information on fur,leather,silk from the uk

Whilst fur farming itself is banned in Britain, it is not illegal to import fur. The UK fur market is worth millions of pounds every year. Most of the world’s fur originates from farms where essentially wild animals are caged and are unable to carry out their natural behaviours. Around 50 million animals are killed each year for their fur. Rabbit, mink and fox are the most commonly bred animals.
  China is the biggest exporter of fur and has absolutely no laws to protect animals. Beautiful white arctic foxes and mink are kept in totally barren cages barely bigger than they are – one to a cage – row after row – continually pacing round in circles.   Animals raised in fur farms suffer great amounts of anxiety. Some animals will become so distressed that they self mutilate. In China, animals are often skinned whilst fully conscious, the pain for the animal is unimaginable. The cruel fur trade has no place in a civilised society.  

Not a By-Product The UK leather industry is worth billions of pounds each year. An animal’s skin makes up 7-10 per cent of his or her total worth. By buying leather goods you are supporting the meat industry and the slaughter of animals. Animal cruelty Leather comes from both beef and dairy cattle, who are slaughtered while still young and whose lives are entirely under human control. Beef cattle live simply to eat, grow and be killed. Dairy cattle are among the most exploited animals on the planet. They are forced to spend their lives in a constant cycle of pregnancy and milking – often at the same time. Their babies are taken away at birth and hundreds of thousands are simply shot! Every time you buy something made of leather, you are supporting this cruelty.

Download report [345 KB]

