[Courtesy of Twitter]

Avoid supporting the mistreatment of animals by buying second-hand leather.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) caused disruption during New York Fashion Week when two of their supporters intervened in the Coach runway show by holding up signs and wearing outlandish clothes displaying the statement “Coach: Leather Kills.” Animal products in the fashion world have engendered controversy for a long time. PETA radically pursues their mission to stop the use of animal products in the fashion industry. But a question to pose is: Should PETA and other animal rights proponents and foundations be labeled extremists? Or is the fashion industry and its consumers who hardly bat an eye when purchasing products derived from horrific forms of animal cruelty be labeled extreme? As someone who is passionate about fashion but also deeply cares for animals, these questions can be hard to grapple with and arrive at a definitive position. But when I step away from my undeniable love for all things fashion and solely think about animal rights, I know in my heart, it is unethical to buy and promote new products made from animal leather. 

 The way American agricultural businesses treat and process animals is unacceptable. I have been a vegetarian for most of my life and, therefore, know all about the ways animals are handled and harvested in the meat industry. But I am slightly ashamed to say that I did not know — or more candidly, did not want to know — just how poorly animals are treated when it comes to clothing and accessory production. I wanted to believe the fashion industry was different and animals were not treated as purely disposable to deliver the latest and greatest fashion items and trends. For too long I have failed to see the similarities between agri-business and the fashion industry, indulging in the mantra, “ignorance is bliss.” But now, as a fashion studies minor who is becoming more immersed in the fashion world, I cannot live in denial anymore. PETA has brought to my attention that every year more than a billion animals are unethically slaughtered for the global leather industry. Throughout the process, many of these animals experience terrible forms of factory farming which include confinement, crowding, deprivation and more. How can I consider myself an animal rights activist when I support this type of treatment by falling in line with fashion trends? Sometimes it is really hard to do the right thing. But the world is full of injustices and we, as a society, need to start working together to make a difference in all the ways we can. If we cared for animals during their lives by treating them humanely, letting them live a full life and then fully using their remains, the story of leather products would be different. But unfortunately, largely due to supply and demand, that is not the case. We can no longer turn a blind eye; we must address the problem at hand. 

It is deeply challenging for most people to acknowledge and/or accept the unethical ways of life in this world. I have fallen victim to this way of thinking. That is why I admire organizations such as PETA for fighting for what they believe is right and making significant strides towards accomplishing their goals. Having PETA activists storm the Coach show was an extremely effective way to gain media attention and educate a broader range of people about the use of animal cruelty in the fashion industry. Generating awareness of unethical practices and advocating change is what we need to do collectively. As a young adult who is trying to figure out her place in this world, I am continually reminded that living beyond personal ethics and embracing more global and higher standards necessitates difficult lifestyle shifts. Living with intention and making these shifts is how we as a society can effectively start to make a difference. 

We can start by moving away from purchasing newly manufactured leather products and seeking out alternatives. For one, buying second-hand authentic leather products is a way to give already manufactured leather a life. Promoting vintage or used leather is a great way to get your fix, but also advocate against purchasing fresh factory developments. Leather does not have to disappear entirely, but the high demand for it does. There are also a lot of brands that are experimenting and working with proteins extracted from plants as well as various forms of fungi to generate “faux” leather products. Doing research and testing out these leather substitutes can be another great way to actively work towards shifting to a more ethical lifestyle. Polyurethane is another popular replacement. I acknowledge that the use of polyurethane brings sustainability into question as a large percentage of its makeup is plastic. However, the overly high demand and excessive breeding of animals also has major environmental effects. 

Cutting down on animal products and changing the way we treat animals is the first step that needs to be made and then, as an industry, fashion brands and designers can continue to work on creating sustainable faux leather products that provide a sense of luxury and durability. Making this change will not happen overnight, but we can do it if we work together. The systems that animals are treated under — not just in the clothing industry but also in the beauty, meat industries, etc. — need to be disrupted and changed. Perhaps we can all take a page out of PETA’s play book and put ourselves out there to work together to create a better world for all living beings. Wouldn’t it be incredible if the next trend in fashion increased demand for humanely crafted products? Who knows, maybe Coach will rise to this challenge and take a leadership role at next year’s fashion week. 

Julia Leedom, FCRH ’25, is a communications and media studies major from Duxbury, Mass.