Doll Clothes and Accessories made from Fur and Leather

Pretty much. I don't really like the feel of fur, but I usually try to get the fake stuff. I just have no qualms using real fur, as long as I know how it was obtained. Not sure if most doll companies say how they get their fur/leather.

 

Would you be insulted or shocked to see a doll wearing clothes made from animal byproduct (furs and leathers and such)?
No, not at all... in fact I probably wouldn't notice unless I touched it and noticed how nice it was. I generally regard faux leather/fur as inferior just because it's less durable, not as soft, etc. I have had horses for many years and leather comes as a part of that hobby; and honestly, I can't stand synthetic leather tack. It's slippery when wet, it doesn't last as long and it's not nearly as pretty.
It probably isn't necessary to use real animal parts for our dolls all the time, but there is a definite difference between real and fake. You can't pretend they're interchangeable.
Does it make a difference if the byproducts came from animals we eat (cows, rabbits, pigs, sheep, etc.)?
No, not really, although obviously I wouldn't knowingly buy something that came from an endangered species. That being said, I own some fox furs and a mystery fur coat that I really love. I am in awe of them every time I touch or see them. I didn't kill the animal, but... in a way I almost think I am honoring it by treasuring the parts that were given to me...
I have lived on farms all my life. We raise sheep for their meat. (I can't stand them, lol, but no, I am not cruel to them and they are treated with respect up until the end.) While this can't be said for everyone, it is honestly not something I think about too much. If the animal is already dead and I want/need that piece of it, I see absolutely nothing wrong with using it. Unless you were there, you have no idea how the animal was treated, and I think it's a little weird to go around saying that they're all beaten near to death and wrestled to the ground and skinned alive and left to bleed in misery. (How practical is that, anyway? If the animal was under extreme stress when it died, you can tell from the meat. Blech.)

As for those who dislike using wool? It's a complete nuisance to the sheep! They get stuck on things and get topheavy/roly-poly and fall over and can't get up if they have too much of it. Really, really unintelligent animals.

Wow that was a lot of text. But if it bothers you, don't do it! You can't expect to control what other people do---maybe they like the texture of real fur! (I know I do) If you don't, that's fine; I won't force you to look at it/touch it, but neither will I allow you to preach at me about it.

 

I'll start by saying: I love fur.
My grandmother used to have a couple of lambskin rugs in her house, and I used to drape myself all over them. I had a rabbit fur coat, and it was awesome. (Unfortunately, I had really nasty classmates who didn't like the coat, and I felt threatened wearing it.)

Nothing else feels like fur. Some synthetics come close, but I can tell they aren't fur. The texture of fur cannot really be replicated. When it is, let me know, I'll buy it.That said:

Does it make a difference if the byproducts came from animals we eat (cows, rabbits, pigs, sheep, etc.)?
I believe it's best to use a whole animal if possible. Most animals processed for fur can also be eaten. However, just because it isn't eaten doesn't mean it isn't utilized. Mink and skunk are not very tasty because of their scent glands - but they can be processed into other products (Mink oil, crab and fishing baits, fertilizer.)

Would it make a difference if you bought the leather/fur from a crafts store (like Hobby Lobby or Michael's)? Would it make a difference if you bought the byproduct straight from the distributor, whom you knew to use all parts of the animal?
It's probably better to buy it from a more direct source. I do like to know where things come from. People are too detached from where things come from, and it makes some people careless and misinformed.
However, I don't see a difference between leather from one place and leather from a local tannery.

Most farmers would see no sense in "wasting" anything. There's no economic sense in killing a rabbit and not at least selling the meat, if you don't eat it yourself. So, I guess, not really, except that I like to support local farmers if possible.
Another reason to know where your stuff comes from has to do with the animals' care. Ultimately, the better a fur animal is cared for, the better the pelt will be. It behooves you to know that the animals were raised in a healthy and humane manner.

 

Would you be insulted or shocked to see a doll wearing clothes made from animal byproduct (furs and leathers and such)?
No, I have seen many dolls dressed in such things, and they never shocked me.

Does it make a difference if the byproducts came from animals we eat (cows, rabbits, pigs, sheep, etc.)?
Nope. I would be bothered if there was a doll wearing something made from an endangered animals fur (unless, perhaps, they had used a damaged antique pelt as source material). As long as the material isn't causing animal populations to be at risk, I am not bothered by them.

Would it make a difference if you bought the leather/fur from a crafts store (like Hobby Lobby or Michael's)?
No - I believe that such stores would want the cheapest deals possible, which would encourage them to go through distributors who use most of the animal.

Would it make a difference if you bought the byproduct straight from the distributor, whom you knew to use all parts of the animal?
No, because, again, I believe Hobby Lobby etc would be using those same distributors.

