I’ve been invited to a vegan dinner of indeterminate class-level (somewhere between half a dozen people at someone’s house and two dozen at a business dinner at a restaurant. I honestly can’t get a straight answer on this) on Saturday and am at a loss as to what shoes to wear. My selection is black canvas Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars, black and brown leather CCTA-Ss, black leather dress shoes, blue and white jogging shoes or leather sandals.
Now, I figure that anything leather is right out, which leaves me with the black CCTA-Ss or the jogging shoes. Normally, the Chucks would win hands down, but they couldn’t be dirtier right now and, besides, they seem a bit…I don’t know what, but not exactly what I’m looking for.
So, do I just go barefoot, or what? Am I trying too hard not to offend anyone?
I agree. Having been to a lot of vegan households in my time, I have never once been criticized for my footwear. There are vegan shoes made from faux leather that are difficult to tell from the real thing, and only the crassest of hosts would demand to see the tag on your footwear, at which point you might give it to them up close and personal.
If they’ve specifically asked for folks not to wear animal products, then that’s different; but absent such a request, I’d say not to worry about it. Just don’t show up in a leather trenchcoat or something similarly in-your-face, and you should be fine.
Also, there is a tenet in the vegan philosophy (espoused by some vegans but not others) that says if the animal has already died, it is disrespectful not to allow its death to mean something. In other words – if the animal already died for your shoes, it’s disrespectful for you to stop using the shoes because then the animal’s death would mean nothing.
So wear whatever shoes you want; if anyone questions the leather, tell them that you thought that it would have been worse to have an animal killed for shoes you never wore.
Whether or not your leather shoes will be offensive depends upon the individual vegans. If these are reasonable, pleasant, sociable people, they probably won’t expect that everyone in their proximity should practice their beliefs. On the other hand, if these are intolerant, arrogant assholes, they may pitch a fit.
I once attended a party at the home of a vegan. I left after the host and one of the other guests castigated me for wearing a blouse with a leopard-print pattern on it. According to them, this “encouraged the killing of animals.” Cripes. I woulda told them to kiss my ass, but I’m sure their lips would never have come near it, since it’s made out of meat.
I try to be vegan myself but also recognise that other people are old enough to decide for themselves what they wear. I’d say don’t worry about it. If you wear leather shoes and they make a big deal out of it, you don’t need these people in your life.
Dude, I was asked to go to my friend’s borther’s bar mitzvah… Conversion to Judaism was not required.
My SO and I are both vegetarians, we don’t care if people eat meat in front of us and we wear leather. We do know some vegans who will sit on the floor rather than a leather couch, thei perogative, but usually they do their thing and everyone else does there’s. If it’s specifically a fundraiser or something where you are expected to make a good show of animal rights, aim for canvas shoes.
If it’s a PETA function you’re going to, you’re screwed no matter what. They’ll let you know your deoderant was tested on poor little baby bunnies’ eyes.
You could ask the person who invited you about footwear. I’m sure he/she will appreciate your efforts to be respectful.
I had a pair way back when, to look at them they look like leather, but wearing them, it’s like wrapping your feet in saran wrap! Jeebus, they didn’t breathe and my feet would sweat like crazy. Thought I’d get trenchfoot from the damn things. Granted that was a long time ago and synthetic textiels have come a long way since then.
Check out the Earth shoes catalogue. I actually bought a pair of the mens lofers. I linked to the Vegan Section. There is actually some nice stuff there.
Is this really true? It would seem to undermine the whole point of veganism. You could use that argument to justify eating meat, on the grounds that the animal was already dead when you bought the joint of beef or whatever. Indeed, by that argument it would be disrespectful to *not *eat meat.
I think what Campion meant was that if you already have the shoes, it’d be silly to toss them just because they’re leather. It’s better to keep using them until they wear out, and then buy a pair of animal-free shoes. Having been a vegan in the past, this is pretty much exactly what i did.
I’m not vegan, but I would certainly be offended if you showed up at my house wearing vegan shoes. I mean, how many vegans have to die just so you can have shoes made of them?
That’s exactly it. If you have leather shoes, and throw them away simply because they’re leather, then you’ve disrespected the animal that died for your shoes. But if you wear them out, then at least the animal’s death meant something.
