fairdare
  • blog
  • Fairdare
  • ethical brands
  • zero-waste
  • zero-waste meals
  • about

correspondence

1/29/2019

1 Comment

 
Picture
Thought I'd share a little correspondence I had this week. I really like the fact that Feelgoodz made flip flops with natural, sustainably sourced rubber + fair-trade labor. Last summer, I purchased some of their leather + rubber sandals...but received a pair of their vegan "leather" sandals instead. When I let them know about the mistake, they said to keep or donate the mistake pair...no need to mail them back. I decided to wear them, because I liked the fit + they needed to get worn. I'm not so happy about their end of life, however. Vegan "leather" is plastic.

As I began to look ahead at the year to come + at my simple wardrobe as a whole, I wondered if Feelgoodz would offer new leather styles. Their website currently shows only vegan options, so I sent this email of encouragement:

Hello- I just wanted to let you know that I am hoping you will bring your leather sandals back this year! I love the fair-trade values your company adheres too. The leather + rubber elements complement that so well for me, because they are natural + biodegradable! Thank you for being a rare, fair footwear option!

This was the response I received:

Thanks for contacting Feelgoodz! We will not be selling leather anytime soon. We have decided to stay with our Vegan Leather option because it is what is best for the environment. We will be dropping some new colors/styles this Spring so keep your eyes peeled!

And this was my response in return:

Thank you so much for your response. I know that some people feel that vegan "leather" is better for the environment. I just don't personally understand it. The oil derived material is plastic that will be around forever. It will contribute to ocean plastics + will break down into that plastic soup that ends up in the guts of sea life + eventually us. It would be better environmentally to simply stick with the natural rubber flip flops.

I know that all of the readers here do not agree with me about the use of leather, and I very much respect the values that inform this conviction. My point in sharing this is not that we need to agree...or even to share an update on a brand. It is that we have voices + the responsibility to share them. I believe that my emails have a better chance of making a difference than my silence (+ simply opting out of buying vegan "leather").

Whatever your opinion, let those companies know.

Love,
Jane
1 Comment
Kari
1/29/2019 02:41:33 pm

I think the term "vegan leather" has been responsible for a huge amount of incorrect thinking, among vegans, that they're doing something good. It's plastic, plain and simple. Even if it's made of recycled plastic, it's still plastic.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    on a journey toward zero-waste, simplicity, + compassion :: daring to choose fair one choice at a time
    Picture
    Picture


    categories

    All
    Fair Brands
    Fairdare
    Garden
    Made
    Reads
    Simple Budget
    Simple Holidays
    Simple Home
    Simple Wardrobe
    Simply Said
    Sustainable Self
    Wanderings
    Yum
    Zero Waste

    archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    all images by jane unless otherwise noted. copyright 2023.
    subscribe via email

    RSS Feed

    Follow