 

I don't have a problem with leather and fur at all. Will I go hunt the animals and do all the curing and processing myself? Aaaah...nooope! But I've purchased leather from craft stores and leather suppliers in the past and will do so again in the future.

 

I would have a big problem with it. People don't realize what they do to those animals. My dolls fashion is not worth a life.

 

Well I am vegetarian, and leaning vegan, but I still do have some leather things, like a pair of boots I really love. However, I don't buy leather anymore, and I wouldn't go out and buy leather myself to make anything, and I wouldn't buy leather products. And DEFINITELY not fur products. I think fur is just gross and unethical. I would be pretty turned off if I saw a doll that had fur anything, though I probably wouldn't say anything, just press the back button. I think the only animal product I don't have a problem with is wool because sheep aren't killed for it.

 

i have the same standards for fur/leather clothing that i do in my people clothing: prey animals only. things that make sense for a human to hunt for food, and use the rest of the parts, i will use (so cowhide, buckskin, rabbit fur, etc). things made from the pelts of predators, that we do not consume (fox, wolf, etc) i will not use.

 

Would you be insulted or shocked to see a doll wearing clothes made from animal byproduct (furs and leathers and such)?
Not really. However, I do prefer faux leather or fur myself, since it's esier to work with, cheaper and no animals has to die for it. But I too use leather sometimes.

Does it make a difference if the byproducts came from animals we eat (cows, rabbits, pigs, sheep, etc.)?
This makes it more OK for me, I don't like the fact that you raise animals just to get their fur, that's just sad.

Would it make a difference if you bought the leather/fur from a crafts store (like Hobby Lobby or Michael's)?
No, not really. It's still the same thing.

Would it make a difference if you bought the byproduct straight from the distributor, whom you knew to use all parts of the animal?
Nope. Fur is still fur and leather is still leather.

 

I own and run a farm and I live in Canada so *laugh* no, I do not have problems with either Leather or Fur and would dress my dolls in both. I buy scrap leather and re-purpose used leather clothing to make doll boots. I wish I could wear my fur coat without all the hypocrisy as I have 2 autoimmune diseases, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus, and raynaud's phenomenon as a result. I have huge difficulties staying warm and when I am cold, I am in a lot of pain. Instead, I wear a Canada Goose coat, but I still hear flack about that because it is down filled. So happy to read I am not alone in my neanderthal ways

 

Hhhmmm, this is a topic that I have been mulling over a lot myself and I realise that my own feelings are a little inconsistent...

Would you be insulted or shocked to see a doll wearing clothes made from animal byproduct (furs and leathers and such)?

Real fur on a doll would definitely stop me in my tracks but not necessarily leather. I wear leather and suede shoes so why not use them on dolls too? They are by-products of the food industry. I would wonder why the doll owner felt they had to use real fur when there are a lot of good fake options... I'm afraid I know the answer though, a lot of fake furs are simply too bulky to use for scale on our dolls.

I also have an issue of my own that I have been wrestling with. While doing a hat making course a few years back a very nice old Russian lady gave me a huge bag of vintage trims to use and among the various bits and bobs there are two long fine strands of very old and beautiful real fur. One has been dyed a stunning burgundy colour. My initial reaction was to throw them away but I have hung on to them for almost 7 years now and think maybe I will use them for my dolls. I find the Fur trade pretty inhumane and it certainly would not have been better back then when these animals were killed... but on the other hand the animal is long, long dead. The rest of it/them has been used elsewhere and it seems pretty silly of me to mount a protest over these remaining strips... but, I keep changing my mind, it's really confusing!

Does it make a difference if the byproducts came from animals we eat (cows, rabbits, pigs, sheep, etc.)?

I have no problem with that in fact it seems better to me that if the animal has to die then everything should get used. Having said that, some people seem to think they have a right to eat and or use the pelts/horns, etc of endangered animals, and that (and them) I have a real problem with.

Would it make a difference if you bought the leather/fur from a crafts store?

Isn't that kind of passing the buck where your conscience is concerned? After all, whoever heard of a big business being unethical... doh No, I would ONLY use fur or animal pelt when I knew it's source. I have some leather from a person I know (that sounds SO wrong!) who assured me his sources only trade in humanely killed animals, and a piece of lambskin that was brought back from a friends trip to the Himalayas. She dined on the animal and saw it being slaughtered and prepared (not something I could have done!) and paid the family she was staying with for the pelt. I use the pelt for wigs for my own dolls and would no longer buy any Tibetan Lambs wool wigs because I don't actually know where they came from or what happened to that animal or how humanely it was killed. I don't have a problem with what other people do in this regard, just trying to keep my own guilt in check.

Would it make a difference if you bought the byproduct straight from the distributor, whom you knew to use all parts of the animal?
Or is it all the same to you?