Exploitation Leather is animal hide (skin) that has been chemically treated to prevent it degrading and rotting. The UK throws away two million pairs of shoes every week – those made of leather sit in landfills, unable to decompose due to the tanning process. The toxic chemicals used in manufacturing damage the environment and increase tannery workers’ risk of developing various cancers. Most leather tanning takes place in developing countries, where labour costs are low and environmental regulations lax. Some tanneries simply allow their effluent to flow into rivers untreated, polluting fresh water supplies with toxic chemicals. Local villagers, who depend upon the water for washing and drinking, can suffer serious medical problems. You can end your part in this cruel trade right now by boycotting leather! There are loads of great alternatives available, please visit our list of leather-free stockists. Boycott leather. Wool A seemingly idyllic scene: sheep grazing in the field, their lambs gamboling close by. However, if you look closer you will uncover a world of neglect. Most sheep suffer throughout their short lives and are slaughtered while still young. Millions of lambs freeze to death every year in Britain. Many lambs are subjected to tail docking; the most commonly used method is to place a rubber band around the tail, to cut off the blood supply until eventually it falls off. Male lambs endure a similar method of castration. Both of these procedures are carried out with no anaesthetic and the lambs suffer great pain and distress as a result. Download report [345 KB] Metal clippers used for shearing the wool often hurt the sheep; it is common for the animals to be clipped by the blades. Shearers are paid per unit of wool and often pay little attention to animal welfare; this can cause the sheep great amounts of stress. To avoid wool loss, many farmers shear the sheep too early and many sheep die from exposure to extreme weather. People mistakenly believe that the wool in their jumper comes from live sheep, whereas in fact some wool is stripped from dead sheep at the slaughterhouse End the cruelty. Silk Millions of silkworms are killed each year for the silk industry. Silk is the name given to a soft fabric made from the fine thread produced by certain moths. Most silkworms are killed while fully conscious inside their cocoons. Commonly, moths are placed in scalding water and boiled alive. The moth is conscious throughout this process, no pain relief is provided. Hundreds of silkworms are killed for just one silk scarf or tie. Read Animal-free Stockists Alternative Stores Brunswick Industrial Estate, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear NE13 7BA Tel: 0191 236 8519 W: www.alternativestores.com E: cservices@alternativestores.com Alternative Stores offers a wide range of vegan, ethical products and has shoes for all the family including ballet and tap shoes for all ages. A great variety of shoes suitable for school, work, sports, casual and even wellingtons for rainy days. Bourgeois Boheme Hydrex House, Garden Road, Richmond, TW9 4NR T: 020 88 788 388 W: http://www.bboheme.com E: info@]bboheme.com An ethical fashion label who believe style and ethics are not mutually exclusive. Offers a variety of products including shoes, boots, bags, belts, purses and wallets. Beyond Skin (mail order only) 34 Westbourne Gardens, Hove, East Sussex BN3 5PP Tel: 0845 373 3648 W: www.beyondskin.co.uk E: info@beyondskin.co.uk An exclusive ethical footwear label producing beautiful, classic, hand-made shoes that combine style and fashion with a cruelty-free lifestyle. Sell a variety of fashionable and stylish, high-quality ladies shoes, stilettos and boots. Stella McCartney W: www.stellamccartney.com/ Leather-free shoes from a high fashion catwalk name. Veganline (mail order only) 2 Avenue Gds, London SW14 8BP Tel: 0208 286 9947 W: www.veganline.com Call or log on to the website for a catalogue of animal-free shoes, trainers, hiking boots clothes and belts. Vegetarian Shoes 12 Gardner Street, Brighton BN1 1UP Tel: 01273 691913 W: www.vegetarian-shoes.co.uk E: information@vegetarian-shoes.co.uk Send name and address for free mail order colour brochure; or buy online or visit their popular shop in Brighton (open 10am-6pm Mon-Sat). Their wide, high-quality and excellent range includes men’s and ladies’ shoes and boots, leisure shoes, walking boots, safety boots, jackets, belts etc... Viva! & VVF (mail order only) 8 York Court, Wilder Street, Bristol BS2 8QH Tel: 0117 944 1000 / 0117 970 5190 W: www.viva.org.uk/shop E: info@viva.org.uk W: www.vegetarian.org.uk/shop E: info@vegetarian.org.uk Viva!, the vegetarian and vegan campaigning group, sell a wide range of merchandise in their Gifts for Life catalogue, including leather-free belts. The VVF has a Vegetarian Shop catalogue. Contact them for a free copy or shop online. The following companies sell all-synthetic shoes but do not stock vegan products exclusively: New Look W: www.newlook.co.uk This high-street store stocks an impressive variety of affordable non-leather women’s shoes. If you’re looking for the perfect shoes to match a particular dress, bag or hair grip…you’ll find it here! Average price around £20 for a pair of evening shoes. Next www.next.co.uk Next stocks a wide selection of affordable, good quality non-leather shoes for all size feet. From tiny feet, to teens, to yummy mummies (and daddies), Next can dress your family’s feet. Sativa Unit 6, Westmoreland House, Cumberland Park, 80 Scrubs Lane, London, NW10 6RE Tel: 0845 43 007 01 W: www.sativabags.com E: info@sativabags.com Eco-friendly range of affordable designed bags and comfortable shoes. Ethical Wares (mail order and selected stockists) Caegwyn, Temple Bar, Felinfach, Ceredigion SA48 7SA Wales Tel: 01570 471155 W: www.ethicalwares.com E: vegans@ethicalwares.com A great range of footwear, clothes and accessories suitable for the more mature vegans, vegetarians and all those who care about the environment. Ranges include walking shoes, dancing shoes, clogs, trainers and many more. Ethletic The FairDeal Trading Partnership, 83a Mill Hill Road, London W3 8JF Tel: 0845 330 7599 W: www.ethletic.com E: info@fairdealtrading.com Log onto the website for a variety of ethical sneakers which look great and tick all the boxes for fashionable, affordable, fair trade, vegan and organic. Freerangers (mail order only) 87 Derwent Street, Chopwell, Tyne & Wear NE17 7HZ Tel: 01207 565 957 W: www.freerangers.co.uk E: info@freerangers.co.uk Small mail order catalogue with comfortable shoes and sandals – all cruelty-free made with a breathable, durable synthetic material called Lorica. No Bull Footwear (mail order only) 15 Chichester Drive East, Saltdean, Brighton BN2 8LD Tel/Fax: 01273 302979 W: www.veganstore.co.uk Sells a variety of dress and casual shoes, hiking boots, jackets, belts and wallets among Veganstore’s usual array of animal-free treats. Not Your Skin – A report on the leather industry Brantano www.brantano.co.uk This shoe superstore has shoes for all occasions. You’ll be able to find shoes to please all the family and at affordable prices. Dorothy Perkins www.dorothyperkins.com Dorothy Perkins offer a small selection of reasonablypriced fashionable non-leather women’s shoes each season, visit your local store to view the current range. Green Shoes 69 High Street, Totnes, S. Devon TQ9 5PB Tel: 01803 864997 W: www.greenshoes.co.uk E: info@greenshoes.co.uk Handmade non-leather footwear to order for adults and children. Send SAE for catalogue. Kate’s Skates www.kateskates.co.uk This online site offers a great selection of skater shoes, all you have to do is type “vegan” into the search engine and it will compile a list of shoes suitable for vegans! Brands sold include Vans, Odessa, Emerica, Macbeth and Circa. Lyme Leisure South Street, Axminster, Devon EX13 5AD Tel: 01297 631133 E: axevegans@yahoo.co.uk Vegan shoe repairs and shoes. Ranges of ladies, gents and children’s footwear and boots, and camping equipment – other vegan products