Inhabitat

Sometimes a sheep is just a sheep and not a wolf dressed up in sheep’s clothing. That is exactly what the statement was. The only reason I mentioned wanting the sweater in organic wool is because I love the design and I try to buy “sustainable” products. It was meant as a compliment on her design and not at all as a statement about her sustainable practices one way or another. I am not trying to “dismiss Ms. McCartney’s efforts to provide high fashion with compassion”. However, McCartney does use wool and I do feel organic wool is a more sustainable and animal friendly option. Perhaps we should have labeled the post “Animal-friendly Accessories”, since that is what we highlighted. As stated last week, we try to cover options to suit various lifestyles and let people decide what best meets their needs. I don’t feel this is being close-minded.

On this recent Thanksgiving, I think it was open-minded that my sister took the time to make a separate vegetarian dish of stuffing for me to enjoy. I think it was open-minded that I did not let the turkey on the table ruin my stuffing, cranberry sauce, or sweet potatoes. Instead, even though my vegetarian fare was not organic, I appreciated her efforts and gave thanks.

Some information about organic wool:

Organic wool production is based on positive holistic management systems, which reduce or eliminate the need for most agricultural chemicals and promote healthy soils, air, waterways and responsible animal husbandry practices. Certified organic sheep do not receive routine chemical treatments such as drenching or dipping for parasites, fly dressings, antibiotics, growth promotants, vaccines, nor do they graze on pastures that have been sprayed with herbicides. Organic sheep are bred for resistance to parasites and are fed outdoors on special herbal pastures to build healthy immune systems. Organic sheep must graze only on certified organic farms and be fed certified organic stock food. Genetically engineered or modified feed is prohibited.

Wool, whether organic or not, involves immense suffering to sheep. In Australia, the most commonly raised sheep are merinos, who are specifically bred to have wrinkled skin, which means more wool per animal. This unnatural overload of wool causes animals to die of heat exhaustion during hot months, and the wrinkles also collect urine and moisture. Attracted to the moisture, flies lay eggs in the folds of skin, and the hatched maggots can eat the sheep alive. In order to prevent this condition, called “flystrike,” Australian ranchers perform a barbaric operation—mulesing—by carving huge strips of skin and flesh off the backs of unanesthetized lambs’ legs and around their tails. This is done to cause smooth, scarred skin that won’t harbor fly eggs, yet the bloody wounds often get flystrike before they heal. One farmer—who successfully protects his sheep from flystrike by using a combination of fly traps, chemical sprays, breed selection, and grazing management—attributed the industry’s resistance to giving up mulesing to “a bit of old-boys’-club arrogance in a once-grand industry that is now struggling a bit.”

Sheep are sheared each spring, after lambing, just before some breeds would naturally shed their winter coats. Timing is considered critical: Shearing too late means wool loss. In the rush, many sheep die from exposure after premature shearing.

When sheep age and their wool production declines, they are sold for slaughter. This results in the cruel live export of millions of sheep every year to the Middle East and North Africa. In January 2006, in conjunction with Animals Australia, PETA conducted an undercover investigation to expose the handling and slaughter conditions endured by sheep who are exported to these destinations from Australia.

It may be called wool, mohair, pashmina, shahtoosh, or cashmere. But no matter what it’s called, any kind of wool means suffering for animals. http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=55

Hi guys-

I’m a vegan myself (when it comes to food), and am totally opposed to leather, but I’m not sure everyone takes the anti-domestic animal thing quite this far. Sheep and wool farming really doesn’t seem that bad as long as the sheep are treated well and its done by small organic farmers. Caroline, I can see the point you are making above – but aren’t a lot of sheep farmers still small-scale businesses? Are you one of those people who is opposed to the concept of having cats and dogs as pets as well? I totally support animal rights but I think PETA would gain a lot more traction with mainstream people if they weren’t quite so militant in their views…

Saying that all sheep are treated as described by Marcus or Caroline is like saying all Christians are fundamentalists. You have managed to list the reality of some of what it is to be a sheep farmer but certainly not the entire picture by painting all as exploitive, anti-animal, etc. These animals are with us – that is the reality. What would PETA have everyone do – allow these animals to stray and die of starvation or all retire until old age on some million acres somewhere? Exactly what is “cruel” to animals?

That Stella McCartney has taken a position that is principled based on her beliefs about materials, being a vegan and sustainability is laudable. I think encouraging such a principled stance with such tasteful fashion could only make others in the industry take note, take a look at her bottom line and maybe, just maybe, adopt a similiar stance.

As a crocheter i am interested in finding out more about vegan and sustainable fibers. for my hats i mostly use wool. i have not found anything that compares in warmth. hemp, linen and cotton are all great for summer and spring garments. not so great for cold temps. unfortunately the only fibers that compare to wool are synthetics.

i am curious about the new yarns that are made of corn……

I understand that you care about animals – good. However, the reality is that many animals would die out completely if they weren’t of use to humans – like the saddleback pig, which came close to extinction, when breeds that didn’t require such care became more available.

I personally have issues with synthetics. Many emit aromas and odours that make me feel ill, and are often derived from petro-chemical products – have you asked indigenous peoples (Australi, N. America) how they feel about their land being raped in order to extract oil and minerals?
These people consider the earth to be their mother, and are sick and ashamed because they have failed to protect their mother.
I disagree with PETA purely because it has narrowed its vision to an illogical extent.

