Cow skin for the leather industry

Leather

Brutal practices persist within the domestic and wild animal leather industries

20.10.2023

Leather is used throughout the fashion industry. From budget retailers to high-end brands, it is almost everywhere. Most of the international supply is dependent on, and encourages, the farming of over one billion sheep, goats and cattle who are slaughtered every year. With the skin from baby sheep, goats, and cows popular in the fashion industry for the soft leather it produces, many lambs, kids and calves live their short lives in industrial and high-stress environments before being killed.

But it doesn’t end there. Millions of wild animals such as lizards, stingrays, kangaroos, ostriches, and crocodiles are also slaughtered for their skins. Find out more about exotic leather.

Tragically, these animals usually have little or no protection. Farming and slaughter often involve the violent and brutal treatment of animals, treatment that is not only legal but standard practice.

An almost complete lack of traceability in the leather industry makes it incredibly difficult for a buyer, or a fashion brand, to know the treatment of the animal that was killed to make it. Without this information, buyers are completely in the dark, unable to have any confidence in the ethics of the leather products they purchase.

Until the welfare of animals used in the leather industry can be assured, we say no to leather.

Beef cattle indoors at a farm

Beef cattle indoors at a farm

What are we doing?

FOUR PAWS refuses to allow this suffering to remain hidden. We are exposing the truth behind fashion, we are working with industry while highlighting the cruelty and lack of transparency around this industry, and a growing number of people are standing with us.

Through our Wear it Kind programme, we are building a worldwide movement of people, designers, and brands who are demanding kindness to animals used in fashion. The tide is turning.

Today there are more alternatives to leather than ever before, and that number grows all the time. In fact, it’s never been easier to find fabulous, great quality fashion that is entirely free from any suffering.

Pinatex handbag by fashion company SVALA – made out of Pineapple leather

Pinatex handbag by fashion company SVALA. Leather made from pineapple waste and other waste materials is becoming increasingly popular!

What You Can Do

  • Take the Wear it Kind pledge and, until the welfare of animals used in the leather industry can be assured, commit to purchasing leather alternatives.
  • Use our Wear it Kind Shopping Guide to find out more about how you can show kindness in the clothes you wear and ask your retailer to stock animal-free alternatives to leather.

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