The Discerning Brute: fashion, food & etiquette for the ethically handsome man

Misericordia & The Seal Hunt Begins

• Misericordia is a peruvian fashion label that is trying to increase the amount of organic cotton in the collection. They use local, far labor in Peru, locally sourced textiles, and, according to their website “The clothes are ethically produced in the Misericordia workshop in Lima by our own team of seamstresses with a unique know-how.” Here is a few of their organic cotton pieces:

robe, explosion, femme, modal, ethique, misericordia

• Canada’s bloody seal hunt has begun today. Even though the ice is thinner than ever – and as a result of global warming many babies are drowning, these bullies are still bludgeoning by the hundreds-of-thousands. This “tradition” could be easily stopped if we all act together and demand it. Please visit Canada’s Shame to find out how to help defend these babies.

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joshuakatcher, April 11th 2011 | Tags: Misericordia, organic cotton, seal hunt
Posted in vegan

The Hunt & Spring Accessories

“La chasse au lièvre" by Armand Charnay, French, 1868.

I came across this painting while doing some research and found it to be particularly haunting. This French impressionist managed to capture the anonymity, the pensive mood, and the ambiguous darkness in moment when a group of men are about to bludgeon a rabbit. It’s clear that the artist has an opinion about this act – but also the complexity of such actions. For example, what are the circumstances? Is this about survival? Is for amusement? Does the rabbit get away? Unlike other paintings where the hunt is glorified, or baroque still-life images showcasing dead animals draped like decorations among flowers and fruits – this painting does not glorify the men or beautify the hunt.

Photo courtesy of the Humane Society of the United States

In a startlingly similar image of the seal hunt, which is about to commence once again, a man stands over a baby seal about to bludgeon it with a club. But, unlike the painting above, we know the circumstances of this action. The seal does not get away. The body is left to rot, a bloody mess, on the ice. It is unnecessary and done for fashion garments that are banned in many parts of the world, yet the Canadian government allows this cruel and unnecessary mass killing – the largest slaughter of marine mammals on the planet – to continue year after year. Click here to send a letter to Canada’s politicians.

• Italian-made, light brown vegan boat shoes and woven-belts for spring! Get on it.

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joshuakatcher, March 17th 2011 | Tags: braided belt, seal hunt, vegan belt, vegan boat shoe, woven belt, “La chasse au lièvre" by Armand Charnay
Posted in accessories, activism, animal rights

Early Spring Fashion, Ohio Eats Babies & Canada Bludgeons Babies

• The hemp-denim tie from The Hill-Side in Indigo is great for spring, and these burgundy organic cotton chinos from Left Field will look great rolled up. The Studio D’Artisan soft gray sweatshirt in organic cotton goes with just about anything like jeans or shorts, and the work-wear inspired organic, Texas-grown cotton shirt from Fullcount is pretty manly in flannel, layered or with a tie.

• Canada’s infamous baby-seal hunt starts in just a few days. Even though ice-cover is at a record-low and many mothers are giving birth months too early and babies are dying and drowning, Canada has not called off this largest hunt of marine mammals on the planet. The Humane Society International is taking action to defend the baby seals, and plans to make 2011 the year it finally ends – but with new markets opening up for baby seal fur in China, they can’t do it without all of our support.

• On Monday, the Ohio Livestock Standards Board voted to keep calves confined in veal crates – crates so small and cruel that they seemingly could only have been thought-up by villains who want to eat the soft-tender flesh of babies, but it’s not a grim fairy tale, it’s Ohio. From Farm Sanctuary‘s President Gene Bauer:

Monday’s vote by the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board (OLCSB) to allow veal calves to be confined in crates so tightly that they can’t even turn around for most of their lives violates the widely publicized agreement that was reached last June between agribusiness interests, including the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, and the humane community to avoid a ballot initiative that would ban the inhumane confinement of animals in veal crates, gestation crates and battery cages across the state. By endorsing veal crates, the OLCSB has demonstrated an interest in upholding the status quo at the expense of improving animal welfare. We urge the OLCSB to reverse its vote and to act in accordance with June’s compromise agreement. Otherwise, the humane community will have no option other than to move forward with the initiative.

