Interview 3
1. What are your immediate thoughts about the fur product? Can you say a little more about why you think that? "Fur is an unnecessary product and because of public concern about fur farms, the production of fur is now illegal in the UK. The production of fur involves cruelty to the animals who are kept in tiny cages or caught in extremely cruel traps. I think and hope fur will , one day, be unacceptable and consigned to the history books." 2. What words would you use to describe the traditional way of taking fur pelts from animals? "Often animals are skinned alive to avoid making marks on their pelts. This is extremely cruel and they have a long and painful death." 3. What do you see as the main benefits of my project which is replacing animal skin with pleather? To yourself? To others (e.g. fur clothing industry, franchiser, fur bearer)? "Replacing all animal skins is hugely beneficial from all sides. Leather production is known to be the second biggest source of pollution on the planet and also the workers in eastern countries are poorly paid and often suffer health problems, because of the chemicals they work with." 4. Do you see any risks or downsides to this project? To yourself? To others? "No." 5. Do you have any feelings about who should develop this idea? "It would be good if major manufacturers would look at alternatives to leather and other animal products." 6. If you were offered this product as a tester, what sort of information would you like to be given about it? "Information about the manufacturer and workers, who are well treated and remunerated adequately. Contents of the material and its sources." 7. What should the new technology fur product be called? "It should not have any association with animal faux names." 8. Do you have any ideas about ethical or religious objections about my project? "Only that eg. foreign workers are well treated and paid a decent wage." 9. Would you accept the product made with my method if you were offered it? What would other people feel? " Not sure."