Cows are Cool!

Are you stuck in the Dark Ages still wearing dead animals on your feet? Got a strip of skin holdin' up your pants? Toting your necessities around in a bag that's actually made from someone? Or maybe you're still tossing around the ol' pigskin or kicking around the ball o' flesh? Well, stop it already!

Cows are wonderful, friendly animals who don't want to be turned into shoes, bags, clothes, or sports equipment, and neither do any of the other animals who are killed every year for their skin. Did you know that millions of cows, pigs, sheep, and goats suffer terribly on factory farms before they're killed each year for their skin? It's true! And some leather products that come from Asian countries are actually made from dogs and cats so you just never know whose skin you could be wearing.

The animals on factory farms live in crowded, filthy conditions and suffer through painful procedures like branding, dehorning, and having their tails cut off and all without painkillers. After being crammed into trucks and carted off to the slaughterhouse, many are still fully conscious when they're hung upside-down and their throats are slit.

Panicked? Don't be, shopping for synthetic materials is much easier than it used to be. Synthetic shoes and gear are usually cheaper than leather and can pretty much be found everywhere. Plus, they're virtually indestructible so they'll last forever, which will make mom and dad super happy. Not sure where to start? We got you covered. Check out the list of stores that sell nonleather goods below.

Active Soles
Several styles of synthetic New Balance shoes for men and women.

Adidas
Many styles of nonleather athletic shoes, including football, baseball, and soccer cleats.

Aerosoles
Some styles of casual and dress shoes available in synthetic leather.

Airwalk
Synthetic snowboarding boots.

Alloy
Good selection of nonleather shoes.

À Propos & Conversations
Nonleather shoes for women.

Asics
Synthetic athletic shoes.

Avia
Synthetic athletic shoes.

Bakers Shoe Store
Nonleather shoes for women.

Birkenstock Footwear
Several styles of nonleather clogs and sandals.

Burlington Coat Factory
Nonleather dress and casual shoes and some faux fur coats.

Burton Snowboards
Several styles of synthetic snowboarding boots.

Capezio
Synthetic styles include the "200 Technique" dance shoe (available by special order)allow eight weeks for manufacturing) and the "Jr. Tyette."

Charlotte Russe
Some faux fur and nonleather bags, shoes, and boots.

Chinese Laundry Shoes
Fashionable women's shoes made with linen, microfiber, and other synthetic materials.

Circa
Nonleather skateboarding shoes (Jamie Thomas Pro Series).

Converse
"Chuck Taylor" All-Stars, high-top and low-top, in many styles, colors, and fabrics.

Delia's
Hip clothes and a good selection of nonleather shoes.

DiMarzio, Inc.
Nonleather guitar straps.

Ecolution
Nonleather purses, bags, and briefcases.

Eddie Bauer
Nonleather laptop briefcases, luggage, duffel bags, day packs, and briefcases.

Emerica
Several styles of nonleather skateboarding shoes.

És Footwear
Several styles of nonleather skateboarding shoes.

Etnies
Several styles of nonleather skateboarding shoes.

Etonic Shoes/Spalding Sports
Synthetic athletic shoes.

Fashion Bug
Nonleather shoes.

Fila
Synthetic athletic shoes.

Five Ten
Nonleather models of rock-climbing shoes, including the "Dragon," "Anasazi Velcro," and "Anasazi Lace-Up."

Fogdog Sports
Synthetic athletic shoes, golf gloves, footballs, basketballs, and softballs.

Garmont USA, Inc.
Nonleather hiking boots.

Globe
Several styles of nonleather skateboarding shoes.

Gravis Footwear
Nonleather bags and athletic shoes.

Green Shoes
Men's, women's, and children's shoes, boots, and casual sandals custom-made from nonleather materials.

Hawk Footwear
Several styles of nonleather skateboarding shoes.

Heavenly Soles
Shoes from Vegetarian Shoes.

Hot Topic
Nonleather bags, belts, accessories, clothing, boots, shoes, and sneakers.

IPath
Several styles of nonleather skateboarding shoes.

JCPenney
Nonleather bags and shoes.