There are a lot of people using catch phrases to be “in” with the latest marketing trend. After all, there’s millions of dollars to be made. Words like “natural” in the food industry have been abused as has “organic,” “environmentally friendly,” “sustainable” and on it goes. One has to be more aware than ever of what the truth really is. Things certainly aren’t as they appear on the surface. It’s unfortunate because we are all overloaded with information these days and to have to research the minutia is exhausting as is mistrust. (But we are talking about advertising here.) Choosing carefully is the clue.

My big issue with McCartney’s fashion line is those ridiculous high heels! What’s “sustainable” about those? How healthy is that? Any chiropractor (or sensible person) can tell you that an elevated 6″ heel is a totally unnatural angle for the foot to be forced into let alone stand or walk in for more than a few minutes. Walking on your toes with you feet pressed into the front of the (narrow) shoe is, to me, akin to Chinese foot binding — both in the name of fashion and style and usually because it appeals (theoretically) to the guys. Sure it makes your calves look sculpted but to what end? I’d love to see the wearer have to hike 5 miles in those things. Sara Jessica Parker may have re-popularized the high heel in “Sex in the City” but come on, do you want to pay $500 a pop for torture? She had an alleged $40,000 invested in her shoe fetish. Really, isn’t being a fashion victim is torture enough?

These are issues I’ve run through my head a million times. All I cane truly come up with, is stop buying things you don’t need. Or buy used. I buy leather shoes and wool sweaters second hand – which neither harms animals or requires the use of additional natural resources. Used cotton does not put any additional pesticide into the environment. And while buying organic cotton, recycled polyester or leather-free products is certainly a good option, why don’t we focu more on doing without a new outfit? Or visiting our local thrift shop for nicely worn clothing and purses? I find plenty of nearly new things, often expensive and in-style brands for much cheaper, without supporting any cruely, and additional use of resources, any additional pollution, and meanwhile supporting a local business.

Comments like the one made by Suzanne, “What would PETA have everyone do – allow these animals to stray and die of starvation or all retire until old age on some million acres somewhere?” shows how truly ignorant many people really are. The billions of animals used as slaves are BRED, they simply wouldn’t exist if humans weren’t creating them! And, as was pointed out, the animals in the industry have been so genetically manipulated that they never existed in the wild in the first place.

Nigerian Vegan, will you marry me??

I totally agree on the subject of being enviromentally or animal friendly. Vegan friends that I know lead a simple lifestyle without indulging in luxury at all. Most of them actually uses 100% cotton made bags. I personally prefer the Longchamp Le Pliage or Lesportsac as they are also more economical. There is no need to go for limited editions either. Especially in Asia, logo is a big thing for designer bags. The more & bigger is better as this symbolizes status. Even celebrities, they may say that they support the environment or are vegans but they purchase expensive products that are not made with leather which actually defeats the purpose. If you are a celebrity & vegan, don’t be a hypocrite. Just stay away from the limelight & live your life simply. In fact, Stella Maccartney products are not totally leather or animal free. It is only another sales & makarting gimmick to sell more products. Her so-called economical leather comes from slaughtered animals. Bear in mind before you make a purchase.

Foong Wai Yoke it is people as yourself that are truely inconsistent and not Stella. All some vegs just was pick apart flaws in those that eat me and mistake of some vegs. That is counter-productive. Lets look at the good points. If is was not for Stella all truely ecoist vegs would only have cheap and non-bio pvc objects filling up landmines. This are quality and vegan leather that she uses besides that sickly pvc. Also it is not economical leather but Ecological leather it is sometimes called and many real leather products have stolen that label to dupe buyers of leather who have become weary to its societal ills. Also the long champ bags you boat you use are not vegan themselves since they are cover in leather..In that brown leather handle, flap and inner lining–eveident some “veg” are swooping on stella’s animal use and not thier own. She never uses leather or silk. She has use some wool. Please lets not rotate harmful info people and let the professionals at Inhabitat inform us. Thanks

Personally, as a vegan, I abstain from all animal products except in the form of recylced and vintage clothing, because it’s not fueling the industry directly- and is getting rid of a lot of waste. Even then, I can’t handle fur and I try to aviod leather as much as possible. I actually don’t think there is anything wrong wit eating meat, animals do eat other animals after all. What I have a problem with are the industrially minded factory farms that prodce what non-vegetarians eat, drink and wear. The abuse they show towards their animals is horrific, and being a vegan, to me, is a boycott.
I suppose I’m not a perfect vegan, but I think encouaging every person to do the most that they can is a must. So often, orginizations like PeTA (which I am a part of, because I believe in their fundemental ideas- other than euthanizing animals prolifically) try to scare and intimidate people into a cruelty-free lifelstyle. I think that this not only discouages many from actually converting to veganism, but makes them acutally dislike people who live such a lifestlye. The path to veganism should be one of love, support and self-acutalization. I actually try not to read these type of comment forumns because they are seeping with negative energry. I probably sound like a super -hippie right now, but being a vegan is not the easiest thing to do, and I’ve found encouragement lacking.