Leather is obtained from the skin of animals, especially cows. It is used in the manufacture of various products like bags, belts, shoes, purses, jackets and other ensemble. It is used by high end fashion brands to manufacture clothing and other products. Leather of highest quality which is the costliest not just stands to make a strong fashion statement but is also seen as a symbol of class, status, style and luxury. But, do we really know what goes into the making of leather. There are certain facts that you should know so that you can then decide for yourself if you would be in to using leather products or not. But, awareness is important. Maybe by the end of the article you would agree with me that leather should be avoided as much as we can and we need to change the way we look at leather. It is no way a symbol of class, style and status.

10.Leather is not a by product of the meat industry

Yeah, you heard it right. We are usually under the impression that leather is obtained as a result from the animals that are primarily killed for meat. But, it is not so. Leather is an independent industry in which animals are primarily killed for their skin. Animals ranging from dairy cattle to alligators, snakes, ostriches, kangaroos are killed solely for their layer of skin. And that too for looking fashionable, classy or to flash one’s status. Is it worth it? Give it a thought please.

9.Leather is not a way to minimize waste as it is portrayed to be; it is a money making business

Leather is expensive as the post production after the animals skin is pulled out of its body involves a lot of costs. And the rare the animal, the costlier the leather. Moreover, leather is not sold by dairy farmers as a waste product. They trade leather for a good amount of profit by selling it at high prices. So, don’t look at it as a waste product. In real, leather industry is nothing but a money making business.

8.Animals that are reared for leather are abused,beaten and poisoned

Leather is mainly obtained from cows. The cows from which leather is scaled out are not just simply slaughtered but they are subjected to inhumane torture. They are beaten hard. They are drugged to put on weight. At times their throats are slit and their skinned is pulled out even when they are still alive, which is a very painful death for the animal. Some cows are poisoned and the death of the animal through poisoning also subjects it to inexplicable torture and a very painful death.

7.Selective Breeding of the animals

Due to selective breeding of animals, especially for obtaining leather, the animals are drugged which creates a lot of problems in the working of their body system and their physical health.

6.The softest leather isn’t obtained from old cows but from young calves and prematurely born calves

The level of cruelty crosses its limits in the leather industry. The consumers are usually under the wrong impression that the softest and most luxurious leather comes from older cows, which is not true. In real, the softest leather comes from the skin of young calves. Sometimes, the skin of unborn or prematurely born calves is also used for obtaining leather.

5.There are various alternatives to leather

We feel that leather doesn’t have alternatives. We so love our leather shoes, or that stylish leather jacket with zippers. But, leather does have alternatives. Not just the other fabrics but also synthetic leather that is manufactured without killing any animals. It is just like the way leather looks and manufactured exactly like other synthetic fabrics are. No blood of animals or no torture to them involved in this.

4.Tanning of Leather

Leather is required to be tanned before it is finally made into any kind of finished product. Carcinogenic and various other toxic substances are used in the process of tanning. This is harmful to the people who work in the process of manufacturing leather. They contract various ailments sometimes fatal illnesses.

3.Transformation of leather

During the process of post production activities being performed to finally make leather ready for use, leather factories leave into the environment toxic waste products which cause pollution of air and water-environment at large. Leather is mainly used for fashion purposes. Is it really fair to put environment at risk for fashion? I really don’t think that fashion should or would demand that environment be put to risk. We can very much survive without leather, can’t we?

2.Leather is not so easily biodegradable

Leather is biodegradable. But, it takes really long for it to decompose. It takes 25 to 40 years for leather to degrade completely.

1.Boycott Leather… Support a bigger Cause!!

Leather has a lot of cruelty done to animals and also harm to environment attached to it. By saying no to leather and using its safer alternatives in place of it, you take a small decision but still make a bigger and better choice. That is because, each leather article you refrain from purchasing, you end up saving an animal or even help in pollution control a little bit. The lesser the demand for leather, the supply automatically reduces. Simple as that. Time for you to choose now…. Use leather or no? You decide.