by Jordan M

Created on: July 05, 2008

Centuries ago, wearing animal pelts was more than common place, it was a downright requirement. Without the modern innovations of today, fur and leather were the best, most efficient ways of staying warm and still having quality, durable garments. However in today's world things have changed. Why kill another living being when cheaper, environmentally sound materials are available with the same effectiveness?

Leather and furs are not the 'better' product. They are simple, selfish vanity.

The cost of pelts has risen to luxury prices, and are increasingly popular with high-end designers, with brands such as Gucci, Prada, and Marc Jacobs being among the worst offenders. Fur and leather offer no additional benefits towards style and if anything ethical, conscientious consumers are finding it to be a detriment to their personal style. More and more of these consumers are finding it increasingly difficult to justify killing a living being for a coat that they may spend frivolously on and rarely ever wear.

The procedures used to slaughter the animals to be used is vastly barbaric and cruel. Leather, for instance, is made by 'knocking the cows out' before they are killed. Or so says the industry. The factual translation: they are smashed over the skull with a heavy hammer-like device before they are skinned and sent to our modern day Cruella De Ville. These methods are not only disgusting, but ineffective. Statistics show, though they are not openly showed to the purchasing public, that many of the animals are not killed or 'knocked out' by this process and are therefore subjected to unimaginable torture.

Did your purse scream when they skinned it?

Thankfully, organizations such as infurmation.com are turning more individuals toward the anti-fur campaigns with incentives and events such as their innovative 'design against fur' competitions and grand prizes. There is no justification for wearing the cruelty of fur proudly as fashion. It is shameful and disgusting. The Fur Free Alliance has helped bring to light the immorality of choosing fur over more durable, more effective, environmentally safe, man made materials and designs. When looking at garmens why would anyone prefer to wear cruelty on their sleeve? Compassion is an unequaled beauty.

Please, have a heart and spread the word about helping your fellow creatures. There is always a road to cruelty-free fashion.

Learn more about this author, Jordan M.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.