…I was not born into being a Vegan, thus I had to learn later in life- THANK YOU, MD COLLEGE’S PHILOSOPHY PROFESSOR MR. FINK!, & had to constantly figure things out, as I took it really slow to becoming Vegan, so I was never going back.

I make a big deal to represent & not sell-out on important things like this & was former shoe salesman (the original crew were awesome & best workmates, I have ever had) & former clothes salesman, so I had a lot of clothes that are not Vegan. To practice what is best for ‘Global Warming’ & rest of environmental & employment issues, I do not throw away clothes, thus never have to buy new clothes & I have been athletic thin my entire life, so clothes from HS. It is bad to just throw away clothes (some are well woren, especially, work shoes) or even donate, because they are not Vegan, for previous mentioned reasons.

Then there is issue of being representative/role model of what Veganism is, cannot always have time to explain it to all that see me.

How does other Vegans handle this?

  • adminofoz@lemmy.cafeEnglish
    2·
    17 hours ago

    Its easy to handle this once you are in your thirties and stop having friends. Jkjk

    You are right to question these things and I think most Vegans go through this kind of struggle. The answer will be different for different people. I fall into the “no ethical consumption under capitalism” category and it helps keep me humble. So even if you find and commit to only Vegan clothes and shoes (there are a lot of great options now, this is definitely more doable than in the past) a truck which burns fossil fuels, requires destroying habitats to build roads and will kill thousands of insects on the way to deliver your shoes will still be your middle man.

    Personally, I still wear my HS clothes as well. I have phased out nonvegan shoes and belts, but i did it gradually and naturally over years by just replacing ones that reached end of life with Vegan ones. Now, my car still has leather seats because I’m not perfect and while I would love if they were Vegan leather that wasn’t an option. Finding an honest car dealer was so frustrating and hard that haggling over interior materials like clothe was beyond my mental capacity at that point. I didnt even think of it until after the purchase. I’m sure Im the bad guy in someone’s book for that, but to me veganism isnt an endless checklist of dos and don’ts. Besides I’ve found people who make mountains over these molehills to be unpleasant company anyways.

    Because we are a small group and humans love purity tests its important to keep in mind that reasonable people who are real Vegans will reach different conclusions.

    Contrary to what most people said here, I do not bring these things up with people who are nonvegans. Nonvegans already perceive the barrier to entry to be too high and many of them think we look at them with judgment. Plus many do not know that I eat anything other than Caesar salad and blocks of tofu. So if they ask me what being a Vegan is like and I go on a rant about how I cant get the stylish running shoes I want and have to settle for these others, I have just raised the barrier even higher for that person and left all their biases unchecked. I’d much rather talk about the glory of homemade bread and fresh noodles that haven’t harmed a sentient being.

  • umbra@slrpnk.netEnglish
    5·
    2 days ago

    I don’t buy used non-vegan clothes or items but if i already owned them then i will continue to use them. They will naturally get phased out over time

  • bassicvgyn@lemmy.vgEnglish
    13·
    2 days ago

    Most non vegans don’t think about these things as much as we do and so they won’t even notice. If they do, I think that it is a good conversation starter to the actual realities of being vegan, and may make it seem more accessible to them.

  • Teppichbrand@feddit.orgEnglish
    6·
    2 days ago

    I once drove to an animal rights workshop where I talk to teenagers about veganism, meat, fur. Already in my car I realized my shoes are still leather and my belt was, too. The belt was from my dead grandpa and my shoes are old and I keep replacing the sole. Still my heart dropped, same feeling as you: How do I tell them without sounding like an idiot. I decided to play it cool and not mention it and nobody noticed. I got myself some vegan shoes and a leather-free belt from the thrift shop down the road afterwards.

    • Ephera@lemmy.mlEnglish
      5·
      2 days ago

      It also has to be said that faux leather is pretty ubiquitous, and well, at least I couldn’t tell the difference just from looking at it.

      Fun side-note: When I had to replace the first items where I traditionally had (faux) leather items, I did not remember that faux leather was a thing either.
      I went really far out of my comfort zone and got shoes with a cloth cover, and a belt + wallet out of cork leather.

