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5 MYTHS about animal skins perpetuated by the fashion industry…

Leather is a BY-PRODUCT of the meat industry.

Fur is NATURAL, totally biodegradable and therefore better.

Leather is a NATURAL product.

Wool is a SUSTAINABLE material.

Animal free alternatives to fur, leather and wool are more damaging to the planet.

Perhaps the biggest myth is that anything about the process of killing someone for their skin could ever be humane.

Slay is a feature documentary film that gets under fashion’s skin as it asks both the public, and the fashion industry itself:

Is it acceptable to kill animals for fashion?

Today I’m chatting with Slay film’s director and producer, investigative filmmaker Rebecca Cappelli. Rebecca travelled the world uncovering some of fashion’s best kept secrets.

The result is, a harrowing story of greenwashing, cover-ups, environmental destruction, unjust treatment of workers, and of cruel animal exploitation.

As Cowspiracy was the doc that turned me from 23 years vegetarian to vegan overnight and What The Health urged my dear mum to adopt a plant based diet, I hope Slay will also create a huge wave of awareness, compassion and action.

This film is an arresting and compelling watch. It will shock you and yet also I hope it will strengthen your resolve to share just how unnatural and unnecessary it is to wear someone else’s skin. 

In this conversation we discuss:

• When did Rebecca first start to become aware of what she were paying for as someone who loved to shop.
• The impacts of using animals skins in fashion on people, the environment and of course the animals.
• Greenwashing from the fur, leather and wool industries.
• Misleading marketing and laws that allow for example skin to carry a “made in Italy” able even if the cow was slaughtered in Brazil and the skin went through tanning in India.
• Throughout the making of Slay what really surprised Rebecca.
• Industry backlash on the documentaries release.
• How individuals can support and advance the Slay film mission.

It is both horrifyingly and potentially overwhelming to know that every year, billions of animals suffer and die for the sake of fashion.

Yet the Slay film message is that we can change the fashion industry when we use our collective voices. 

They have a comprehensive fact sheet with references via www.slay.film.

“According to the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, leather has one of the worst impacts on the planet. As a raw material before tanning, cow leather is worse for the environment than synthetic leather and polyester”

“One pair of leather shoes uses as much water as one person drinking the daily recommended amount for 10 years”

“Studies show that it would actually be better for the environment if we threw away those skins to rot in a dump rather than turning it into leather.”

It is possible to make ethical leather from the waste of pineapple leaf fibre. Or from cactus, apple or mushroom. We can even grow leather in a lab, directly from cells and without hurting animals.

We live in a time where, in the same way that we now have access to plant-based alternatives to ALL the types of animal flesh we used to eat there are also alternatives to ALL the animal skins we wear and use.

Animal agriculture is not sustainable and absolutely any skin that comes out of animal agriculture is not sustainable. Up until now the fashion industry has been disturbingly effective at hiding their exploitation and suffering in plain sight.

Slay is free to watch on WaterBear, the environmentally conscious streaming service. I really recommend you watch and please share the film.

SLAY aims to challenge the notion that animal skins are a fabric, and open people's eyes to the dark realities behind some of the most sought after skins in fashion. Rebecca Cappelli @SlayFilm Share on X

Connect with Slay film across the socials: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Also via the website, https://www.slay.film

Check out the facts:

Take action:

Rebecca also mentioned the film, The True Cost:

Also the not for profit, Collective Fashion Justice and Founding Director Emma Håkansson.

That’s it for this week in Healthification. If you’re yet to rate, review and subscribe please do! It counts big time in letting this little show – and the amazing guests I get to chat with achieve some visibility among the millions of podcasts out there.

Big thanks to YOU for sharing this week with me.

The Healthification podcast is proudly bought to you by my FREE ‘Easy Vegan’ plan. It took me 25 years to transition from a meat eater to a happy, healthy Vegan! You can do it in just 3 days with my simplified ‘easy vegan’ plan!  Get the fit, strong, and healthy plant based body you deserve… while avoiding ALL the mistakes I made along the way!

To learn more check out: strongbodygreenplanet.com

Till next time, remember Creating a body and life you love is Freedom. (If this ex-refined-carb queen, non genetically gifted, naturally uncoordinated vegan chick can do it – so can YOU!!!)

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