicate here. And as to your question about cosmetics - no. I have gone back and forth with organic and chemical free skin care and a few makeup items here and there, but I'm not fully up to speed on the animal testing issue. I need to better inform myself about that too. I don't know whether to thank you for egging me on to more or not

From an ethical point of view, this makes good sense. For the record, I don't eat much meat (I cook mostly vegetarian) but I know I'd struggle to eliminate dairy produce and I certainly wouldn't try to keep a cat or dog on a vegan diet. But deep down I'm pretty sure that vegans are right about some things and I applaud your decision.

My own viewpoint is that it's OK to farm animals as long as we do so humanely and in moderation. If we stopped raising all those animals we've domesticated they'd die out tomorrow. When we use dairy products and make wool, it's logical to eat meat and use leather as well because they are part and parcel of the production system. If we're going to use animals at all, we should use the whole animal, skin and all. That said, animal husbandry is energy and resource intensive, so it makes sense to use less of them, and maybe try to stop all together.

I reached the conclusion a while ago that for myself, the sanest thing to do was to buy less stuff all round and be very aware of my habits as a consumer. This is why I try to buy fewer, higher quality items across the board, buy organic when I can and make everything last longer and not get too swayed by disposable fast fashion.

I wish I could point you at some wonderful vegan brands, particularly for footwear. I've seen some shops around here which carry what look to be very nice vegan products, so I'll keep an eye open for you. Fabric technology is getting better but I understand synthetics can be harder to recycle.

And of course, Stella makes lovely shoes. Good luck!

LisaP -- no need to defend your position; I'm not attacking you. (I don't feel like I'm defending myself, either -- I was just trying to explain my original comment. Like I said, I did see the flaw in my logic!). We all have a worldview that fits somewhere on the idealism --> practicality spectrum. Life has very few black and whites, and lots of grey. Our positions are both valid.

And actually, your use of the word "opportunist" explains a lot.

Sorry, posted that last comment and then saw what you said about not wanting a discussion. I don't think this necessarily needs to be political, because anyone who thinks about these things at all knows it's a minefield. I appreciate the fact that we can even talk about it here without it turning into a flame war. It's worth exploring and I like reading what others have to say about it.

I don't know if anyone mentioned them yet, but I instantly thought of Matt & Nat for bags.

https://mattandnat.com

To me there seems to be a lot more vegan leather around than there was say 5 years ago: pleather jackets, mock suede skirts, vests and jackets, waxed denim jeans that look like leather etc. So I don't think clothing will prove that hard. But shoes, especially winter boots, will be hard. Maybe trying to really limit consumption of leather shoes would be a compromise position? I will be interested to hear how you go. If you find some good sources, I hope you let us know. Maybe some forum members will lemming your choices, which in this case would be a good thing wouldn't it You have encouraged me to think about this more myself. BTW Free People do a lot of vegan leather but I suspect they may not be your style.

Nobody has attacked you, but I feel like I'm being attacked for preferring to eat meat, wear leather shoes, and carry leather (and genuine snake and croc) handbags. This thread makes me want to switch to a Paleo diet! I've always struggled with anemia even though I'm not a vegetarian. And I do love fruits and veggies! Buy and wear what you want. Just don't paint me as being unethical.

No, betty, you're not being attacked. Everybody is being very reasonable.

ETA if it makes you feel better, I eat beef and don't feel guilty about it. But if someone told me I had to eat dog, I'd refuse. We all draw our line in the sand somewhere.

I don't see it that way. It is not an ethical decision. It is simply a personal decision. As my DH told our DD during her vegetarian phase, animals eat other animals. Let's get real here. After problems with her health from poor dietary decisions, she's back to eating meat.

For the record, I've eaten frog legs. My brother builds airboats, and goes frog gigging.

AZ is right . No one is attacking anyone . I hold zero judgment on what other people do . This purely my interest and my post . It is an ethical issue for me . Simple as that . I used to eat as much meat as the next person and I'm already bemoaning the end of my DH's BBQ burgers - but , life changes. Please take nothing personally -this is an intellectual issue for me and nothing to do what anyone else does .

I don't think anyone was trying to criticize anyone else's choices. If anything, people were offering reasons to lisap for NOT doing what she wants to do, which she specifically requested she did not want. To not offer the suggestions she was asking for, but to instead comment about how you have the opposite viewpoint is counterproductive, IMO. This isn't the thread for it.

