This article contains details that may be unsettling to some readers.
Is it unethical to wear clothing made from animals?
The issue is not just wearing animal products; the problem is how animals are treated before they are killed to make clothing and the fact that animal-derivative fashion negatively affects the ecosystem.
Ideally, we would only harvest skin, feathers and fur from animals that have already been slaughtered for meat and have been humanely raised. That is the only efficient and justifiable way for it to happen, but it rarely happens ethically.
According to PETA, billions of animals die each year for fashion.
You can purchase clothing made of mink, rabbits, goats, sheep, cows, ostriches, ducks, geese, alligators, peacocks, foxes, dogs, cats, chinchillas and more.
These are not all animals that are eaten. That means these animals die just for their byproducts.
Investigative articles about animal cruelty are constantly being published.
The fashion and beauty industries make cramped living conditions, beating, stealing and abusing these animals profitable. Animals are often left in cages, not treated for wounds and are killed in the cheapest way possible.
Often, birds that are farmed for their feathers endure painful live-plucking, having their feathers taken out each time they molt, resulting in bleeding, torn skin, bruising and dislocated wings.
Four Paws, an animal advocacy non-profit, has done many investigations into live-plucking, and their findings show as many as half of geese farmed for fashion undergo this type of treatment.
The beauty industry as a whole doesn’t value animal life. It’s been widespread knowledge that some make-up companies inject animal subjects with chemicals to see how it affects their skin or reacts in their blood – the accused include Aon, Mary Kate, Victoria’s Secret and Maybelline.
The argument against animal use in beauty goes so much deeper than considering the horrible suffering these living beings experience. This type of exploitation contributes to biodiversity destruction, animal endangerment and zoonotic diseases (diseases spread from animals to humans).
There is also a higher pollution cost compared to other non-animal materials. The Humane Society International has found the production of mink, fox and raccoon dog fur (the most common types of fur in clothing) contribute a significantly higher amount of greenhouse gases and water pollution compared to cotton, polyester and acrylic faux fur.
Clothes and accessories made from synthetic materials or, even better, recycled plastic or plants are just as durable if not more durable than clothing made from animal materials.
As always, I encourage everyone to be mindful consumers. Know where your clothes come from and where your money is going!
Animal cruelty is just not necessary. It shouldn’t be normalized. It shouldn’t be a sign of high fashion.
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