Used and Abused… my thoughts on secondhand leather

In my first post, I mentioned that I have become quite the avid thrifter over the past couple of years and a topic that I have personally been mulling over for months is if it is okay to purchase and wear USED leather goods as someone who predominantly is against the leather industry. 

As with most concepts, I came to the conclusion that, for me, there is no black and white answer.  I would love to one day be able to only wear high quality vegan leather shoes, jackets, etc., and I cannot wait to see the variety of options diversify and expand as demand increases.  Unfortunately, I am not currently in the financial position to throw all my current leather items in a goodwill bin and start anew.  The cheaper options for vegan leather goods are often correlated with polyurethane which not only is manufactured using fossil fuels and takes decades to naturally decay, but if any of you have ever tried sporting, for example, shoes made of such materials, I personally recall it being a stinky, sweaty, painful mess. No, thank you!  Therefore, the investment in a good quality vegan leather alternative (cactus leather, apple leather, grape leather, etc.) is an absolute necessity when it comes to this shift.

Another point that I think a lot of people, fashionistas in particular, who are navigating their cruelty-free journey find difficult to admit is our guilty love for a chunky Prada loafer or a strappy Givenchy boot.  I am here to tell you that it is okay.  I know it can be extremely conflicting but until vegan brands are able to break through the decades long chokehold these brands have on the fashion world, the temptation will be there.  Stella McCartney is paving the way, and I can only hope that more brands will follow.  Therefore, I have decided that in my own life, I am slowly going to search for and purchase high end vegan leather items (such as a handbag…*wink*), yet still feel okay about purchasing leather goods with the stipulation that they are strictly second-hand.  I am currently on the hunt for a durable yet stylish vegan sneaker, so let me know if anyone has any recommendations!

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