The Vegan View

I'm vegetarian wanting to go vegan so I've slowly been cutting out the few animal products I still consume. I live in Vermont where the winters are very harsh and I'm having trouble keeping warm. I tried to wear lots of layers topped with my quilted cotton coat but it's just not enough. I received a down-lined wool coat for Christmas and, facing another bitter cold day, I wore it. I didn't need all those layers and stayed wonderfully warm. So it's things like this that make me waver about going vegan. But then I refocus on the animal suffering that occurs to create such a coat. Are their good alternatives? What can a cold vegan wear that can be as warm as my wool and down coat?

VegFamily readers reply:

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Zakiya Alake:
A million polyesters died so I can be warm - LOL! Even before I became a vegan in '05, I was warm as toast in my faux furs. In Boston, we have a large selection in various department stores - high-end such as Saks to small locally-owned stores. Please type faux fur in your search engine and see what you come up with.

Boston is a huge college town and I see females near the colleges I frequent in faux fur as well as in Roxbury where I live. I see women of all ages reppin' faux fur. I hope for many it's a concious choice, but whatever the reason, its sending a message. Many of the furs are so good if a woman doesn't disclose you won't know. I want people to know, of course, for educational/advocacy reasons.

Ivy:
Polar Fleece is good. So is a parka with polyester fill. My daughter was in DC in single-digit weather and she was warm in the poly parka I bought her.

Christy:
My husband and I have both been vegan for just over ten years and we are both atheists.

Alicia:
I live in Nebraska and the weather is rough here too. I understand your troubles of staying warm and keeping peace with your mind too! This is a great time of year to buy a new coat that isn't harmful to anyone and still deliciously warm. I bought a "leather" coat with "fur" lining last year at the herbergers yellow dot sale. It is superwarm and made entirely of acrylic and polyester. Just go out there and check out your local stores, you will be amazed to find that most coats now are made from synthetic material. And just remember that even if you can't find a vegan coat doesn't mean you can't be a vegan. Good luck!

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