Regardless, I agree with Meredith about not doing a closet purge, but instead not adding new items with ethical concerns. It is interesting that boots are a major concern, as I have had very good luck in the past with faux suede boots. Sometimes I think they look richer and feel better than actual suede, though faux leather can be a bigger issue, especially in climates with extremes in temperature. It is generally the going from warm to very cold and back again that does PVC in, not just cold. They also do not tolerate dryness particularly well, which is why they tend not to hold up in storage. WEARING faux leather is the key in keeping it functional. They may wear out a little faster, but that is better than them wearing out withOUT wearing them!

And this is quite general, but Zappos does allow you to search by "synthetic" in materials. I imagine some of them might have leather components and might need narrowing that way, but it's a start:

http://www.zappos.com/women-bo.....tyle/desc/

Just wanted to chime back in to support your attempts towards keeping this thread on track, Lisa. As a meat eater with friends who are cattlemen, I know from personal experience how passionate people can be when discussing this topic. Fortunately my vegan friends are not out to convert the rest of society to their way of living so we co-exist--and dine out together-- quite regularly. I'll wear leather, fur, and feathers around them without any lectures, and they'll pick restaurants which show me how delicious a dinner can be without meat, dairy, eggs, or fish. How I wish people on both sides would realize how much more influential they are by setting a positive example, instead of lecturing and condemning.

Excellent echo. Thank you for your support and understanding my intentions here . I agree that thoughtful consumption is the way to go . And I also agree about faux suede being a good product . This is a positive issue , not a negative one and I'm so happy to have some constructive ideas here . Thank you!

Yes Gaylene ! I so agree - thank you!

When you say it's an ethical decision for you, you are in effect saying that my decision is unethical. That's my point. It's not only what was said. It's what was implied-- that those who eat meat and buy leather products aren't ethical.

I can't help you find good PU shoes because my feet & wallet tell me that leather is superior. My first post simply outlined my reasons for preferring leather shoes. I don't understand what I said to offend anyone. This is like a religious topic to some, and I attest that it shouldn't be. Chill. For your information, I wear faux suede.

I help our local Cattlemen's association. They are good, upright people.

Just chiming in to echo that you are moderating a tricky thread beautifully Lisa ... And as usual everyone seems very respectful to me gaylene of course takes the cake in this regard! just went back and liked Angie's suggestion of canvas for summer. Perhaps investigating some styles that are non leather and non leather looking may open up a new fashion realm for you!

There are plenty of PU shoes, handbags, etc. on the market. I know because I deliberately seek genuine leather products. If I don't type the word "genuine" in the search tab, I end up seeing a lot of faux stuff. Maybe somebody can tell you where to find good quality PU merchandise. There is a lot of thoughtful consumption in my buying habits. I prefer genuine leather for certain things. That's that. To me, leather is absolutely ethical.

Was reading this article: http://www.refinery29.com/faux.....t#slide-11

Oak + Fort is another Canadian brand that does faux. No shoes, though.

Okay, that's enough. I am not even replying anymore to this issue of ethics. This my thread and these are MY ethics.. What is ethical for me, has NOTHING to do with any one else. Ethical choices are completely personal and do not reflect on anyone else. I am not asking for anyone's opinion on eating meat or choosing to wear leather shoes. Please respect that.

Please respect my feelings. I know it's your thread. I thought I had a right to post my thoughts. Apparently not. The all caps screaming isn't appreciated, either. I meant you no harm. I just expressed how you and others made me feel. My choices are neither unethical nor inferior. I'm not "of your mindset." So what? You can take what I say with a grain of salt and move on.

Thank you to everyone who had links to resources I can look at. This has certainly been a tricky post and never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it to be this controversial.

I think we've all had enough. If anyone has anything further to share with me in terms of successes they've had with faux leather products, please PM ! I'm all ears.

To anyone I have irritated here:

I do have a tendency to communicate bluntly but I never intend to communicate with malice or disrespect. I have a writing and speaking style that , unaccompanied by visual cues like my smile or the look in my eyes, can read as aggressive . I don't use all-caps to scream or shout, I use them to convey importance. I did not intend for this to become a debate and I was not really looking for a values and choices discussion. The politics of food, gun control, agriculture, manufacturing,medicine, it could on and on....are a hot button for most of us. I hope we can return to commenting thoughtfully and without rancour on each other's threads.

Thanks again,
Lisa