Expert: Robin Flynn - 11/17/2010

Question
What are your views on animals used for clothing? and what are good argument
points for this topic?

Answer
Hi Mari,
Millions of animals are killed for their fur or skin each year.  This suffering and killing is totally unnecessary when there are so many great alternatives. I receive compliments on my coats, shoes and purses all the time but I do not own anything made out of the skin of an animal. It’s not only unnecessary but it’s selfish. If you care about animals or the environment then you will not use their skin to make yourself look good.  Even Tim Gunn from project runway agrees with this. In my opinion Wearing animal skin makes you look ugly on the outside as well as the inside.

If you want a better understanding of what actually happens to these animals and how it affects the environment please visit the following links.
http://www.vegsoc.org/info/clothing.html
http://www.peta.org/issues/Animals-Used-for-Clothing/leather-animals-abused-and-...
http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/wool-environmental-hazards....
http://www.petadishoom.com/action/reality_clothing.asp
http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/default.aspx
http://www.infurmation.com/facts.php
http://www.idausa.org/siteinfo/faq_inside.html#animals_used_clothing
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/seal_hunt/
https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1823
http://www.animalactivism.org/resources/online/story.php?pr=82

Alternatives:
http://www.peta.org/living/fashion/cruelty-free-clothing-guide.aspx
http://www.hsus.org/furfree/fashion/retailers/furfree_retailers_designers.html
http://www.thevegetariansite.com/cgi-bin/miva?Merchant2/merchant.mv
http://www.mooshoes.com/
http://www.veganessentials.com/
http://www.alternativeoutfitters.com/apparel/faux-leather-jackets-vegan-coats.as...
http://www.thekindlife.com/post/warm-winter-coatsand-theyre-vegan
For the animals
Robin