I guess I answered that in the last question. Some things I have very strong feelings on, mainly people who are in any way involved in the slaughter of endangered species or killing an animal just for it's fur to make a swanky coat for some Milan cat walk when fake will do just as well. There are still people on the earth who need to kill and eat animals and dress in their pelts because it is a necessity. I have no problem with them at all, but when it's just about status or stupidly following fashion... I kind of hope we could keep the BJD world free of that at least?

 

I am thoroughly disgusted by the large number of people who see no problem using products derived from an animal that has spent its life in horrid conditions only to be skinned alive for the sole purpose of decoration.

DISGUSTED.

 

I do have a problem with fur and leather. I know that leather is common, so I can see how people can see it as normal, but I just can't. I go into work with fabric shoes, though it's supposed to be leather. I don't eat meat either.

I'm actually really worried that the wig I'm choosing for my doll is real fur, but I'm pretty sure it's synthetic. I will message the company before hand though, just in case. I would not have my dolls wear leather or fur, ever.

 

To be honest, I do not know of any leather/fur product which requires the animal to be skinned alive, so I'm not sure where that thorough disgust is aimed at. :/

*inserts 2 cents*
I am wary of non-livestock leather/fur, otherwise I am of the no waste principle. I eat meat and do not want to have the skin of said dead livestock be thrown away just to appease a certain demographic. There's a big difference between livelihood and profiteering, and many of the No Fur/Leather advocates do not know the distinction (suffice it to say that I am averse to that debate and we'll leave it at that).

Fur and leather products on dolls for me are fine. If anything, scraps of fur and leather are often recycled from trimmings of human-sized articles and therefore a good way to maximize the hide. My cousin works in a tannery and every once in a while she brings me scraps of leather cast off from their leatherworks. Which is worse, to accept said scraps and make doll items, or to have them thrown away?

I am reminded of the rage over Soom's Clozel MD.

 

I prefer synthetic materials because they are less expensive. I have no moral issue with wearing animal parts or putting them on my dolls.

 

I question if synthetic materials and fabric are more harmful to the environment than fur or leather. At least that is natural, the creation of fabric...all the chemicals used in the process of making and storage can't be good on the world either. I don't agree with saying one is some how morally worse than the other when everything we own and do has a cost on our environment.

 

I am aware there is no requirement for the animal to be skinned alive, however it is a fairly common occurrence as the workers sure as heck aren't going to make sure it's dead if they have a quota to meet. I can direct you to articles and videos if you're still skeptical...
If a cow is being killed for meat I have no qualms about using it's hide. I won't eat the cow or use the hide, but let the others not be wasteful of its life. I'm talking more about animals in the fur industry...fox, mink, rabbit,raccoon, dogs and cats(this has been documented). It is nothing but misery. If humans like to talk about how morally superior they are in comparison to animals, let's act like it, shall we?

 

Would you be insulted or shocked to see a doll wearing clothes made from animal byproduct (furs and leathers and such)?

I wouldn't be insulted or shocked to see a doll wearing clothes from animal by-products (leather, fur, etc) if it was not my doll. In my own life, I am anti-fur and I don't believe I have anything made out of leather myself. Fake fur & pleather, oh yes! I think fur & leather looks good--left on the animal it came from! However, if others want to clothe their dolls (and selves) in fur, leather, snakeskin, then so be it.

Does it make a difference if the byproducts came from animals we eat (cows, rabbits, pigs, sheep, etc.)?

I guess it would be better to make use of all the parts of the animal, if it has already been slaughtered for its meat. Why not use the hide and pelt, then? That's preferable to killing an animal just for its hide or fur and then discarding the rest of the poor creature. (But again, I'm not going to be ever going to dress my resin kiddos in fur or leather...others can, but I won't).

Would it make a difference if you bought the leather/fur from a crafts store?

I was in my local craft store the other day and saw a few rabbit pelts on the shelf. I was taken aback to see them there...I felt really sad after seeing the pelts on the shelf and I kind of lost my urge to do any craft shopping after that. I went straight home. I guess to purchase leather/fur from a craft store is convenient for the person who is planning to use such materials.

Would it make a difference if you bought the byproduct straight from the distributor, whom you knew to use all parts of the animal?
Or is it all the same to you?

It's pretty much the same difference. But I'd prefer that the entire animal be used instead of just slaughtering the animal JUST for its fur/leather.

 

-Love leather
-Can take or leave fur
-Hate sanctimoniousness

 

This. It's impossible to know whether those particular animals were mistreated or not, so I'm sure some would say we shouldn't buy it. But it's impossible to know everything about everything we consume, so I think it's silly to flip out and boycott. If we did that for everything, we'd all be naked and starving.