Karen Lukacs
Nonleather purses.

Kate Spade
Nonleather designer handbags, totes, and shoes.

Keds
Synthetic athletic shoes.

Kmart
Wide variety of synthetic leather shoes.

Kohl 's
Nonleather bags, shoes, and winter boots.

L.E.I. Jeans
Trendy nonleather shoes.

Liz Claiborne
Synthetic shoes in several styles.

L.L. Bean
Nonleather ice and hockey skates, bags, athletic shoes, boots, and coats.

Macbeth Shoes
"The Elliot" synthetic shoe.

Madeline Stuart Shoes
Fashionable women's shoes made from linen, microfiber, and other synthetic materials.

Masseys
Flats, pumps, and other shoes.

Morrco Pet Supply
Fancy nonleather dog collars.

Mudd Jeans
Nonleather bags, belts, and shoes.

New Balance
Several synthetic styles of athletic shoes.

Nike, Inc.
Men's and women's shoes, including soccer and golf cleats and children's and baby's shoes.

Nine West
Nonleather shoes, belts, wallets, purses, bags, and other accessories.

Olympia Sports
Nonleather riding gloves.

Osiris
Tel.: 858-874-4970 " E-Mail: info@osirisshoes.com
Many styles of nonleather skateboarding shoes.

Paul Frank
Tel.: 949-515-7950 " E-Mail: pfr@paulfrank.com
Vinyl wallets, bags, coin purses, belts, and backpacks.

Payless Shoe Source
Tel.: 1-877-474-6379
Widest selection of synthetic leather shoes available.

Prima Royale Shoes
Tel.: 626-960-8388 " E-Mail: primashoes@aol.com
Nonleather shoes for women.

Puma
Some synthetic athletic shoes, including baseball and soccer cleats.

Reebok
Several synthetic athletic shoes, including football, baseball, and soccer cleats.

REI
Adidas "Adventure" sandals, Teva sports sandals, Merrell sports sandals, Nike sports sandals, and nonleather belts, biking gloves, and watchbands.

Resophonic Outfitters
Nonleather guitar straps.

Road Runner Sports
Nonleather running shoes, including Brooks, Asics, New Balance, Saucony, Reebok, Mizuno, Adidas, and Etonic.

Roaman's
Tel.: 1-800-274-713
Several leather-like and canvas casual and dress shoes.

Sam & Libby
Nonleather shoes for women.

Santana Canada Footwear
Tel.: 1-888-SANTANA
Waterproof nonleather boots and shoes available in a variety of styles.

Saucony Inc.
Several synthetic athletic shoes.

SiDi USA
Synthetic cycling shoes. Shop online or call to find a local retailer.

Skechers
Lots of boots, as well as canvas and rubber shoes.

Spalding Sports
Synthetic volleyballs, basketballs, softballs, soccerballs, and footballs.

Steve Madden
Many nonleather women's shoes.

Sunsports
Tel.: 1-800-308-HEMP
Hemp clothing, hats, and packs.

Target
Wide variety of synthetic shoes, bags, wallets, and more.

Teva
Nonleather sports shoes, sandals, and clothing.

Thorowgood Ltd.
Synthetic saddles.

Timberland
Clothing, outerwear, backpacks, and bags.

Tomorrow's World
Nonleather clothing, shoes, belts, bags, and organic hemp products.

Tretorn
Canvas tennis-style shoes.

Unlisted by Kenneth Cole
Line of leather-like shoes, belts, and handbags for women.

Vans, Inc.
Canvas, linen, and flannel Oxfords, mules, and Mary Janes and nonleather skateboarding shoes.

V Sports
Tel.: 1-800-765-4200
Synthetic soccerballs.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wide variety of synthetic shoes, wallets, bags, and more.

Weatherproof Garment Company
Weatherproof nonleather outerwear for men, women, and children.

Wild Pair
Tel.: 314-621-0699
Stylish nonleather shoes and boots.

Wilson Sporting Goods Company
Nonleather footballs, etc.

Yak Pak
Synthetic bags.

Zappos.com
Wide variety of nonleather shoes.