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joshuakatcher, March 8th 2011 | Tags: Fullcount, Left Field, ohio farms, organic cotton, organic texas cotton, seal hunt, Studio D'Artisan, the hill side, veal crates
Posted in vegan

Olympic Shame, Vancouver Goes Veg & Loomstate Sale

The organic cotton line Loomstate is having a sale on GILT GROUPE today (up to 70% off retail) You must have an invite to partake. And now you do! We have to admit though, we are little disappointed to see that Loomstate, one of our favorite lines, has started using lambswool. Boo! It always boggles our minds how “green” designers seem to ignore the fact that livestock production (yes, including sheep and lamb) is the single greatest cause of environmental devastation. Lambswool is a very profitable byproduct of the meat industry, yet there are so many amazing alternatives like banana silk, soy yarn, bamboo yarn, corn fiber yarn and more! It’s just lazy (not to mention ecologically hazardous and cruel) to keep using animal fibers. Stick to Loomstate’s organic cotton in this sale!

Vancouver is offering veggie dogs and veg chili to athletes and fans thanks to Olympic sponsorship from Hain Foods. The Good Dog “We are dedicated to the spirit of the Games and providing A Healthy Way of Life; and are very proud to showcase healthy, sustainable living at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games through Hain Celestial Canada’s natural and organic products. Having visited many concessions during my Olympic trip, it was with great pride that I watched the spectators make the healthy choice choosing our Terra Chips and Yves Veggie Cuisine veggie dogs while cheering on all the athletes!”

It’s too bad that Canada is known for it’s brutal baby seal slaughter. Peta has made their own official Olympic logo and pin for the olympics. “Most people would agree that there is something terribly wrong with shooting and smashing in the skulls of baby seals, yet despite international outrage, the Canadian government allows sealers to beat and skin hundreds of thousands of these gentle creatures every year. So why is Canada killing seals? The seal slaughter exists because of the overall demand for fur.”

Vancouver Olympic Shame: Learn more.

4 Comments

joshuakatcher, February 19th 2010 | Tags: baby seal slaughter, loomstate, olympics, seal hunt, veggie dogs, wool, yves
Posted in activism, animal rights, cruelty-free, design, event, fashion, global warming, green, music, organic, sale, vegan, vegetarian, video

Chelsea Boots, Melty Vegan Cheese, & Crabs That Feel

1. What’s simple, classic, and not allowed to be worn with baggy pants? Check out this 100% synthetic Chelsea Boot from TOPMAN. Hot, and only $100! Next, if your metal-head babysitter from 1985′s wardrobe got turned into an amazing, urban, hi-top – these gold ‘n black faux-snakeskin foot-prizes would be it. Dang! Only $70 at TOPMAN.

2. Dr Cow Cashew-Bazil Nut & Macadamia vegan cheeses now available online! They are not cheap, but they are insanely yummy.

3. Speaking of cheese – I got to try the very-talked-about, soy-free, melty-as-hell Daiya cheese while mingling at a star-studded PCRM event last week. Yum! Not sure when it’ll hit stores, but it was stretchy and delicious when heated.

4. Has anyone tried the So Delicious Coconut Milk Beverage? I saw it on the shelves in Whole Foods, but I haven’t tried it yet and want to know: how does it taste? Can you steam it or foam it? Does it curdle in tea? Tell me!

5. Once again, the Canadian Seal Hunt is leaving a trail of blood. Please watch the video and click HERE to help.

6. A new study has found that crabs feel and remember pain. So that’s what a brain and nervous system do? It seems silly to even have to point this out, but unless scientists shock living things, the public thinks that brains and nervous systems are just for fun. As if you neeed one more reason to boycott Red Lobster? Duh, what’s trawling?

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TheDiscerningBrute, March 30th 2009 | Tags: canadian, cashew cheese, chelsea boot, coconut milk beverage, crab study, daiya, dr. cow, eco, faux snakeskin, green, hi top, melty, pain, red lobster, seal hunt, so delicious, sustainable, trawlng, vegan, vegan cheese, vegan shoesm topman, vegetarian
Posted in activism, animal rights, environmental justice, fashion, food, green, Health, news, organic, sex, Shoes, social responsibility, vegan, vegetarian