Animals as Clothing.

Every year, millions of animals are killed for the clothing for their fur, wool, silk, and leather. "Whether they come from Chinese fur farms, Indian slaughterhouses, or the Australian outback, an immeasurable amount of suffering goes into every fur-trimmed jacket, leather belt, and wool sweater," according to PETA. Animals, like in slaughterhouses, are confined for their whole lives in small, dirty cages and the industry uses the cheapest method of killing these animals possible. More than half of the fur in the U.S. comes from China, where millions of dogs and cats are even killed for their fur and often the fur is mislabeled so people don't know what species of animal they are wearing. Leather is not just a byproduct of slaughterhouses but it is a growing industry. The meat industry relies on skin sales to keep business on the rise. It even accounts for 50% of the total byproduct of cattle. All animals who end up as belts or shoes suffer confinement, branding, unanesthetized castration, tail-docking, dehorning, and cruel treatment during transportation and slaughter.

People, and the fur industry, would like to see fur as just another fabric but it's actually the skin ripped and peeled off the backs of animals. In our culture and society, there is no reason to use animals for clothing. In other cultures where animals are hunted for food and used as clothing for survival is justifiable since they do not have alternatives. However, in industrialized countries, there is no reason for it. More often than not, people don't even realize they are wearing animal products; I know I have shoes with leather in them. I think it is important for everyone to be more aware of their purchases and how what they buy affects animals. If we choose to buy products that were made without harming animals, then companies would find alternatives. The first step is being aware of what we wear. Then follows change.

My question to you is: There are many alternatives (like synthetic materials) to using animals for leather, wool, fur, silk, etc. So, why does our culture still exploit animals for clothing aside from it being a lucrative business?

A leather jacket and a wool sweater? Really?