      I am very glad that I did do it. The belt is now twice as old as my belts would typically get before falling apart. And the cloth shoes have pretty much unilaterally solved my stinky feet problem. But yeah, a bit silly that I researched quite a bit and did not think of the obvious replacement. 😅

      • AA5B@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        16 hours ago

        Thanks, I never knew cork leather was a thing.

        While I’m not vegan, I’m trying to be at least some of the time, take a few steps down this road . However my motivation is environmental so I try to stay away from plastics, anything that will never biodegrade. For clothing and household items that can be challenging.

    • GreatWhite_Shark_EarthAndBeingsRightsPerson@piefed.socialOPEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      Interesting so you must think no matter what representing/role modeling is more important than waste causing other problems & sentimental reasons?

      It is a tough decision, because:

      Wear animals parts that are near worthless or sentimental reasons (if only item, makes sense, no backups) saves purchasing new ones that pollute The Earth with plastics or made through animals, spurns discussions with Vegans, as other member pointed-out
      Or
      Replace the items with items with no animals parts (or plastics), though contributes to destroying The Earth, through the even the very best manufacturing process, but representing/role modeling.

      Here comes what decides it for me, no person going to be able tell the difference with the clothes these days that are completely Vegan (& plastic free) that look exactly like non-Vegan (& uses plastics).

      • wabasso@lemmy.caEnglish
        5·
        2 days ago

        Perfect is the enemy of good. If you suggested someone become vegan and they said, “I can’t do that, but I’ll cut my use of animal products in half”, that’s like talking to two people and fully convincing one of them.

        • GreatWhite_Shark_EarthAndBeingsRightsPerson@piefed.socialOPEnglish
          1·
          2 days ago

          With due respect, but No, it is not!
          That is terrible logic, it just does not work.
          If ONE-person refuses to become a full Vegan, but becomes a Vegetarian, than that is no Vegan, convincing one out of two-people to be a Vegan is 1-Vegan. A Vegetarian still does a good amount of damage, Vegan does none.

          Funny you say that, because I converted a lot of family members to trying to be Vegans (it is questionable that even if my parents were really true Vegans) I was the first, they will say I was the Vegan OG, no doubt the most serious, after 29-years. I do not think any family members that became Vegans because of my influence ever stuck with it or are not regular cheaters. I have a handful of family members who are Vegan, but doubt it had to do with me. I get no half credit, with the 2-cheating parents & former Vegans, but if those handful of Vegan family members were influenced by me, then I get credit for all 5.

          • MouldyCat@feddit.ukEnglish
            41·
            2 days ago

            It’s great that you believe so strongly in it. It’s obviously frustrating for you that others don’t see it as clearly as you do!

            Maybe it would help you resolve your current issue if you consider what your objectives are - what do you want to accomplish by being vegan? What is the long-term result which you think we should aim for as a society?

            Then think how you can work towards that. Is it something it will be easy to persuade people to join in with, or would it involve some sacrifice on their part, or at least some degree of effort?

            Most people don’t react well to being lectured at or preached at. If you want to influence people, you will need to be thoughtful and willing to accept compromise.

            • GreatWhite_Shark_EarthAndBeingsRightsPerson@piefed.socialOPEnglish
              1·
              2 days ago

              Most of this is assuming a lot, just one example I am extremely thoughtful & practice what I preach, but I never compromise, I understand situations are different, especially, when it comes to money, & I consider all ideas & love outside the box thinking, but politics has educated that compromise is constantly abused by those that want privilege(s) over the whole-most in a group. One follows many different paths, might slip off one or more or turn off it or them & turn back around & continue, but cannot trick.For economic, political & other beliefs there are easy solutions, that do not compromise from what is the must to qualify.

  • Alvaro@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    4·
    2 days ago

    As the other commenters said, most people don’t even think about it. It’s very much a vegan thought to have. And veganism is about not causing harm. There’s nothing you can do to cause any more harm by using those clothes. And yeah, just like the other commenters said, it might as well be a good conversation starter.