Fashion Watch: 5 Upcycled Leather Goods to Stylishly Save Animals

Oct 22, 2015
2 min read

Ah for a sweet leather jacket on a crisp fall day... Paired with low rise jeans and a slim fit tee, this favorite ensemble is a standard uniform for both girls and guys. Now, the thing is leather and suede leather is ugh! the hide of an animal and if you're an animal lover or....a vegetarian, leather goods may make you a bit uncomfortable, slightly guilty, or just plain sick to your stomach. Well, there are those of us who luv to rock leather and suede because of it's naturalness [is that a word] it's varied beauty in all it's hues and textures, and it's plain 'ol sexiness factor. For us'ems, we don't puke at the sight of animal hide, but do prefer there be less or no animals harmed in the future, there is a viable alternative to supporting new slaughters for hides. Look around and you'll find a plethora of vintage, consigned, recycled, and redesigned leather goods available for the taking ie plundering [no pun intended]. Your reptilian and mammalian friends need not meet their demise in the name of fashion. Sure - that brand new $1000 suede jacket you've been lusting after from that hot designer - may be styled exactly the way you want it...So you thought, until you saw something vaguely familiar from your favorite consignor for $75. Now that's animal rights and wallet accountability all in a day's work. Endangered species need not apply, we ain't hiring. Whether alligator, snake, calf, what have you... reused leather goods are good for our environment. When we extend their lifeline by rocking them over and over for fashion's sake, we are giving homage to our ecosystem and the sacrifices these animal spirits made for our a$$ to be warm. So whenever you can, choose an upcycled leather or suede piece. Here are a few leather goodies ready for their second turn on the dance floor: