Have you ever wondered where that belt or bag came from? Eight-year-old Rebecca did, and when her mother couldn't tell her, she made it point to find out. That's the premise of "Labels", a new PETA videocreated by Catsnake Studios.
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Using no blood, guts, or imagery of animal suffering, the video leaves the viewer with a sobering message: that leather items can just as easily come from cats and dogs as they can from cows.
The video builds on the increasing concern that many consumers have about the ethical impact of what they buy and wear, and it imparts the message that when animals' body parts are used to make leather items, such as belts or boots, cruelty will always be a part of the process.
Most leather comes from countries such as India and China, where there are few or no rules protecting animals. Many animals who are killed for their skin endure castration, branding, tail-docking and dehorning - all without any painkillers. PETA recently exposed a thriving dog-leather industry in China, in which workers club dogs, slit their throats and peel off their skin to make women's dress gloves and other products that are mislabelled as leather from sheep and exported around the world.
Fortunately, there are cruelty-free options available for every budget - from bargain-priced leather-free shoes from Topshop to high-end vegan purses made by Stella McCartney.
For more information on cruelty-free fashion, please visit PETA.org.uk.
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