Vintage clothing -Moral dilemma!

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Feather Ives on May 3, 2010 at 11:19pm

Yes, that is quite the dilemma. If you decide not to resell those products, that would make your vintage clothing store a very niche one! Animal-cruelty free vintage clothing! That sounds great. Is this feasible where you live?

Where would you refer people whose clothing you wouldn't take? There will be plenty of places for them to take their clothes so they don't end up in a landfill, and you keep your store animal-cruelty free : )

If it's possible, I would go with no wool, no silk, no leather. You'll be happier in the end.

Permalink Reply by Emma Carvell on May 4, 2010 at 7:52am

Thanks for your reply :)

Where I live, there are no vegetarian restaurants, let alone anything else veggie/vegan friendly - my dream would be to have a vegan restaurant next to the shop! I think I will try not to use animal products where possible, my general rule is - if it makes you feel guilty, then you shouldn't be doing it - and I do feel guilty getting clothes made from animal by-products to sell.

However, from an ethical standpoint, do you think there is anything wrong with second hand/recycled non-vegan clothing? After all, the animal was 'used' and profited from long ago, therefore by buying it you are not contributing to the industry, or causing new animal based clothing to be made (as the more people buy, the higher the demand, so the more they make).

Also, how do you guys feel about wearing non-vegan items that you bought/were bought for you before you were vegan? What are people's views?
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Permalink Reply by simone bateman on May 4, 2010 at 6:07pm

i personally don't wear non-vegan products that i bought pre-veganism, just because it feels wrong, grosses me out and i feel like it contributes to the idea that leather etc are desirable fashion items. That said, i can totally get the point that continuing to use these items and/or recycling them might prevent new production and also means that that animal that was killed/harmed for the product didn't die/suffer in vain. By that i mean, not using them, if you already have them, in some ways feels to me like more of a waste of their terrible lives, not that using them in some way justifies their lives/suffering.

I think it is totally up to you whether you want to stock these items, or continue to wear your own. There are decent arguments either way, and i don't think either option is definitively non-vegan. But if you don't feel good about it, don't do it. And feather is right, there are others who will make use of them anyway. But at least you can be comfortable in the knowledge that you weren't involved in perpetuating their use/abuse as 'fashion'.

Permalink Reply by Minhee Park on May 6, 2010 at 5:12pm

I used to be a serious bagholic and there are still over 50 leather purses in my room even though I gave away a lot. I have the similar dilema, too. Because there were already made and I can't do anything to change what eventually happened to the poor animals at that time. I felt really guilty and sad when I realized how many animals were only for my 'look' but then I thought that I would feel even guiltier if I throw them away. It's hard to give to someone too because then it's a way of letting others use animal products. So my decision was that I will never buy anything new made of animals but just be thankful for what the animals gave me before... but the funny thing is that I feel uncomfortable wearing them these days so my fashion is naturally becoming 'vegan.'

Even though there is nobody who understands vegans, a lot of people will like the way of loving animals and that could also lead someone to think of the ideas how we can protect the animals. Your shop can actually show people how easy it is to be fashionable without killing animals. I'm sure it will be great and there will definately people who respect your warm heart and become a big fan. :)

Good luck!!!

Permalink Reply by Emma Carvell on May 6, 2010 at 5:24pm

Aww yay thanks for your words of encouragement! x :)

Permalink Reply by Minhee Park on May 6, 2010 at 9:59pm

wow... my English is terrible!! lol.... sorry lol

Permalink Reply by Emma Carvell on May 7, 2010 at 7:16am

lol dont worry so is mine, and I come from England! :P

Permalink Reply by Samantha Sweeney on May 9, 2010 at 6:21am

When I first went vegetarian, I remember having to give my favourite shoes to one of my friends as they were leather, I think I'd only bought them the week before. I would never wear leather or silk, new or otherwise.

However I have bought some wool clothing unknowingly, they have all been second hand from ebay, & not listed as made from wool. So I am not really sure what to do with them?

Permalink Reply by Emma Carvell on May 17, 2010 at 2:12pm

It's tricky, really. I think you just have to do what you're comfortable with. I mean, you bought it second hand, so the industry didn't profit from it, so it makes no difference to sheep whether you wear the clothing or not. I hate accidental non-vegan buys, once I ruined a whole meal by adding a sauce with chicken in it - it was on the shelf in the shop next to the vegan sauce and I picked up the wrong one - SOOO frustrating to think that I paid for the murder of that chicken because of my carelessness! EPIC VEGAN FAIL! lol

If wearing the wool makes you feel bad, how about donating it to a charity shop to sell? That way some good will come out of it. However, be careful with health charities - always ask whether their research involves testing on animals - I know Cancer Research UK and British Heart Foundation test on animals :(

With regards to my vintage shop, I'll only buy and sell animal-free clothing. Got a fair amount of stock so far, gonna go car boot sale tomorrow to get more! :)
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