Actor Karishma Tanna makes a powerful and compassionate statement with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India’s (PETA India) latest ‘Bloody’ campaign against leather cruelty. Holding a bag dripping
with ‘blood’, Karishma asks ‘Did Your Bag Bleed?’
A couple of days ago, Karishma Tanna, dressed in a black T-shirt with the word Leather with a big cancel logo in red printed on it, posted the image on Instagram to give her fans a sneak peek at her campaign.
Karishma Tanna Chooses To Go Leather Free
“I used to wear leather jackets and bags until two years ago, but working with PETA India, I began to consider how every leather handbag represents a life of suffering and a painful death for cows and other thinking, feeling animals used for their skins,” expresses Karishma Tanna, adding, “I’m happy to share that I have stopped buying leather and have been giving away the ones I own for a good cause and urge my fans to do the same. PETA India accepts donations of leather items to use in demonstrations against leather.”
Urging her fans to go leather-free and choosing fashionable, vegan options, Karishma Tanna’s glamorous and fierce look for the PETA India campaign shoot was styled by celebrity fashion stylist Namita Alexander, her hair and makeup was done by Shefali Koley and Rishina Acharya, respectively. The campaign was shot by renowned fashion photographer Sasha Jairam.
Why Does Leather Production Create Havoc?
According to Sachin Bangera, Vice President of Celebrity and Public Relations, PETA India, leather production wreaks havoc on the environment. “Turning animals’ skins into leather requires massive amounts of toxic chemicals, and runoff from leather tanneries poisons local waterways,” shares Bangera, adding, “Leather production is also harmful for those who live near and work in tanneries. In Bangladesh’s leather tanning area, 90% of leather tannery workers die before the age of 50.”
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He further adds, “Animals used for leather in India are often crammed into vehicles in such large numbers that many become severely injured or die en route. They are then dragged into slaughterhouses, where they are cut open in full view of one another on floors covered with faeces, blood, guts, and urine.”
Best Alternatives For Leather
Luxurious synthetic vegan leathers are widely available, and nowadays, leather is also made from pineapple leaves, cork, fruit waste, recycled plastics, mushrooms, mulberry leaves, teak leaves, discarded temple flowers, coconut waste, tomato composite, and more. Animal-free leathers are also good for Indian farmers, as the state of Meghalaya has shown by considering pineapple leather production.
